Green and Smart Cities in the Americas: The Sustainable Future Has Already Begun
- Antonio Carlos Faustino
- Jun 15
- 4 min read
The cities of the future are already being built today. By combining environmental sustainability and cutting-edge technology, so-called "smart green cities" have been gaining ground in the Americas, offering quality of life, energy efficiency and urban resilience. In this article, we explore the main examples, technologies applied, challenges faced and opportunities that make these cities a model for the 21st century.
What are green and smart cities?
The concept of a green and smart city represents the convergence of technology and urban sustainability. A green city prioritizes wooded areas, renewable energy sources, sustainable mobility and conscious waste management. A smart city uses resources such as sensors, artificial intelligence and data analysis to optimize the functioning of its services.
According to the Digi International report (2022), smart and green cities are those that combine urban planning with the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, clean energy and citizen participation to achieve sustainable development goals (DIGI INTERNATIONAL. Smart Cities and the Internet of Things , 2022).
Examples of green and smart cities in the Americas
1. Austin, USA
Known for its innovation and quality of life, Austin has implemented an urban grid equipped with sensors to monitor mobility, air quality and energy consumption. There is free Wi-Fi in several locations, electric buses and incentives for sustainable construction.
2. Babcock Ranch, Florida
This planned city is the first in the US to be powered entirely by solar energy. Its homes follow strict energy efficiency standards and all services are digitally interconnected. The energy comes from a solar farm with more than 700,000 photovoltaic panels.
3. Medellin, Colombia
Once stigmatized by violence, Medellín has become a reference in urban innovation. Its cable cars connect peripheral areas, promoting social inclusion. Sensors monitor traffic and weather, and the city is investing in digital education and clean energy.
4. Toronto, Canada
Toronto has launched the Quayside project, which aims to transform a former industrial port into a smart neighbourhood with low-emission timber buildings, urban automation and intensive use of data to improve public services.
5. Curitiba, Brazil
With its express bus network (BRT) and large green areas, Curitiba is considered one of the most sustainable cities in Latin America. In recent years, it has incorporated sensors for environmental monitoring and is investing in smart grids.
Technologies applied in smart cities
Green and smart cities depend on innovations such as:
IoT (Internet of Things) : Connected sensors monitor air quality, traffic, street lighting and water consumption in real time.
Big Data and AI : Using data to predict congestion, optimize services and prevent floods.
Electric and shared mobility : Electric cars, buses and bicycles with integrated applications.
Sustainable buildings : Use of ecological materials and solar energy systems and water reuse.
Digital citizenship : Platforms that involve the population in decision-making about urban space.
Challenges faced
Despite the advances, the challenges are considerable:
Inequality in access : Not all areas of cities have smart or green infrastructure.
High initial investment : Deploying cutting-edge technology requires robust public-private partnerships.
Data management : It is necessary to ensure security, privacy and adequate governance of the information collected.
Cultural resistance : Changing habits and accepting new technologies can take time.
Opportunities for the future
With the expansion of connectivity and the fall in the cost of clean technologies, more cities will be able to adopt this model. The energy transition and international climate funds (such as the Green Climate Fund) also favor the expansion of this concept in the Americas.
Public policies focused on digital inclusion, sustainable infrastructure and citizen participation are crucial to expanding access and ensuring that these cities are truly fair and sustainable.
Recommended products on Amazon
Take the opportunity to learn about technologies that contribute to urban sustainability in your home too:
Support the blog Bom dia América here
If you enjoyed this content and believe in the importance of a greener, more technological and inclusive America, share this article and support our blog. Reading it strengthens independent and critical content on the continent's major issues.
📚 References
DIGI INTERNATIONAL. Smart Cities and the Internet of Things . Minnetonka: Digi International Inc., 2022. Available at: https://www.digi.com/blog/post/smart-cities-and-iot . Accessed on: June 16, 2025.
SMART CITY PRESS. Babcock Ranch – The first solar-powered city of the US . 2023. Available at: https://www.smartcity.press/babcock-ranch-smart-city . Accessed on: 16 June. 2025.
TORONTO.CA . Quayside: A Future Community at the Waterfront . City of Toronto, 2024. Available at: https://www.toronto.ca/quayside . Accessed: June 16, 2025.
IDB – INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK. Medellín, a model for urban innovation in Latin America . Washington: IDB, 2022. Available at: https://www.iadb.org/en/news . Accessed on: June 16, 2025.
WORLD BANK. Smart Cities in Latin America: Lessons and Opportunities . Washington, 2023. Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2023/10/12/smart-cities-in-latin-america . Accessed on: June 16, 2025.
INSTITUTE OF APPLIED ECONOMIC RESEARCH (IPEA). Smart cities: concept and experiences . Brasília: Ipea, 2021. Available at: https://www.ipea.gov.br/portal/publicacoes . Accessed on: June 16, 2025.
PREFECTURE OF CURITIBA. Curitiba is an example of a green and planned city . Curitiba: PMC, 2024. Available at: https://www.curitiba.pr.gov.br . Accessed on: June 16, 2025.
Comments