Orchestrating Infrastructure for Sustainable Smart Cities
Geneva, Switzerland, 2015-01-29 – Globally, urban areas are home to around half the world’s population
and generate around 80% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). They are responsible for around 70% of
global energy consumption and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.1
Cities are central to any solution to global economic, social, energy or environmental challenges. Without a
coherent strategy to run cities more efficiently, the global targets on greenhouse gas emissions and the
ambitions for sustainable growth cannot be achieved.
The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)
as principal partner, has produced a White Paper aimed at identifying ways to orchestrate infrastructure for
sustainable Smart Cities. This White Paper explains the what, who and how of Smart City development.
By 2050, it is projected that 67% of the global population will live in cities. Smart Cities are necessary to
reduce emissions and to handle this rapid urban growth. However cities, as we know them, are faced with a
complex challenge – the traditional processes of planning, procuring and financing are not adequate for the
needs of Smart Cities. Their development requires the right environment for smart solutions to be effectively
adopted and used.
Electricity is core in any urban infrastructure system and the key enabler of cities development, so IEC has a
specific role to play in the development of Smart City Standards. Delivering the full value of Standards to
accelerate the development of Smart Cities and lower its costs also clearly needs a strong collaboration of
all city stakeholders.
“If cities don't improve and become more efficient, energy and climate policy objectives can't be achieved,”
said Dr Jorge Nunez from CEPS.
Frans Vreeswijk, IEC General Secretary and CEO, underlined: "It is vital to bring all important city
stakeholders to a neutral table to work together to ensure the quality of life of the hundreds of millions who
live in cities.”
This White Paper explains what it needs to move cities to greater smartness. It calls for a wide collaboration
between many stakeholders, including other international standardization bodies to ultimately lead to
integrated, cost-efficient, and sustainable solutions.
The development of this White Paper was led by the IEC MSB (Market Strategy Board) project team on
Smart Cities in cooperation with CEPS. The MSB brings together the CTOs of leading international
organizations.
The White Paper can be downloaded from:
http://www.iec.ch/whitepaper/pdf/iecWP-smartcities-LR-en.pdf
or, with the option of requesting printed copies, at:
http://www.iec.ch/whitepaper/smartcities/
On Tuesday 27 January Orchestrating Infrastructure for Sustainable Smart Cities was launched in
Brussels, with Mark Van Stiphout, Deputy head of unit - DG Energy C2 - new energy technologies,
innovation and clean coal; Claude Breining, Schneider Electric, Project Leader; and Jorge Núñez Ferrer,
CEPS, Project Partner Leader.
About the IEC
The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) brings together 166 countries, representing 98% of the world
population and 96% of world energy generation, and close to 15 000 experts who cooperate on the global, neutral and
independent IEC platform to ensure that products work everywhere safely with each other. The IEC is the world's
leading organization that prepares and publishes globally relevant International Standards for the whole energy chain,
including all electrical, electronic and related technologies, devices and systems. The IEC also supports all forms of
conformity assessment and administers four Conformity Assessment Systems that certify that components, equipment
and systems used in homes, offices, healthcare facilities, public spaces, transportation, manufacturing, explosive
environments and energy generation conform to them.
IEC work covers a vast range of technologies: power generation (including all renewable energy sources), transmission,
distribution, Smart Grid & Smart Cities, batteries, home appliances, office and medical equipment, all public and private
transportation, semiconductors, fibre optics, nanotechnology, multimedia, information technology, and more. It also
addresses safety, EMC, performance and the environment. www.iec.ch
About CEPS
Founded in Brussels in 1983, the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) is among the most experienced and
authoritative think tanks operating in the European Union today. CEPS serves as a leading forum for debate on EU
affairs, but its most distinguishing feature lies in its strong in-house research capacity, complemented by an extensive
network of partner institutes throughout the world.
Goals:
 Carry out state-of-the-art policy research leading to innovative solutions to the challenges facing Europe today,
 Maintain the highest standards of academic excellence and unqualified independence,
 Act as a forum for discussion among all stakeholders in the European policy process, and
 Disseminate our findings and views through a regular flow of authoritative publications, offering policy analysis and
recommendations and through public events.
Assets:
 Complete independence to set its own research priorities and freedom from any outside influence.
 Multidisciplinary, multinational and multicultural research team of knowledgeable analysts,
 Participation in several research networks, comprising other highly reputable research institutes from throughout
Europe, to complement and consolidate CEPS’ research expertise and to extend its outreach, and
 An extensive membership base of some 135 Corporate Members and 112 Institutional Members, which provide
expertise and practical experience and act as a sounding board for the feasibility of CEPS’ policy proposals.
Programme Structure:
CEPS carries out its research via its own in-house research programmes and through collaborative research networks
involving the active participation of other highly reputable institutes and specialists.
CEPS in-house Research Programmes include:
 Economic and Social Welfare Policies
 Financial Markets and Institutions
 Energy and Climate Change
 EU Foreign, Security and Neighbourhood Policy
 Justice and Home Affairs
 Politics and Institutions
 Regulatory Policy
 Agricultural and Rural Policy
 The CEPS Digital Forum (www.digitalforum.eu).
1
The New Climate Economy Report, The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate http://newclimateeconomy.report/