@UtkarshaMuley
New Delhi: “Go Smart is our platform for all smart cities. The technology we provide for developing smart and sustainable cities for the world is crucial and part of our international diplomacy. Along with this promoting equality in diversity is also part of our international diplomacy”, said Marcin Mateusz Jerzewski a research fellow at Taiwan NextGen Foundation.
He added that they want to help establish smart, sustainable and resilient cities. The Taiwan model is very efficient. It is a leader in smart city technology.
Jerzewski was speaking at a seminar on Smart Cities and Taiwan’s International Space organised by Go Smart recently in New Delhi. The speakers at the seminar included – Mrozowisk Robert, Poland Public Relation (PR) officer in Taipei, Camyale Chao Chief Executive Officer of the International Climate Development Institute,
Anugh Shih Chief Executive Officer of Oring Industrial Networking Corporation.
A smart city means developing an urban area that is technologically advanced. It uses modern technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI), electronic methods to collect data. India has also started the National Smart Cities Mission (NSCM) in 2015 for economic growth and to make them friendly and sustainable.
Taiwan has become an international technological centre and also in manufacturing semiconductors and it is also reflected in its use of technology for developing the smart cities.
Taipei city in Taiwan is leading in Smart City as per the Smart City Index 2021 by Institute for Management Development (IMD) Switzerland Taiwan ranks fourth in the world in embracing technology, health, ecological, societal issues while developing the city.
Mrozowisk Robert, Poland, Public Relation (PR) officer in Taipei, gave various examples of Taiwan technology used in developing smart cities while speaking at Smart Cities and Taiwan’s International Space, an event organised by Go Smart.
He said, “These are success stories. It is not some marketing gimmick but has a strong interest in people. The issue of pollutions, renewable energy is given importance while implementing.”
The first example he gives of installing an Intelligent monitoring and analysis system which works on AI has helped reduce crimes related to cars on the road. This system detects suspicious activity. He gives examples of other such smart technology in use like solar benches, smart dustbins, etc.
He added, “All these solutions are practical. Another interesting innovation is Triggo. It is a Robbo taxi which combines the advantages of cars and motorcycles and it is very useful in traffic jams.
“I hope that we could further work together to deal with issues like waste management. It would take Taiwan–Poland partnership to new heights”, said Camyale Chao, Chief Executive Officer of the International Climate Development Institute. He further said that the need for smart city solutions is to incorporate technology in enhancing climate resilience.
Chao argued that climate change and developing cities go hand in hand. These goals are to help build smart and sustainable cities which do not harm the environment. He added that the issue was discussed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP26 summit in Glasgow. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by the United Nations (UN) deal with various problems and areas that need attention to make cities sustainable.
He said, “Newest targets decided by countries in COP26 in zero-emission of carbon by 2050. The newest goal was set by looking ahead 50 years from now”.
“Now the latest issue which will be taken up at the next COP which will be held in Egypt will be reducing carbon emission and looking at the next 20 years. The newest target is 2030 to cut carbon emission by 50 percent. To achieve this goal all the countries will need to cut down their carbon emission at least three percent per year”, added Chao.
Chao has been working with the Taiwan government for the past two years and all other stakeholders to develop smart city solutions that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. The major approach is the smart city.
He said that the smart city is not a target but an approach and the solution to all these problems is not the newest but the most approachable one.
The economic condition of the whole world has been shattered due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020 the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of all the countries was negative except for Taiwan. Taiwan’s GDP was not that badly affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic because of its quick response in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic and climate change are not to be dealt with separately but together. The rate of uncertain calamities has increased and two years of the pandemic has made the markets very difficult,” said Chao.
He said that the most vulnerable to such scenarios are small and medium scale sectors and supply chains. The big corporations have different funds and resources and it does not affect them as badly as it does to small and medium scale sectors and supply chains.
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