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Abstract The convergence of technology and the city is commonly referred to as the ‘smart city’. It is seen as a possible remedy for the challenges that urbanisation creates in the age of global climate change, and as an enabler of a sustainable and liveable urban future. A review of the abundant but fragmented literature on smart city theories and practices, nevertheless, reveals that there is a limited effort to capture a comprehensive understanding on how the complex and multidimensional nature of the drivers of smart cities are linked to desired outcomes. The paper aims to develop a clearer understanding on this new city model by identifying and linking the key drivers to desired outcomes, and then intertwining them in a multidimensional framework. The methodological approach of this research includes a systematic review of the literature on smart cities, focusing on those aimed at conceptual development and provide empirical evidence base. The review identifies that the literature reveals three types of drivers of smart cities—community, technology, policy—which are linked to five desired outcomes—productivity, sustainability, accessibility, wellbeing, liveability, governance. These drivers and outcomes altogether assemble a smart city framework, where each of them represents a distinctive dimension of the smart cities notion. This paper helps in expanding our understanding beyond a monocentric technology focus of the current common smart city practice. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Determines the current state of conceptual understanding of smart cities • Highlights the key smart city drivers and desired outcomes • Generates insights into expanding our understanding on smart cities • Develops a comprehensive multidimensional smart city framework • Intertwines smart city drivers with desired outcomes in a multidimensional framework [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly guided by the use of ICT, the flow of humans and materials, smart cities and autonomous mobility amalgamate into a game changer in urban planning. This paper critically explores the role of autonomous (driverless) vehicles in plans for urban futures. By looking into the urban plans of 10 European capitals, we investigate the anticipated promises and hazards of autonomous vehicles. Theoretically, the paper draws upon critical urban mobilities studies that invite interlinking carbon reduction, smart cities and mobility planning. By examining these plans, the paper critically evaluates current urban planning for autonomous vehicles by asking whether one can identify any links to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of sustainable cities and communities. A practice-based view on automation is then suggested as a pathway to promote a thorough sustainable mobility transition. It is concluded that none of the plans of the 10 capitals studied require AVs to integrate with public means of transport or to be fuelled by renewable energy sources. Hence, AVs are likely to individualise and intensify the existing automobility regime further and emissions are likely to increase, according to the comparative urban analysis. We therefore conclude that urban policy-making needs to contest the existing techno-centric conception of autonomous vehicles if these are to support the sustainable development goals of cities. • Urban governance of AV mainly displays recrafting policy framings, though sequencing is also identified. • Comparative document analysis of AV governance across cities using new mobility planning as methodological framework. • Urban governance of AV integrated with MaaS and public transportation best accommodate SDG 11 on cities. • Urban governance of AV should favour soft mobility over cars whether automated or not according to planning documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing risks associated with climate-related hazards, urban development in many coastal cities continues to take place on low-lying, high-risk land. Resilience is a key concept in adaptation, however, in the context of cities it is a complex phenomenon influenced by a diverse range of factors. This paper explores how the key elements of urban resilience (agents, institutions, and systems) interact to determine the types of approaches cities take to build resilience in two Australian cities. It uses case study data including semi-structured interviews with a diverse group of stakeholders ranging from local and state government authorities, non-government organisations, consulting firms, and researchers to the insurance industry. Findings indicate that the attitude of agents shapes the institutions and systems thus determining types of adaptation strategies in response to climate change. When the community's desire to live close to water couples with a lack of understanding or underestimation of the impacts, adaptation efforts are undermined. These findings call for a focus on the key role of agents for a transformational approach to building resilience that is based on shared learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has existed for over three centuries and has developed into the financial capital and most important economic hub of Vietnam. This profile outlines the history of HCMC's development and its impact on current conditions and physical structure of the city. The paper analyzes some of the problems with respect to urban land use that have occurred in HCMC in the transitional period after Doi Moi and discusses the city's future challenges, in the perspective of climate change and further economic and population growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current policy and stakeholder debates suggest that climate change remains a risk factor for the rising urban floods situation in Ghana. However, there is a dearth of empirical works to explain the link between flood incidence and climatic-related factors. Using a long-term secondary climatic data, this paper analyses the extent to which climate change influences the incidence of floods in urban Ghana. In-depth qualitative analysis of the perspectives of households and key informants was carried out to complement the initial quantitative analysis in order to broaden the understanding of the risk factors of the worsening floods situation. The results have shown that the rising flood situation in Kumasi is largely independent of climate-induced increase in rainfall and current temperature patterns but strongly linked with anthropogenic factors, including unregulated urban expansion, inadequate drainage infrastructure, poor solid waste management practices, and weak institutional and regulatory regimes. Strengthening institutions, law enforcement and public education are important interventions to control the flood menace in Ghana. • Public discourse suggests that climate change remains a risk factor for the rising floods in urban Ghana. • The rising floods in Kumasi is largely independent of climate-induced rainfall increase and current temperature patterns. • Anthropogenic factors largely explain the rising urban floods in Kumasi. • Strengthening institutions, law enforcement and public education are key in the control of flood menace in Kumasi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities, as entities, are inevitably exposed to a range of the internal and external factors that shape their urban development and planning. As complex adaptive systems, cities possess different capabilities and opportunities for the re-configuration, transformation and learning from these disturbances. This city profile explores these processes using Darwin, the Northern Territory's capital and Australia's eighth-largest city as an example. The city profile is situated within Urban Resilience Theory. It unpacks the nuanced way geographic factors and spatial isolation; natural disasters, World War 2 bombing, border security threats, natural resource extraction, and tourism have shaped Darwin's urban development. Understanding these nuances and their spatiotemporal dynamics coalesces into the identified system susceptibilities and opportunities for an adaptive and sustainable development presented in this paper. The city's unique urban governance, successive reconstruction, socio-spatial dynamics, history, and challenges make it an excellent case study of city growth dynamics and resilience within the Asian-Pacific region. The profile highlights Darwin's regional planning and the (historic) production of urban space, along with climate change risks and adaptation, increasingly inaccessible housing and unaffordability, economic growth challenges and demographic dynamics. • Population growth was associated with capital projects, resource extraction booms, and military presence in Darwin. • Complex political, socio-economic, and disruptive forces shaped population growth, urban planning, and development. • Darwin has one of the most expensive rental housing markets among Australian capital cities. • Current spatial growth and development furthered automobile-dependent mobility among households. • Project-based development approaches proved to be inadequate to deliver sustainable and resilient urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Outdoor spaces are important to sustainable cities because they accommodate pedestrian traffic and outdoor activities, and contribute greatly to urban livability and vitality. In the global context of climate change, outdoor spaces that provide a pleasurable thermal comfort experience for pedestrians effectively improve the quality of urban living. The influence of thermal comfort on outdoor activities is a complex issue comprising both climatic and behavioral aspects; however, current investigations lack a general framework for assessment. This paper presents a review of research over the past decade on the behavioral aspects of outdoor thermal comfort. The article focuses on perceptions of outdoor thermal comfort and the use of outdoor space in the context of urban planning. We further discuss a general framework for assessing outdoor thermal comfort based on behavioral aspects and the need for predicting tools in the design and planning of outdoor thermal comfort. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents an approach to quantifying current and future city-wide flood risks to Ho Chi Minh City. Here urban planning scenarios linking urban development and climate change explore the main driving forces of future risk. According to the redefined role of urban environmental planning in times of climate change, spatial planning needs to go beyond traditional planning approaches to bring together, draw upon and integrate individual policies for urban adaptation strategies for land-use planning. Our initial research results highlight that the spatiotemporal processes of urban development, together with climate change, are the central driving forces for climate-related impacts. The influence of planned urban developments to the year 2025 on future flood risk is seen to be significantly greater than that of projected sea-level rise to the year 2100. These results aid local decision making in an effort to better understand the nature of future climate change risks to the city and to identify the main driver of urban exposure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper seeks to present the main drivers for climate agenda advance in the city of Recife in Brazil, discussing how geographical characteristics and the historical urbanization process of the city have contributed to the climate risks and vulnerabilities. A city profile is designed and the literature about drivers to cities actions to climate change are used as theoretical basis. The presence of committed leaders, multilevel governance, being part of multinational cities networks and access to funding are traditional fundamental factors identified in the literature to strength climate agenda in a city which were also found in Recife. The climate risks imposed to cities with lower development level were found as important driver to climate action, unlike what previous studies showed for European cities. The article contributes evidencing factors that can decisively assist cities to strength the climate agenda, mainly in developing or less developed countries. It also provides insights for academics and policymakers about low carbon urban strategies that can be adopted by cities. This is the first city profile to address the relationship between the impacts of urban evolution in a Latin American city and the threats imposed by climate change. • The presence of committed leaders, multilevel governance, being part of multinational cities networks and access to funding are traditional fundamental factors identified in the literature to strength climate agenda in a city which were also found in Recife. • The climate risks imposed to cities with lower development level were found as important driver to climate action, unlike what previous studies showed for European cities. • Cities, especially in developing and less developed countries, can exploit these drivers to strengthen their climate agenda. The path adopted by Recife can serve as an example in their climate planning. • The institutionalization of the climate agenda is fundamental to avoid interferences due to changes in the city's political management. The formation of climate leaders is essential to reduce the need of external support. The multilevel governance must be strengthened. Capacity building, finance, and cooperation with other cities is fundamental to move forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas play a pivotal role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to adverse effects of climate change, worldwide. Climate-related assessment of urban development projects shall contribute to reduce complex climate vulnerability, especially in fast growing cities in emerging economies. Hungarian cities face significant challenges regarding changing climatic patterns, consequently climate-oriented assessment methodology to evaluate the performance of urban development interventions is needed. The main aim of the research was to elaborate on a comprehensive methodology that can define mitigation, adaptation, and awareness-raising aspects of interventions; moreover may reveal path dependencies in order to avoid negative lock-ins during urban development activities. The developed method uses a three-step scoring approach to assess both direct and indirect impacts of selected interventions while taking into account the main objectives of the Budapest Climate Change Strategy as evaluation criteria in order to strengthen local-specific characters. By applying the developed methodology, the main conclusions can be defined by paying attention to weaknesses and strengths of the selected interventions regarding mitigation, adaptation, and awareness-raising issues; thus, further recommendations were identified to improve their overall climate performance and to avoid negative lock-ins. • Analysis of urban development actions is crucial in avoiding negative lock-ins. • The developed method uses a three-step scoring approach to assess both the direct and indirect impacts of selected interventions. • Further recommendations were identified to improve their overall climate performance and to avoid negative lock-ins. • The recommendations made in the present paper may support the decision making processes during the whole life cycle of planned actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]