Valencia: a sustainable, fair and green smart city model
In 2022 the Spanish city will be the European Capital of Smart Tourism and the World Design Capital.
Sunny, dynamic, sustainable, fair and green, Valencia is a real smart city.
Why? People, businesses, government, information and technology are strongly interconnected.
Thanks to the special smartphone application AppValencia, citizens can access real-time information on public transportation buses, bikes, but also receive city alerts and even or pay their bills online.
It’s so smart that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is the United Nations (UN) specialized body for ICT, has awarded it the title of “Sustainable and Smart City”, the first in Spain to achieve that.
Valencia: green, sustainable and inclusive
Appreciated for its Mediterranean climate and for its great attention to the environment, Valencia is a sustainable, inclusive and human-sized city for its cycle paths, its numerous green areas, its beaches and the wonderful historic center declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Spanish city has indeed adopted a great number of sustainable and environmental initiatives.
Getting around by bicycle in Valencia is very simple and safe: the cycle path network is very extensive (over 96 miles) and the speed limit has been reduced to 8 mph in 75% of the city streets.
The Spanish city also boasts of:
- five million square meters of gardens, including the Turia Gardens and the Royal Gardens, which act as green lungs by absorbing carbon emissions,
- 12 miles of beaches that have been awarded the European blue flag,
- the home of Spain’s first Michelin star to the Ricard Camarena restaurant that has been given Spain’s first Michelin green star for its commitment to sustainability and the environment, thanks to the use of locally grown ingredients raw materials and its efforts to reduce food waste,
- smart water management and waste disposal.
Much of the historic center, like Plaza del Ayuntamiento, has been turned into a pedestrian zone, has been cleared of architectural barriers have been removed and all the new projects have been designed for people with reduced mobility.
Valencia: European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022
As such, it is clear why Valencia has been crowned – together with Bordeaux – the European Capital of Smart Tourism for 2022.
The Spanish gem and the French capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region are the queens of the third edition of the competition launched by the EU, which rewards European cities for accessibility, sustainability, digitization, cultural heritage and creativity.
The Spanish municipality has indeed promoted a Sustainable Tourism Strategy by committing to achieve zero-emission tourism by 2025, which would make the city the first tourist destination in the world with zero environmental impact.
But how? By offering tourists innovative, sustainable and inclusive experiences such as:
- targeted digital applications, accessible 7 days a week, 24 hours a day,
- 5 smart tourist information centers,
- “geocaching” experiences, true online treasure hunts.
Everybody goes crazy for design: Valencia elected World Design Capital 2022
Cosmopolitan and sustainable destination, in 2022 Valencia will also be the World Design Capital, a nomination that comes from the World Design Organization.
Fair, sustainable, smart, green… Valencia is an exemplary real role model!
How can we contribute to the development of these smart cities?
For example, through the use of connected and integrated digital technologies, the construction of high-tech buildings according to the objectives of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, a smart waste collection and the promotion of sustainable mobility and a smart parking space management…
Did you know that Sotefin deals with the refurbishment of old abandoned buildings for the construction of automatic parking lots?
Find out more here.
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