he most important resource any smart city has is not technology but rather its people. The success of a smart city depends on residents who sign off on the changes in their neighborhood and are willing to adopt the new technologies and platforms integral to its functioning.
Brands and government leaders engaged in developing smart cities must involve local communities at the strategy level as well as at the ground level of action to build a truly sustainable space.
Mobilizing the Smart City’s Most Critical Resource
Making social sustainability inherent in smart cities will allow residents to share the problems from their perspectives, much different from what outsiders can infer. Smart cities are not static, and keeping their social aspect at the forefront also means keeping afoot of changing values and priorities, alternatives, benefits, risks, consequences and solutions.
Another important social aspect of smart cities is diversity and inclusion, empowering people from overlooked groups and finding solutions for people of all beliefs, abilities and backgrounds. Social sustainability can give greater control to people who have traditionally been marginalized.
Engaging residents in the process is an opportunity to include diverse perspectives into the solution, get buy-in for it and have an army of stakeholders who continually show up to tackle problems and collaboratively work on the answers. The more people recognize why their inputs matter and their ideas and actions count, the more sustainable and sovereign a smart city will be.
The Role Brands Can Play in Nurturing Social Sustainability
Many brands today recognize the importance of the “S” in their ESG efforts — their relationship with the internal and external stakeholders, communities and societies in which they operate. They’re actively looking for ways to integrate social sustainability into their core business strategies and strengthen relationships with all members of their ecosystem.
In smart cities, brands have a social permit to operate within certain localities, which can significantly affect that locality’s sustainability. At the most fundamental, brands can influence social development, eradicate poverty and inequity, and influence legislative outcomes that benefit everyone. On the other hand, the lack of these efforts almost certainly impacts their business operations and growth.
As a part of their ESG projects, brands can:
- Hire locally to create jobs, uphold fundamental rights, and provide equal pay.
- Create inclusive and safe workplaces and environmentally friendly value chains.
- Make social investments in their local communities to support local social and climate projects.
- Support policies that are sustainable, inclusive, and renewable.
- Collaborate with other brands, nonprofits, and individuals to make a greater impact.
Moving beyond these bedrock principles, brands in smart cities that want to lead with social sustainability also need to:
- Create new systems and processes that are equitable and shine the spotlight on the overlooked and marginalized.
- Participate and sponsor projects that build more sustainable, equitable, diverse, connected, democratic and empowered communities.
- Promote well-being and understanding, support local social and cultural life, and build infrastructures and spaces that are environmentally friendly and where communities can thrive.
- Champion resilience and sovereignty of a community at present and in the future.
Rabble is building a platform that makes it easier for people to get involved in their communities, take action, participate in governance, and become part of the change they want to bring to their neighborhoods. And we’re partnering with brands that can provide incentives to these individuals and communities.
We work directly with brands that believe in the importance of social sustainability and want to support collective action projects in neighborhoods to empower local communities and build sustainable smart cities. Learn more here and join in our efforts.
Source:
- https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/our-work/social
- https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/corporate-16-brands-doing-corporate-social-responsibility-successfully
- https://www.adecesg.com/resources/faq/what-is-social-sustainability/
- https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/participation/encouraging-involvement/involve-those-affected/main
- https://aese.psu.edu/research/centers/cecd/engagement-toolbox/engagement/why-community-engagement-matters
