Future Possibility of Smart and Sustainable Cities in the Mediterranean Basin

Abstract

Environmental fragility combined with the social and economic issues make the Mediterranean a hotspot, from multiple perspectives. The South–East Mediterranean (SEM) area risks becoming even more vulnerable, due both to the impacts of climate change and to the uncontrolled urbanization process and degradation of natural resources. The experimental strategies used by countries with a higher level of wealth to implement development models of more sustainable urban areas often include use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), thus pursuing a Smart City approach. This paper analyzes the strategies promoted by international organizations to address some of the most pressing problems in the Mediterranean. It also attempts to delve into the role ICTs play in these programs. The results show that those projects that embrace this direction are still rather limited. This is mostly due to the necessity, for most SEM countries, to tackle the problem of strengthening networks and accessing information. The next European investments are moving in this direction, but support for local governments in defining a critical approach toward “a Mediterranean way toward the Smart City” is crucial.