h . Data and information protection to boost the confidence of stakeholders in using smart solutions to reduce carbon emissions within districts and cities . i . Gender empowerment and inclusivity of vulnerable groups to balance the decisionmaking process . j . Community empowerment through open data , and solutions to ensure room for communication between all levels of Government and community .
Policy Pathways for Smart and Inclusive Cities ( ESCAP )
The five policy pathways for smart and inclusive cities presented in the Future of Asian & Pacific Cities report create a strong foundation for advancing smart and inclusive cities for health throughout the region .
PATHWAY 1 : Improve Smart City Governance Across Urban Systems , Institutions and Actors to Overcome Inequalities and Make More Informed and Integrated Planning Decisions
Just as a systems approach to integrated master planning and dynamic urban governance enhances smart cities and works to reduce inequalities , expanding this municipal commitment to building a healthier city via smart city technology is essential to achieving disease prevention and health promotion goals . Building on this pathway , cities could develop a healthy city peer-sharing network that exchanges comprehensive up-todate data , ideas , best practices and tools around ICT applications for health . A key first step would be to establish a robust COVID-19 best practice data and information repository to build artificial intelligence ( AI ) generated scenarios for decisionmakers to consult for future outbreaks .
PATHWAY 2 : Encourage Technology Firms to Become More Civic Minded and Create Sustainable Smart City Solutions with Social Enterprises
Keeping in mind the risks of smart cities enabling greater inequity that the Future of Asian & Pacific Cities report points out , and building on Pathway 2 , cities could develop an open-data dashboard that collects and shares baseline digital health information in collaboration with social enterprises and like-minded technology firms . Transparent data-sharing frameworks are required to harness the positive possibilities of ‘ digital epidemiology ’— the real-time assessment of public health through technology . Establishing data for health-sharing partnerships across agencies , departments and sectors , including establishing agreements with private sector companies and researchers , is critical .
PATHWAY 3 : Adopt Cybersecurity Safeguards in both Digital and Physical Urban Infrastructure Development Planning
As the Future of Asian & Pacific Cities lays out , ensuring safety and security in both the physical and digital world is critically important to cities . Part of building cybersecurity safeguards into cities includes battling disinformation online and strengthening citizen trust in Government messages and directives for health . Governments can add a layer of health protection with consistent , clear and evidence-driven communication campaigns that build trust with citizens and offer sound scientific public health strategies using digital technology .
PATHWAY 4 : Develop Smart Mobility Investment Plans that Prioritise Sustainable Urban Mobility Options for Citizens
As Pathway 4 describes in the Future of Asian & Pacific Cities report , cities should actively work to integrate electric vehicles ( EVs ) and digitally connected public transportation systems into their mobility systems . Expanding on these recommendations to prioritise urban health and a more resilient pandemic recovery means focusing on shared , sustainable and active transportation solutions .
PATHWAY 5 : Expand Viable Smart City Funding Mechanisms by Enabling Cross-Sector Partnerships and Business Matching Platforms
Cross-sector partnerships and shared platforms are essential to enabling the expansion of digital and physical infrastructure in cities . With a shift to online service delivery and digital or telehealth solutions , internet access must be assured for all residents so that existing
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