Swarna Das
LEED AP, Sustainability Consultant, FARNEK SERVICES LLC, UAE
Swarna is a sustainability professional with nearly seven years of experience in wastewater management, policy development, and climate-resilient infrastructure planning. She specializes in integrating environmental engineering solutions with sustainability principles to address challenges in urban and rural contexts. Swarna has led statewide wastewater management strategies, conducted pilot studies in multiple towns, delivered training programs for policymakers and engineers, and authored policy frameworks promoting resource efficiency and circular economy practices. Her work aligns with SDGs 5, 6, 11, and 13, focusing on climate resilience, sustainable cities, and water and sanitation. Swarna is passionate about stakeholder collaboration, capacity building, and implementing practical solutions for lasting environmental and social impact.
1. What innovations are helping cities reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and optimize urban mobility worldwide?
Cities worldwide are adopting different pathways to tackle their climate crisis and to reduce the GHG emissions. Cities like Copenhagen and Helsinki have prioritized large-scale district heating infrastructure to heat and cool entire cities, using a combination of waste-to-energy and industrial waste heat recovery. Copenhagen has already lowered its per capita emissions by 40% compared to the national average. In contrast, Singapore emphases on building-level optimisation. Through advanced AI-driven energy management, commercial districts continuously adjust cooling, lighting, and ventilation to reduce consumption. This reveals how digital intelligence can drive major efficiency gains even in dense urban environments.
A second major trend is the electrification of public transport, where cities like Oslo are pairing electric bus fleets with demand-responsive charging. By charging vehicles during low-demand periods, Oslo reduces grid stress while supporting long-term transit decarbonisation.
Nature-based solutions also play a pivotal role. New York’s High Line and Melbourne’s Urban Forest Strategy show how expansive greening programs like tree canopies, green corridors, and permeable landscapes can cool cities, reduce heat islands, and improve air quality.
In essence, the most effective cities are those that integrate technology and nature-positive planning. This blended approach creates urban environments that are low-carbon, resilient, healthier for residents, and ultimately far more liveable.
2. How can technology, such as IoT, AI, and smart grids, enhance sustainability while maintaining affordability for residents?
IoT and AI can be considered as new paths to manage water, energy and transport systems without causing much cost burden on people. Smart grids systems are using predictive demand modelling and automated load balancing to stabilize energy supply. The advantage is that this will reduces the dependence on expensive backup power.
IoT devices such as the smart meters, leak detection sensors, and sensor integrated streetlights will use real-time insights which will helps in reducing the wastage across the sytems. Barcelona’s smart water system, for example, significantly cut leakage and lowered municipal operating costs, which helped maintain stable tariffs.
Predictive maintenance across utilities using AI will reduces accidental failures and extends asset life which is crucial for cities with ageing infrastructure. Since most digital tools are modular, cities can pilot with low-cost deployments and scale slowly, ensuring sustainability remains both effective and economically viable.
3. How can MENA cities implement smart urban solutions that address water scarcity, extreme temperatures, and rapid population growth?
MENA towns must tailor smart solutions to address water scarcity, extreme temperatures, and rapid population expansion. Efficient water systems drawing lessons from Riyadh’s leak detection initiatives use digital monitoring and district-level greywater reuse to reduce dependence on high-energy desalination.
Mitigating heat in MENA region requires a combination of passive and technology-enhanced design. Masdar City at Abu Dhabi demonstrates how shaded walkways, building orientation, and narrow street canyons can reduce ambient temperatures without increasing energy demand. District cooling systems widely used in Dubai provide large-scale cooling with much lower electricity consumption than conventional air conditioning.
Planners can utilise digital twins and scenario modelling to anticipate infrastructure needs, improve decision on public transit routes, and prevent capacity tailbacks.
4. How can governments and private sectors collaborate to ensure sustainable, climate-resilient, and economically viable urban development in the region?
Private sector innovations & collaboration working within the Government frameworks is crucial for building resilient and sustainable cities in the MENA region. Apart from the global frameworks on green buildings, region specific regulatory frameworks such as Abu Dhabi’s Estidama and Dubai’s green building codes set the baseline for energy efficiency and resource circularity in UAE.
Governments can additionally aid progress through green finance, PPP model, and clear investment models for renewable energy, water recycling, and smart mobility. The private sector including developers, technology firms and startups can bring in specialized expertise based on practical insights.
When policy clarity, financial mechanisms and industry innovation align, MENA cities will be well-positioned to deliver urban development that ensures climate-resilient which can be globally benchmarked, while reflecting the region’s climate complexities.