STUDY FOCUS This article reflects on the urban components of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which addresses the critical issues of climate change, mitigation, and adaptation within cities. The author critiques the report for its ideological leanings and its tendency to focus on theoretical frameworks rather than providing critical assessments of the actual conditions faced by developing cities. While AR6 emphasizes the importance of reducing carbon footprints, it overlooks the broader social implications— referred to as the social footprint of carbon— and fails to adequately address the significant adjustments that mitigation and adaptation efforts will necessitate for urban populations in developing nations. POLICY RECOMMENDATION The article calls for a more nuanced understanding of urban climate challenges, highlighting the need for comprehensive evaluations that consider both environmental and social dimensions. The author recommends that future reports and policy frameworks integrate assessments of social impacts alongside environmental strategies. This approach would ensure that the unique challenges faced by developing cities are acknowledged and addressed, facilitating more equitable and effective climate action that takes into account the realities of urban populations in these regions. STUDY FOCUS This paper explores the challenges and opportunities of data governance in the context of smart city development in Shenzhen, China. It highlights the critical importance of establishing effective mechanisms for managing data, given the unique institutional characteristics of the region. The study finds that a centralized governmentled approach has been adopted, transitioning from merely addressing the fragmentation of government data to promoting the integration of diverse data sources across society. Collaborative efforts between the government and technology enterprises have resulted in the creation of open data platforms, along with regulations aimed at safeguarding data security and privacy while facilitating data exchange for innovation. POLICY RECOMMENDATION However, the paper identifies several key challenges. Stakeholders lack adequate incentives to provide accurate information, and the value of data is not sufficiently recognized, which hampers data sharing. Furthermore, citizens are often uninformed about the types of data collected and their uses, and institutional mechanisms to ensure responsible handling of citizen data by public authorities are still lacking. To address these issues, the paper recommends actively involving citizens in data governance processes to align with a people-centered approach to smart city development. This includes enhancing transparency about data collection and usage, creating incentives for accurate data reporting, and establishing robust institutional frameworks to protect citizen data. By fostering citizen engagement, the governance of data in smart cities can be improved, leading to more effective and equitable outcomes. SOCIAL AND URBAN POLICY Xie, Siqi, Ning Luo, and Masaru Yarime, “Data Governance for Smart Cities in China: The Case of Shenzhen,” Policy Design and Practice, 7 (1), 66-86 (2024). Lejano, R. P., & Kan, W. S. (2024). “IPCC and the City: The need to transition from ideology to climate justice.” Journal of Planning Education and Research, 44(3), 983-990. 25 SCHOLARLY SHOWCASE
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