ABSTRACT
This article reviews existing research and discussions on urban policy in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis focuses on the first pandemic period in the European Union and the Middle East. A search was conducted in available databases and search engines (Scopus, Google Scholar). A critical bibliometric analysis of publications from the first pandemic period was carried out. The most frequent topics covered were spatial organization, transport, environment, and social issues. The analysis showed that the quantitative scope and depth of the selected topics in the European Union and the Middle East differ. Activities defined as "exploitative” should be considered a particularly interesting point of reference in both analyzed regions. © 2023 by the authors.
ABSTRACT
The chapter sheds light on the genealogy and the key definitions of the smart city concept. It reviews the underlying principles of smart cities and highlights their main contributions to dealing with climate change. The chapter points out that the concept has undergone many changes during the past 2 decades, promoting from a technology-oriented to a human-oriented approach. The COVID-19 pandemic is evaluated as a pivotal event in the concept's development, paving the way for broader acceptance of smart city initiatives within cities. The emphasis on achieving sustainable development and quality of life through ICT is considered a common theme among definitions for smart cities. The chapter outlines eight fundamental smart city principles: livability, sustainability, efficiency, security, resilience, productivity, inclusion, and transparency. Finally, the contributions of smart cities to climate change management are addressed in the six action areas of citizens, government, economy, mobility, and living. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.