Balancing sustainability with profitability for smarter cities is crucial to success. Half the world's population will live in urban areas by the end of this year and about 70 percent will be city dwellers by 2050, with cities and towns in Asia and Africa registering the biggest growth, according to a U.N. forecast. It is important to remain profitable in these areas. Managing sustainability standards, goals and partnerships for a company has also its challenges and risks associated with sustainability as concern.

Google / Latlong

Mobility and Android can benefit the redesign of the cities digital plans, reduce cost and enhance customer or resident experience. Mobile cities have started to introduce more varied formats into the network, ranging from large scale projects in high-traffic urban crossroads and services throughout select cities around the world.

Walmart is also working to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions with long term objectives to be supplied by 100 percent renewable energy. In fiscal years 2009 and 2010, Wal-Mart experienced respective USD $2.3 billion and USD $9.8 billion unfavorable currency exchange rate impacts. Wal-Mart then experienced $4.5 billion favorable currency exchange rate impacts which improved its rate of efficiency per unit of net sales.

By 2030, 5 billion people or 60 percent of the world’s population will live in cities:

• They achieve smart growth. Smart growth identifies and nurtures the very best opportunities for growth, plans ways to cope with its demands, integrates environmental thinking, and ensures that all citizens enjoy a city’s prosperity. Good city leaders also think about regional growth because as a metropolis expands, they will need the cooperation of surrounding municipalities and regional service providers. Integrating the environment into economic decision making is vital to smart growth: cities must invest in infrastructure that reduces emissions, waste production, and water use, as well as in building high-density communities.

• They do more with less. Great cities secure all revenues due, explore investment partnerships, embrace technology, make organizational changes that eliminate overlapping roles, and manage expenses. Successful city leaders have also learned that, if designed and executed well, private–public partnerships can be an essential element of smart growth, delivering lower-cost, higher-quality infrastructure and services.

• They win support for change. Change is not easy, and its momentum can even attract opposition. Successful city leaders build a high-performing team of civil servants, create a working environment where all employees are accountable for their actions, and take every opportunity to forge a stakeholder consensus with the local population and business community. They take steps to recruit and retain top talent, emphasize collaboration, and train civil servants in the use of technology.

*McKinsey & Company

McKinsey reports that Mayors are only too aware that their tenure will be limited. But if longer-term plans are articulated—and gain popular support because of short-term successes—leaders can start a virtuous cycle that sustains and encourages a great urban environment.

For smart cities, mobility delivers opportunities in public sector for today. Residents and Consumers have the ability to research relevant city data online, discuss information and set up automated payments using their mobile app. The current economic climate has resulted in increased pressure for these cities.