Welcoming Cities into the GeSI Ecosystem

Cities are where digital sustainability becomes tangible. They bring together people, infrastructure, services, investment, and many of the environmental and social challenges that define the sustainability agenda today. They are also the places where digital solutions can move beyond concept and deliver measurable results at scale.

For GeSI, this makes cities far more than end users of innovation. They are essential partners in turning digital ambition into practical progress.

As GeSI continues to strengthen its role at the intersection of digital transformation and sustainable development, introducing a dedicated City Membership category offers a natural next step. It would create a structured way for municipalities to engage directly with ICT companies, research institutions, and international organisations across the GeSI ecosystem, while bringing implementation more firmly into the centre of the organisation’s work.

Why cities matter

Urban areas sit at the heart of the sustainability transition. They account for a significant share of global emissions and concentrate many of the systems that shape environmental performance, including energy, transport, buildings, waste, water, and public services. At the same time, city governments are increasingly responsible for delivering climate action, improving resilience, and responding to growing demands for more efficient and inclusive urban development.

Meeting these challenges requires better coordination, stronger data, and more intelligent infrastructure. Digital technologies are therefore becoming increasingly important to urban decision-making and service delivery. From smart energy systems and connected mobility to digital twins, climate monitoring platforms, and more efficient water and waste management, cities are already using digital tools to improve sustainability outcomes in practical ways.

This is closely aligned with GeSI’s mission. The organisation’s work has consistently focused on how digital innovation can support climate goals, resource efficiency, and improved quality of life. Bringing cities more directly into the membership base would reflect that reality and strengthen the connection between innovation and deployment.

Strategic value for GeSI

Welcoming cities as members would add an important implementation dimension to GeSI’s ecosystem.

Much of the value of digital sustainability lies not only in developing strong frameworks and promising technologies, but in applying them in real-world settings. Cities provide precisely that opportunity. They offer environments where solutions can be tested, refined, and scaled, and where collaboration between public authorities and technology providers can lead to visible, measurable impact.

This would strengthen GeSI’s work across a number of areas. In the context of Smart Cities, closer city engagement could support pilot projects, peer learning, and stronger collaboration between municipal leaders and solution providers. Within the European Green Digital Coalition, cities could help apply and validate methodologies that measure the climate contribution of digital technologies in real urban settings. Through the United Nations Solutions Hub, municipalities could bring forward concrete local challenges and connect with technology partners, investors, and implementation opportunities.

In this sense, city membership would not sit alongside GeSI’s existing priorities. It would reinforce them.

What cities would gain

For cities, joining GeSI would mean becoming part of a global network focused on practical digital sustainability solutions.

Member cities could engage directly with leading ICT companies, research institutions, and international organisations, while gaining access to expertise, good practices, and emerging approaches to sustainability measurement and digital transformation. They could also participate more actively in collaborative initiatives, pilot opportunities, and knowledge exchange across the GeSI community.

Just as importantly, membership would offer cities a stronger platform from which to share their own experience and demonstrate leadership. As urban sustainability becomes an increasingly important global priority, municipalities have much to contribute to the wider conversation on how digital tools can support more resilient, efficient, and inclusive development.

A proposed framework

To support meaningful participation, the proposed model includes a tiered membership structure based on city size and economic capacity. This approach is intended to ensure accessibility while recognising the different circumstances and capabilities of municipalities.

It also opens the door to a more structured form of engagement through mechanisms such as a City Advisory Council, City Innovation Labs, and a dedicated Annual Smart Cities Forum. Together, these could provide practical channels for identifying urban priorities, shaping collaboration, and supporting solution deployment.

Looking ahead

Cities are where many sustainability challenges are most visible, but also where progress can be most clearly demonstrated. Bringing them into GeSI as members would strengthen the organisation’s ability to connect digital innovation with implementation, deepen collaboration across sectors, and expand the reach and impact of its work.

By opening its ecosystem more directly to municipalities, GeSI can further position itself as a platform where digital leadership and sustainable urban transformation come together in practice.