News
5th June 2025
As featured in a Smart Cities World Special report, we mark World Environment Day today (5th June), by shining a light on how Sunderland is harnessing smart city innovation to power its journey to a more sustainable future.
From connected infrastructure to data-driven decisions, our smart city is embracing technology to create a more sustainable, inclusive and forward-thinking future for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
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Sunderland’s Low Carbon Action Plan outlines a clear path to reducing emissions and creating a healthier environment across our communities. Underpinning that ambition is a growing ecosystem of digital and data-led projects, helping Sunderland become a greener, more efficient and resilient place to live, work, play and invest.
In this blog, we explore just some of the exciting projects shaping our sustainable smart city journey.
Sunderland has developed a proof of concept showcasing the potential of data visualisation and simulation to impact decision-making. By visualising energy certificates data, potential emissions and more, staff can make more informed decisions that support sustainability goals.
Whether it’s modelling the impact on our environment of pedestrianisation in key areas or visualising operational EPC ratings, the platform helps us plan smarter, reduce emissions and build a more resource-efficient city.
Explore Sunderland’s Digital Twin Work.
The Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle (SAMS) is a shining example of how smart technology can reduce transport emissions. Through trials of autonomous zero-emission shuttle, the city is exploring new models of clean, connected and accessible public transport.
Combined with smart traffic systems and journey data, these solutions have the potential to significantly cut carbon emissions as well as improving safety and convenience on our roads.
Sustainability and digital inclusion go hand in hand. Sunderland’s Donate Devices campaign has saved over 1,000 devices from landfill and prevented over 58,000 kg of CO₂ emissions, meanwhile giving devices a second life in the hands of Sunderland residents who need them most.
By reducing e-waste and supporting digital access, this campaign is supporting environmental and social sustainability, whilst aligning to our core ethos of leaving no one and nowhere behind. The Donate Devices campaign is empowering people to learn, connect and thrive in an increasingly digital world.
See the impact of Donate Devices.
One of the strategic priorities defined in our Low Carbon Action Plan, is the development of an energy efficient built environment reducing the amount of energy we use and building in energy resilience by integrating energy generation / solar wherever possible
Sunderland is embedding sustainability into its built environment with the rollout of smart buildings. These spaces demonstrate how innovation can reduce energy use, use real-time data to manage energy more efficiently and contribute to the city’s low carbon goals.
Explore Sunderland’s smart building rollout here.
Sunderland’s smart city approach even extends to our IoT pilots. Smart bins fitted with fill sensors ensure that waste is collected only when needed, saving fuel and cutting down on unnecessary journeys.
Numerous IoT pilots have reduced emissions and are helping us move to a more sustainable future – from our network of networks enabling data transmission and removing the manual collation of data, and our innovative approach using flush valves and temperature probes to enhance legionella safety in our buildings.
Discover how we’re optimising waste management with smarter bins for a greener city.
As the effects of climate change become more visible, Sunderland is taking proactive steps to protect people, places and infrastructure. Smart technology is playing a crucial role in helping the city prepare to adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and mitigate environmental risk.
Through data-driven monitoring and connected infrastructure, Sunderland is building resilience and evolving to meet the city’s needs now and in the future.
Our flood defence sensors are helping to predict and prevent flooding in vulnerable areas by monitoring water levels in gulleys and trash screens, enabling faster, more efficient responses and more informed decision making.
Explore how we’re creating a safer and smarter city with new flood risk management sensors.
Sunderland’s smart city journey has always been about more than just technology – it’s about sustainability, inclusion and community. By leveraging real-time data, connected infrastructure and green innovation, we are improving everyday life while accelerating our progress to a cleaner, green future.
Want to see how smart city innovation is driving environmental and social progress across Sunderland? Explore our news and insights to see the impact for yourself.