In this episode, recorded live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, we travel to France to explore a pragmatic vision for sustainable urban development. We are joined by Gérard Wolf, Special Advisor for Smart & Sustainable Cities to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, who shares the French approach to building resilient cities based on four essential services: energy, water, waste management, and transportation.

Gérard discusses why simplicity must be prioritised over complex technological fixes and how this mindset drove the massive decarbonisation efforts behind the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We also delve into the importance of the circular economy, specifically the strategic shift from demolition to retrofitting existing buildings. Finally, the conversation highlights a crucial human-centric challenge: ensuring that Smart City progress does not leave behind those living in informal settlements, making inclusivity a global priority.

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• (00:00:00) - Intro
• (00:01:46) - Four Essential Urban Services
• (00:05:31) - Teaser question: Impact, Simplicity, Cost or time?
• (00:06:46) - Guest background
• (00:09:07) - Integrating Essential Services
• (00:11:30) - Fast Wins vs Deep Transformation
• (00:14:20) - Decarbonizing the Paris Olympics
• (00:19:45) - Scaling Circular Solutions
• (00:24:16) - Retrofitting and Material Reuse
• (00:29:13) - Addressing Slums and Inequality
• (00:33:18) - Segment: Shout Out
• (00:38:05) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”