Urban transitions guided primarily by technological efficiency are not on their own sufficient to deliver a sustainable future. Kaohsiung’s experience demonstrates how industrial transformation, cleaner energy, accessible transport, water security and community participation can connect climate action with improvements in everyday life. Positioning human needs at the core of urban governance does not imply rejecting smart systems and artificial intelligence. Rather it places these capabilities in service of accountable institutions, equitable access and absolute emissions reductions within planetary boundaries. Progress depends on distinguishing commitments from delivery and assessing who benefits, who bears the costs and whether resource demands are genuinely falling. Cities can thus evolve from being adopters of smart technologies to becoming deliberate stewards of innovation pathways, developing and sharing solutions that enable flourishing lives for all on a flourishing planet.

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