E- Citizens’ participation roads, and the rolling out of new social rules and regulations. In this context of crisis, decisions have had to be made in a As cities grow larger and have a greater impact on the quick and efficient manner, often on the basis of citizens’ real- environment, local governments will have to adapt to ensure time feedback and changes in their everyday habits. However, that the needs of their citizens are being met. Civil engagement the changes brought about in response to the pandemic do not might be a key part of a city’s journey toward sustainability. constitute a durable framework and set of rules. Input from citizens can help to define the dynamic of a city. To create confidence in long-term objectives focused on Unfortunately, rates of citizen participation in local governance developing a successful smart and sustainable city, active are lower than ever.56 The use of town hall meetings and citizen participation is vital. It allows governments to respond surveys to connect with residents is somewhat overlooked, to constantly evolving situations and to implement changes or at least limited. Modern municipal governments are no that are in the public’s best interests. Engaging citizens and longer connected with their citizens to the degree that they focusing on inclusivity can mobilize communities and bring a used to be. In some cases, the level of citizen participation wide range of benefits. in the management of public affairs is painfully low. This can have numerous negative effects on a city, from an alienated Citizens can also play a crucial role in identifying or actively population to the implementation of unpopular policies. intervening in urban challenges. When they are invited to do Venice’s and Barcelona’s social movements in opposition to so, they often provide new perspectives, benchmarks, and mass tourism illustrate this point.57 solutions. Novel technologies can significantly improve citizen participation, but there is a need to better understand and It is therefore necessary for city governments to embrace new systematize current and emerging practices. processes, tools, and methods for inspiring citizen engagement,58 which is an important part of any public sector decision-making Cocreation that involves both government actors and external process. Local government can give citizens a voice and allow stakeholders such as citizens and businesses is a crucial them to actively take part in decision-making processes device when it comes to successfully formulating strategies to concerning issues that affect the place where they live. Citizen tackle today’s urban challenges. It can rely on both established participation is giving residents the opportunity to express their methods or new and experimental participatory approaches. views about specific projects at different levels (building, street, Part of the policy agendas for smart cities should be cocreated neighborhood, and city). The primary idea is to offer them a via citizen participation. That participation should be structured chance to voice their opinions, concerns, and complaints, but according to processes with well-defined steps, and it should another goal is to offer them advice and an opportunity to share include appropriate feedback mechanisms. To facilitate a high experiences. Anticipating at what stage of a project this citizen rate of active participation, it is also important to set up robust participation will be organized will influence the type of tools evaluations to measure the impact mechanisms. The key aim used: open groups may be used at the beginning, whereas is to enable effective engagement.59 surveys may be run before a project’s specifications are finalized. Cities aim to set up better governance and implement changes Citizen engagement is essential. Improving involvement by that truly benefit all concerned. engaging citizens so they participate in collective negotiation and discussion is a challenge that municipalities need to rise The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a major need for to if they want to obtain democratic support for their policies. greater citizen engagement. It forced Western cities to Obtaining citizens’ participation requires precise answers to undertake rapid transformation in the form of, for example, the following questions: What is the current quality of public the closure of offices, an increase in remote working, the engagement? How does it improve democratic decision making implementation of new bicycle lanes, the closure of main in the area of sustainable urban transformation? (56) Brossolet, C., Schelings, C., & Elsen, C. (2021). Making Smart Meters Acceptable: An End-user Standpoint. University of Liege. https://www.participation- citoyenne.eu/fr/countries/belgique (accessed on 6 July 2021). See the DECIDE project (DEmocratic Compact: Improving Democracy in Europe), March 2016. https:// www.participation-citoyenne.eu/en/publication/democratic-compact-improving-democracy-europe (57) Ferrer, J. R. (2017). Barcelona’s Smart City vision: an opportunity for transformation. Field Actions Science Reports. The journal of field actions, (Special Issue 16), 70-75. (58) Simonofski, A., Asensio, E. S., & Wautelet, Y. (2019). Citizen participation in the design of smart cities: Methods and management framework. Smart Cities: Issues and Challenges, 47-62. (59) https://urban.jrc.ec.europa.eu/thefutureofcities/the-citizens-city#key-messages (accessed on 16 March 2021). 46 Quélin and Smadja | HEC PARIS | SMART CITIES | The sustainable program of six leading cities | 2021