\u201cCities and communities, municipalities and local governments are at the forefront in coping with the COVID-19 crisis,\u201d said ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cities are home to 3.5 billion people, half of humanity, and 5 billion people are projected to live in cities by 2030, with 90 per cent of this increase expected to be in Asia and Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cities in 210 countries have been affected by COVID-19 and 95 per cent of all cases are in urban areas (UN-Habitat COVID-19 Response Plan<\/a><\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTogether, standards bodies have an opportunity to support the recovery, to provide solutions to \u2018rethink cities\u2019 after the pandemic. We share a huge opportunity, and a huge responsibility.\u201d ~ ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Three World Smart City Forums<\/a> organized by ITU, ISO and IEC from 2016 to 2018 discussed cities\u2019 challenges, the value expected of standards in support, and the standards cooperation necessary to success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Joint Task Force will reinforce the inclusive dialogue initiated by these World Smart City Forums. It will engage all stakeholders to identify standardization demands and provide leadership in guiding the supporting collaboration of ITU, ISO and IEC and the broader standardization ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCities are vibrant centres of business, culture, and learning. They are a gathering place for innovation and creativity. But, as COVID-19 has exposed, cities are also deeply vulnerable.\u201d ~ IEC General Secretary Philippe Metzger<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n IEC General Secretary Philippe Metzger also highlighted responsibility alongside opportunity, emphasizing the urgent need for action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRecent developments in technology and data-gathering have opened new opportunities and accelerated the possibility to improve quality of life,\u201d said IEC General Secretary Philippe Metzger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Joint Task Force will lead a conversation to ensure standardization solutions for smart cities are comprehensive, capitalizing on synergies among standards bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis conversation is now of more urgency than ever,\u201d said Metzger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly truly smart cities will be able to leverage technologies and data, facilitated by international standards, to cope with the momentous challenges we face today, ranging from the long-term impact of climate change to the COVID-19 pandemic.\u201d ~ IEC General Secretary Philippe Metzger<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Joint Task Force builds on ITU, ISO and IEC\u2019s longstanding commitment to coordinated standards development. It represents an integrated response to SDG11 \u2018Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable<\/em>\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDigital transformation is accelerating, industries are converging, and we see an associated convergence in the responsibilities of different regulators \u2013 we see why the SDGs emphasize the importance of new partnerships,\u201d said Chaesub Lee, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Around 10% of ITU\u2019s standards are common or aligned texts with ISO\/IEC Joint Technical Committee 1 (Information Technology)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Work of common interest benefits from established cooperation procedures, the ITU-ISO-IEC Standardization Programme Coordination Group<\/a>, and the ITU-ISO-IEC Common Patent Policy and related Guidelines<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs the world\u2019s three leading standards bodies, we have been a leading voice in calling for coordinated standards development and cohesive standards application.\u201d ~ Chaesub Lee, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n ITU, ISO and IEC together form the \u2018World Standards Cooperation\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This cooperation leads the celebration of World Standards Day, 14 October, paying tribute to the collaborative work of standards experts worldwide. Learn more about the upcoming World Standards Day 2020: Protecting the planet with standards<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n