Most recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) launched a platform called “Shaping the Future of the Internet of Things and Urban Transformation” to help transform “the spaces in which we live, work and play to enable a more sustainable, resilient and prosperous future for all.” The WEF is working with more than 100 global partners to implement the platform’s key initiatives, which include Future of the Connected World, focused on the Internet of Things (IoT); Future of Real Estate, discussing transitioning the real estate industry; and Future of Cities, which will discuss the “responsible and ethical use of smart city technologies with partners representing more than 200,000 cities and local governments”.

Clearly, the World Economic Forum is a major proponent of the push towards Smart Cities. Through their partnerships, initiatives, and publications, the WEF is playing an outsized role in promoting the technological vision for urban areas. However, upon closer examination it becomes clear that the WEF is simply parroting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. One of the “Core Funders” of the Resilient Cities Network is the Rockefeller Foundation. The Rockefeller Foundation is intertwined with the Gates Foundation as part of the COVID-19 operation. They are also working with the World Economic Forum on the CommonPass vaccination passport.>