SUSTAINABLE INTELLIGENCE IN SMART URBAN DEVELOPMENT A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF GOVERNANCE AND GREEN INNOVATION IN CHANDIGARH AND COPENHAGEN

Abstract

Cities breathe, falter, recover, and rise again — and in that rhythm lies the quiet power of sustainable intelligence. This study undertakes a comparative examination of Chandigarh and Copenhagen, two urban worlds shaped by vastly different histories yet united by the ambition to build greener, smarter futures. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research draws upon primary survey data from residents and urban stakeholders alongside secondary indicators of environmental performance, governance quality, and green innovation intensity. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling is employed to assess how governance, citizen engagement, and data-driven intelligence steer the adoption of green innovations and shape citizens’ perceptions of environmental performance.

The findings reveal that governance quality exerts a strong influence on sustainable intelligence and green innovation, while sustainable intelligence partially mediates their relationship. Green innovation significantly predicts perceived environmental performance, although the strength of these pathways diverges between the two cities. Multi-group analysis indicates that governance is a stronger driver of sustainable intelligence in Copenhagen, whereas green innovation has a more pronounced effect on environmental perceptions in Chandigarh. The results underscore that cities do not merely depend on technology to evolve; they rely on citizen trust, integrated governance, and the delicate interplay of policy and innovation. The study offers actionable insights for policymakers seeking to cultivate resilience and sustainability through data-driven governance and targeted green innovation strategies.