This study presents a systematic review of the literature of 84 articles and books (1997–2020) dealing with the concept and processes of Smart Cities worldwide. It identifies and analyses the three main perspectives: (a) the techno-centric perspective, (b) the humanist perspective and (c) the collaborative perspective and proposes a novel perspective thereof. It shows that, although there is still a lack of consensus on the subject, some of the definitions of Smart Cities, particularly the more comprehensive ones, seem to be moving in the right direction, in line with our perspective, bringing technology closer to people and at the same time integrating it into a new system of systemic, multi-dimensional, multi-actor and multi-level local governance in a network. Future studies could focus on analysing the results of the processes of transforming cities into Smart Cities and producing more quantitative work, given the predominance of qualitative case studies in this area.

A consensus exists regarding the idea that, in the search for sustainable development (SD), Local Agenda 21 (LA21) is a key tool for implementing a set of sustainability policies at local level. From a consensus of this nature both an important flow of scientific production and a significant degree of real implementation might be expected. However, a review of the literature and a real case-study (Spain) lead us to conclude that although increasing effort is being made in both fields, there is still a long way to go.

We analyse the Local Agenda 21 (LA21) implantation process in Western Europe from 1992 to the present day. Basing our work on a literature review and on our own direct observations, we construct a model that explains the development of LA21 processes. We term it the ‘isolated, supported, and connected’ (ISC) framework. Our model attempts to make a contribution to (1) LA21 literature and (2) policy network literature. On the one hand, previous LA21 literature discussed factors that hold back and drive LA21 processes, but a comprehensive conceptual framework has not been constructed. Our model integrates the different variables within a single conceptual ISC framework. On the other hand, conceptual policy network literature holds that fully connected models ought to be superior to less connected, or isolated, models, but empirical evidence is scanty and inconclusive. Our research supports the conclusion that policy networks are superior in terms of disseminating LA21 processes.

Access to green spaces offers numerous benefits to citizens and is key to achieving environmental justice. This article explores accessibility to green infrastructure (GI) in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, the European and Global Green Capital in 2012 and 2019. Vitoria-Gasteiz was selected as a case study because it combines actions aimed at promoting green infrastructure in the city along with an urban model that in recent years has favored more expansive urbanism. Manhattan distance and configurational analysis is used to investigate accessibility to the most relevant elements of the GI system and their integration in the urban tissue. Considering the actual pedestrian mobility network, configurational accessibility is examined globally and locally with 1 km and 300 m radii. The analysis reveals great differences both in global and local configurational accessibility across fifty components of the GI system that are greater than 0.5 ha and open for public use. It also shows that, while almost all inhabitants (97.9%) reside within 1 km from these green areas, 27.7% of the population live more than 300 m away. The investigation demonstrates the need to improve the city’s GI to provide universal accessibility to green spaces. It offers useful methods that planning professionals and local administrations can use to assess residents’ access to green areas and guide future GI transformation and development towards environmental justice.