Responsible metaverse-powered smart cities can contribute to sustainable development goals

Abstract Amidst rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and smart city technologies, this paper argues that the Metaverse, as a virtual form of smart cities, offers the potential to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in education, innovation, and sustainable urban development. However, goals related to inequality reduction and climate action are underrepresented. We argue that the Metaverse holds transformative potential to advance the SDGs, but its trade-offs for equality and environmental sustainability must be carefully considered. This requires adopting ethical and inclusive governance frameworks that are based on systems thinking.