Externalities of urban logistics: challenges and opportunities for achieving smart and sustainable cities

Although urban logistics is vital for cities, it is often provided inefficiently and current trends are unsustainable, creating an urgent need to find innovative ways to reduce its externalities. This article presents a systematic review of the literature with the aim of analysing in depth the negative externalities associated with urban logistics, such as traffic congestion, pollutant emissions, energy consumption, accidents and noise. In addition to analysing these and other challenges, the article offers technological, organisational and governance proposals to promote a transition towards smart and sustainable cities in line with the sustainability and efficiency challenges of the 2030 Agenda and the principles of Logistics 5.0.