<p>The ever-increasing rate of urbanization in almost all the countries in the world has taken the attention of the global policy makers since one of the most serious by-products of this activity is environmental pollution. Although the countries are growing in terms of economic activities the pollution problems have made them barred from attaining the sustainable development goal. The need for smart city planning is thus an essential policy instrument for controlling the pollution problem. The smart city program enables the citizens of the cities in terms of a bundle of facilities which allows them maintaining good natural environment as well as good physical health of themselves. Human development is thus a good outcome of smart city planning. The present study aims to investigate whether human development and pollution levels maintain long run relationships across 100 top cities in the smart city ranking in a panel data model for the period 2013–2022. The results show that in most of the cities belonging to both the high income and middle-income countries human development and pollution are maintaining stable equilibrium relationships. Thus, it is recommended that the policy makers should emphasize more upon strengthening income, education and health sectors so that good human development can be ensured to lessen pollution levels in the cities.</p>