The report, prepared for the twenty-third biennial meeting 11-15 April of member states in the Governing Council which oversees UN-HABITAT's work programme and budget, says the real battle against climate change is taking place in our cities. Cities and large urban centres are already where most of the world’s population live. By 2030, an estimated 59 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas, with developed countries as the most urbanized at 81 per cent. Meanwhile, in developing countries the average is projected to be around 55 per cent by 2030. Every year sees the addition of 67 million new urban dwellers, and 91 per cent per cent of these is added to the populations of cities in developing countries.
According to the report, the world’s cities are responsible for up to 70 per cent of harmful greenhouse gases while occupying just 2 per cent of its land. “What goes on in cities, and how they manage their impact on the environment, lies at the core of the problem. It is the combination of urbanization’s fast pace and the demand for development that poses the major threat,” says UN-HABITAT.
“Cities are responsible for the majority of our harmful greenhouse gases. But they are also places where the greatest efficiencies can be made. This makes it imperative that we understand the form and content of urbanization so that we can reduce our footprint,” Joan Clos Executive Director of UN-HABITAT told a news conference in London this week.
Stressing the all important urban dimension of climate change, he said: "City authorities have an important level of influence over both greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change. If we ignore this now, hundreds of millions of people will be at risk from the effects of climate change in the future."
But not all is bleak. According to the report, the time to address this is now. Well planned cities with efficient urban transport provision and solid adaptation and mitigation strategies can actually have less impact on climate change and provide clear economic and social opportunities for their inhabitants.
A city by city comparison for example shows how even within countries there are large differences in emissions. In the US for example, Washington, has overall per capita greenhouse gas emissions which are surprisingly high compared with the other North American cities – with a value of 19.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents per capita each year, compared to a US average of 23.9 tonnes.
NY’s old buildings actually a plus
In contrast, New York City’s emissions are relatively low for a wealthy city in a developed country. This is the result of high population density, small dwelling size, an extensive public transport system, and a large number of older buildings that emphasize natural day lighting and ventilation.
In comparison to North American cities, the contribution of urban areas in Europe to climate change is relatively low. European urban areas tend to be more compact. They tend to have lower car ownership and car usage rates, smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, reducing emissions from private transportation. They tend to have more effective public transportation networks, which are deemed socially acceptable to a broader range of individuals. Furthermore, urban areas in Europe have higher levels of densification and lower levels of sprawl in comparison to North American cities.
“Understanding the contribution of cities to climate change will help us intervene at the local level. With better urban planning and greater citizen participation we can make our hot cities cool again,” ends Clos.
For additional information:
Global Report on Human Settlements: Cities and Climate Change
