New Delhi: What happens in cities will to a large degree decide whether humanity can lower its common environmental footprint, or whether it will face a greater risk of substantial climate change and other daunting ecological problems.
The United Nations Population Division estimates that over half of the world's population lives in urban centres today, a number likely to grow to almost 60 per cent by 2025 and to 70 per cent by 2050.
Today's cities are already responsible for about 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to UN-Habitat, making them in carbon terms a highly inefficient way to live. This need not be. Cities have built-in economies of scale, which should allow much lower average environmental footprints for residents. Achieving these savings, however, means taking challenges like global warming, water use or waste seriously -- in particular creating and modifying infrastructure elements as well as incentives to make greener lifestyles viable.
It did not deal with social or economic aspects of sustainability. Nor did it consider behavioural change, except to the extent that the decision to purchase a new technology is in itself a behavioural step. Broader behavioural change was, of course, important, but its effect has not been specifically calculated for this report.
Whatever its relative performance, many of the city's environmental challenges share much in common with those facing comparable large urban centres.
London is also a particularly helpful case because of its efforts to take a lead on many of these issues.
The United Nations Population Division estimates that over half of the world's population lives in urban centres today, a number likely to grow to almost 60 per cent by 2025 and to 70 per cent by 2050.
Today's cities are already responsible for about 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to UN-Habitat, making them in carbon terms a highly inefficient way to live. This need not be. Cities have built-in economies of scale, which should allow much lower average environmental footprints for residents. Achieving these savings, however, means taking challenges like global warming, water use or waste seriously -- in particular creating and modifying infrastructure elements as well as incentives to make greener lifestyles viable.
It did not deal with social or economic aspects of sustainability. Nor did it consider behavioural change, except to the extent that the decision to purchase a new technology is in itself a behavioural step. Broader behavioural change was, of course, important, but its effect has not been specifically calculated for this report.
Advertisement
Whatever its relative performance, many of the city's environmental challenges share much in common with those facing comparable large urban centres.
London is also a particularly helpful case because of its efforts to take a lead on many of these issues.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Medical Device Industry Opposes Import Of Refurbished Medical Devices Pollution, Climate Change Drive Caspian Sea Towards Shrinkage Growing New Forests in Mexico Could Help Protect Oyamel Forests and Monarch Butterflies 3 Coaches Of Secunderabad-Shalimar Superfast Express Derail Near Howrah 3rd Assassination Attempt On Trump? "Iran Asset" Charged For Plotting Murder Amid India-Canada Diplomatic Standoff, A Bombshell From Justin Trudeau Amid India-Canada Diplomatic Standoff, A Bombshell From Justin Trudeau "Dark Moments In History...": Biden On Attacks On Israeli Fans In Amsterdam SIDBI Bank Recruitment 2024: Application Begins, Check Steps To Apply Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.