About this Discussion

Urban centres provide opportunities for a range of social and cultural activities, as well as being critical for innovations in science, technology and education. They are also of critical importance for social and economic development. However, with approximately 40% of global energy use taking place within city buildings, this sector is also the single largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.

As a result, the design and use of energy and resource-efficient buildings has a key role in climate change mitigation to accelerate the global green economy transition. Although vast savings are possible by constructing new green buildings and retrofitting existing buildings, even greater gains can be achieved by adopting a long-term life-cycle approach involving stakeholders at different stages – from environmentally-minded investors and architects, to sustainable extraction, construction and usage, and the eventual demolition and the recycling or disposal of the building materials.

Cities are well-placed to play a major role in decoupling economic development from resource use and environmental impacts, while finding a better balance between social, environmental and economic objectives. Resource-efficient cities combine greater productivity and innovation with lower costs and reduced environmental impacts, offering at the same time financial savings and increased sustainability.

Cities and Urban Development

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Check out this recent analysis by IFC and C40 Cities about how cities, e-bus manufacturers, and financiers can accelerate the green transport revolution!

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https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/industry_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/infrastructure/...

Make a contribution to the new Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures, published with Springer Nature

https://medium.com/mark-and-focus/urban-and-regional-futures-30e9ae7803…

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New report out from RMI -- 'Coming Back Stronger: A City-Driven Infrastructure Agenda for a Cleaner, More Resilient, More Equitable America'. Much more needs to be done in cities across the US, but there's some really interesting case studies in this report, covering a wide range of sectors, including mobility in Seattle, water in Newark, energy in Cincinnati, and more!

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https://rmi.org/insight/coming-back-stronger
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)

Buildings are the key component of the low-carbon transition, accounting for nearly a third of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions globally. Energy efficient buildings generate a variety of co-benefits, such as job creation, health improvements, and reduced household energy expenditure – key… Read More

Cities have a significant role in the efforts to achieve the GHG emissions reduction target. Which cities are leading the way on environmental action & disclosure for a sustainable transition in Europe? Read this blog from CDP.

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https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/cities/why-cities-will-be-key-for-achieving-the-eus-new-emissions-ta...
Stephani Widorini commented on Stephani Widorini's Post in Cities and Urban Development

Can cities emerge as the leaders in promoting a low-carbon, climate resilient economic recovery in Asia-Pacific? UNESCAP compiles examples from countries across the Asia-Pacific region that explore the linkages between climate change ambitions, policies, multi-level governance frameworks - that involve different combinations of public, private and non-state actors, and citizens - and vertical integration in cities in the region. Particularly relevant for climate and urban development policymakers, technical-level officials and practitioners.

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https://www.unescap.org/resources/vertical-integration-climate-change-policies-and-actions-asia-paci...