The UN says climate-smart cities are the future – these 3 projects show their potential

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More than half of the world’s population lives in cities, and most future population growth is predicted to happen in urban areas. But the concentration of large numbers of people and the ecosystems built around their lives has also been a driver of climate change.

Cities are responsible for 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). And they are highly exposed to many of the impacts of the climate change they contribute to, in particular heat stress, flooding and health emergencies. Making cities more resilient, sustainable, inclusive and safe is one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11), requiring sustained investment.

Projects in Chile, Abu Dhabi and Mexico demonstrate that establishing ‘climate-smart’ infrastructure can pay off.

+ info: World Economic Forum

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