UN-Habitat’s latest report analyses the effects that cities have had and will have in the future on our climate. The UN report argues that, “the effects of urbanisation and climate change are converging in dangerous ways that seriously threaten the world’s environmental,economic and social stability” [1].
One of the most important findings to emerge from the report is the realisation that whilst the world’s cities collectively only cover around 2% of the earth, they contribute to about 70% of the world’s emissions of greenhouse gases [2]. The reason for this is that cities provide concentrations of energy intensive activities that are mostly powered by fossil fuels. They are transport hubs, they are centres of business and their infrastructure and buildings are hugely energy intensive, whether they are used for commercial purposes or for residential living. It is clear that cities are energy intensive and whilst this is something to be concerned about, there is also massive potential for cities to be the centre of innovation and technology. One of the characteristics of cities is their large population and large immigration rate. Joan Clos, the executive director of UN-Habitat told the BBC that we have passed the threshold of 50% of the world’s population living in urban areas [2]. The world is becoming a more urbanised place, with rural populations depleting all over the globe. Cities are arguably a cause of climate change but they can also be seen as a way to find solutions to the issues of climate change. Along with this concentration of people, also comes the knowledge and innovation for change and this is something that needs to be utilised and exploited, if we are going to reduce the impact that our cities have on the earth’s climate.
The UN report gives a daunting realisation of the effects of our urban lives, but it also provides some encouragement and cause for optimism (an ever important part of the challenge to combat climate change and get people on board). The report acknowledges that, at the moment, the majority of the climate change framework and rhetoric is aimed at national governments and international organisations, but this balance needs to change. We need to increase the involvement of local governments and stakeholders through clearly defined processes, and it argues that local action is ‘indispensable’ [1].
So far, in the history of debates surrounding climate change, the majority of the general public are apparently aware of the issues, due to the much publicised earth summits and dramatic media reports. However, there is a school of thought that to get people to change the way they live and follow a more sustainable path, we need to take a much more bottom up approach. The UN-Habitat report proposes the idea of partnerships [1]. Partnerships can evolve on several different levels, such as between local government and business, between local government and NGO’s, between businesses and community groups. Local needs should be assessed in terms of climate change and encourage the expansion of community participation [1]. By taking a more localised approach to tackling climate change, the prospect of it will become less daunting and more approachable, giving people the belief that change does matter and that their actions will make a difference. Arguably, the politics and rhetoric of climate change are being played out over national and international borders, which is important, but are far removed from the local lives of many people. Local practices will provide sources of innovation that are more likely to achieve collective action on climate change that will make a difference.
References
[1] Global Report on Human Settlements 2011, Cities and Climate change: Policy Directions. Introduction. Available from http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/GRHS2011/ED2011.pdf.
[2] The Times (2011), UN Report: Cities ignore climate change at their peril (Mark Kinver). Available from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12881779.
[3] http://www.hantsastro.org.uk/projects/lightpollution/images/earthfromspace.jpg
