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WHD CONCEPT NOTE

ACCELERATING URBAN ACTION FOR A

CARBON-FREE WORLD

URBANIZATION AND years according to UNDESA,
CONCEPT NOTE
CARBON EMISSIONS raising the proportion of
22 June 2021
The global urban population people in urban areas from
has spiralled upwards since 55 percent today, to nearly 70
the mid-twentieth century. percent in 2050. Urbanization
Between 1950 and today, the is taking place most rapidly
population of cities around in the less developed regions
the world has more than of the world (figure 2).
quadrupled with over 4.2 Currently, three times as
billion people now living many urban dwellers live in
in urban environments the less developed regions
according to the World Bank. than in the more developed
Accelerating urban action regions, and 90 per cent of
Over the same time, the
concentration of atmospheric
has
been
estimated
“It for a carbon-free world dioxide, a key new urban residents will
live in Africa and Asia. Most
carbon
that GHG emissions from indicator of global warming, cities in developing Africa
cities can be reduced by has risen by over a third and Asia are still to be built,
1. Urbanization and Carbon Emissions
almost 90 per cent by 2050 (figure 1) almost entirely due and the World Economic
using technically feasible, to human activity. Today, Forum projects two-thirds

The global urban population has spiralled upwards since the mid-twentieth century. Between 1950 and
widely available mitigation cities account for about of the investments in urban
today, the population of cities around the world has more than quadrupled with over 4.2 billion people
measures. This means that 75 per cent of the world’s infrastructure in Africa
now living in urban environments according to the World Bank. Over the same time, the concentration
of atmospheric carbon dioxide, a key indicator of global warming, has risen by over a third (figure 1)
city actions can potentially energy consumption and are needed by 2050 have yet to
almost entirely due to human activity. Today, cities account for about 75 per cent of the world’s energy
reduce global emissions by responsible for over 70 per be made. There is a window
consumption and are responsible for over 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The way
over 70 per cent.” cent of global greenhouse gas of opportunity to shape these
cities are planned, built and managed, is key to reducing carbon emissions and keeping global warming
cities in a way that reduces
emissions. The way cities are
within the limits set by the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
planned, built and managed, overall energy consumption
and greenhouse gas (GHG)
This is especially important as cities and towns are projected to add a further 2.5 billion people in the
is key to reducing carbon
emissions.
next 30 years according to UNDESA, raising the proportion of people in urban areas from 55 percent
emissions and keeping global
today, to nearly 70 percent in 2050. Urbanization is taking place most rapidly in the less developed
warming within the limits set
The increasing population
regions of the world (figure 2). Currently, three times as many urban dwellers live in the less developed
by the 2015 Paris Agreement
growth and migration to
regions than in the more developed regions, and 90 per cent of new urban residents will live in Africa
The World Habitat Day 2021 Concept on Climate Change. cities, in many cases caused
and Asia. Most cities in developing Africa and Asia are still to be built, and the World Economic Forum
Note has been reproduced from the This is especially important by climate stress, create
projects two-thirds of the investments in urban infrastructure in Africa needed by 2050 have yet to
UN-HABITAT website https:// as cities and towns are challenges in providing
be made. There is a window of opportunity to shape these cities in a way that reduces overall energy
urbanoctober.unhabitat.org/sites/ projected to add a further 2.5
consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
default/files/2021-09/concept-note-whd. basic services to urban
billion people in the next 30
residents, particularly the
pdf The increasing population growth and migration to cities, in many cases caused by climate stress,
create challenges in providing basic services to urban residents, particularly the poor. Ensuring that
growing cities are compact, and that expansion takes place in a planned manner to accommodate
the growing number of residents helps reduce their carbon footprint. Compact cities also make the
42 provision of basic services such as waste management, transport, energy and water and sanitation
42
HUDCO-HSMI
Publication
HUDCO-HSMI Publication
more resource-efficient and financially viable. UN-Habitat therefore promotes a strategy that combines
compact city planning together with good governance and equitable provision of basic services.
Avoiding urban sprawl also reduces stress on ecosystems, promoting a balanced coexistence between
human settlements and nature, and contributes to the prevention of zoonotic diseases such as
COVID-19.
1