Human settlements

One is that population growth is increasingly concentrated in the poorest countries – which are, in many cases, also the ones most vulnerable to climate change. 

Another is that the proportion of people living in cities worldwide continues to increase. It is now over 56%, compared with 46% as recently as 1999.

By 2050, when the UN estimates the global population will have risen to 9.7 billion, this percentage is expected to have increased to 68%. That means more people will be living in urban areas than lived anywhere on the planet at the start of the 21st century.

The impact of cities

As communities around the world grow more urbanised, the role of human settlements and urban planning in combatting the climate crisis becomes ever more important. Cities now consume over 75% of the world’s energy and produce more than 60% of all greenhouse gas emissions – even though they cover only around 2% of the world’s surface. So if we are to meet net zero targets on a global scale, making cities sustainable is going to be essential.

Smart cities

Some futuristic and sustainable cities are already being developed. In Japan, for example, Toyota’s Woven City will be a “living laboratory where new human-centred goods, services, and systems are developed, tested, and fine-tuned to make everyday life easier, increasingly sustainable, and more enjoyable for all.” As a pilot for a new type of carbon-neutral urban development, Woven City will have only fully self-directed, zero emission vehicles on its main streets.

Woven City is exploring what technology can deliver in terms of sustainability, as are other smart cities such as Neom in Saudi Arabia. But some smart city projects have fallen short of their initial high expectations, and the problem of financing alone means that the creation of new smart cities is not an option everywhere. So how else can we develop cities to combat the climate crisis?

Sustainable cities at COP27

The first COP ministerial meeting on urbanisation and climate change will be held at COP27. This is a huge step in recognising the importance of the role that urban areas play in the climate crisis. 

COP27 will also see the introduction of the Sustainable Urban Resilience for the next Generation (SURGe) Initiative, which aims to promote multi-level climate governance, stakeholder engagement and effective delivery through five integrated tracks: buildings and housing; urban energy; urban waste and consumption; urban mobility; and urban water.

Going forward

From a planning perspective, it is crucial that sustainability becomes a key focus from the earliest design and development stages of new urban projects. Existing cities do not have the advantage of starting with a blank sheet of paper, but that makes it even more important that they review their planning and development processes to ensure that they adapt and support the drive to achieve net zero.

Singapore is a good example of a densely populated urban environment that is becoming more ‘green’ by massively prioritising effective green spaces and incorporating green building requirements into its legislation.

While cities contribute greatly to climate change, they are often also highly vulnerable to its effects. Any attempt to create a sustainable city needs to take into account such challenges as rising temperatures, pollution and flooding from extreme weather incidents. These challenges will grow greater as we head towards the mid-century, and new urban developments will have to be built to withstand them – with existing cities also adapting rapidly.

Citizens and businesses alike will increasingly expect urban authorities and governments to legislate for sustainability, as well as contributing significantly to its funding. Some cities may be ‘smarter’ than others in their use of new technology, but every city will need to invest its efforts and resources in a smart way to ensure the wellbeing and protection of its people.

Related CMS resources: