The World's Population Becoming More Urban

Nowadays, more than half of the world's population resides in urban areas (53%). By approximately 2050, the urban population is expected to be around 6.3 billion. Compared to rural areas, urban areas are much more energy intensive, which is becoming a greater problem as the urban population continues to increase.

According to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, “the greatest potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions may lie in rapidly developing cities in industrializing countries.” The report also states that urban areas are responsible for three quarters of global carbon emissions and consume between 67 to 76 percent of the world’s energy.

In order to combat climate emissions, it would be beneficial for growing cities to develop a more sustainable infrastructure and for industrialized nations to focus on developing renewable technologies.

Shanghai, China/Source: Fritz Hoffman, National Geographic

 According to Felix Creutzig from the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change in Berlin, “it would make it a lot more feasible to achieve (climate) targets if we had the infrastructure that did not require so much energy.”

Creutzig also mentions that higher fuel prices and sustainable urban development is especially important in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, which are rapidly becoming more urban.

If we really want to lower carbon emissions, then it is important to consider sustainable urban planning moving forward.

Source: BBC News