Following the raised climate ambition achieved with the Glasgow Climate Pact last year, global attention is now turning to the effective implementation of headline pledges. For countries to meet their targets, practical policies and solutions need to be urgently implemented.
Cities, being the biggest carbon emitters, are at the heart of this climate action. Their transformation would determine the fate of the global economy. The latest IPCC report has declared the 21st century an urban one, defined by a massive increase in urban populations reaching 68 per cent by 2050 – with Asian and African cities seeing the biggest increases. The carbon emissions of cities have correspondingly been on the rise – reaching over 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Aggressive climate action can bring city emissions to net-zero by 2050 – but failing to act could see urban emissions double in that time, the IPCC report said.
Many cities are already taking action to combat climate change and its impacts, such as by using renewable energy sources and transitioning to cleaner industrial systems. But more needs to done and at a faster rate. What are the other implementation strategies that will accelerate change, so that cities can be more climate-resilient, resilient and inclusive?
Held in the week before COP27, the global climate change meeting hosted by Egypt this year, this year’s edition of Cities: Possibilities forum will focus on the practical ‘how’ to fulfil net zero pledges, investigating what how cities can implement better, faster and more effective climate initiatives.
The 2023 edition of The Liveability Challenge, Asia’s largest sustainability solutions platform presented by Temasek Foundation, will also be launched at this event for the first time. Join us as we unveil the new themes for the sustainability innovations we are looking for in the year ahead.
