About this Discussion

Urban centres provide opportunities for a range of social and cultural activities, as well as being critical for innovations in science, technology and education. They are also of critical importance for social and economic development. However, with approximately 40% of global energy use taking place within city buildings, this sector is also the single largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.

As a result, the design and use of energy and resource-efficient buildings has a key role in climate change mitigation to accelerate the global green economy transition. Although vast savings are possible by constructing new green buildings and retrofitting existing buildings, even greater gains can be achieved by adopting a long-term life-cycle approach involving stakeholders at different stages – from environmentally-minded investors and architects, to sustainable extraction, construction and usage, and the eventual demolition and the recycling or disposal of the building materials.

Cities are well-placed to play a major role in decoupling economic development from resource use and environmental impacts, while finding a better balance between social, environmental and economic objectives. Resource-efficient cities combine greater productivity and innovation with lower costs and reduced environmental impacts, offering at the same time financial savings and increased sustainability.

Upcoming Events

Cities and Urban Development

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🚲 Join us for the Hixon Center's Fall 2025 Speaker Series: Sustainable Transportation - a 10-week dive into the future of mobility! Each week, leading experts are sharing actionable insights, real-world solutions, and global perspectives on transforming transportation for people and the planet. 🚲 Check out the full lineup here: https://hixon.yale.edu/event-series/sustainable-transportation

📅 Tuesdays, Sept 9 – Nov 11, 2025
⏰ 12:00 noon ET
🌐 Virtual & Free
💬 Feel free to drop questions below!

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http://yse.to/yalehixonst
OECD Environment commented on TOCHUKWU NGWU's Post in Cities and Urban Development, Climate Change, Forestry

Greetings Green Society,

I am currently working on research that involves estimating the social costs of PM₁₀ emissions (per ton) and I’m looking for recent estimates, ideally broken down by country.

If you or your organization has access to updated figures—or knows where I could find reliable data sources—it would be incredibly helpful for my work.

Even partial leads, relevant reports, or pointers to databases would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can share!

— Ambrose

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Seeking Suggestions!

Sustainability has led to the emergence of many new professions across industries. Can you suggest some name of professions (list) that have evolved due to sustainability challenges and initiatives?

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UN Environment Programme- UNEP, Institution of Civil Engineers(ICE)

 This session (March 20, 2025 8:30AM CST), co-organised by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the ICE-convened Enabling Better Infrastructure (EBI) Programme, will explore the contours of the labour market in relation to future infrastructure projections, and consider how infrastructure… Read More

Your expertise is needed on emerging trends in circular solutions for wood waste!
We’re excited to invite you to participate in the Horizon Scanning survey for the HEU Wood2Wood Project ? https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/3E54D528D014DC2B

Why does this matter?
Wood waste from construction, demolition, and furniture is a growing challenge. The Wood2Wood project is tackling this head-on by exploring adaptive cyber-physical sorting systems, bioremediation technologies, energy valorisation, and digital product passports to track materials across value chains. But to drive real impact, we need your insights.

What’s this survey about?
We’re mapping emerging trends that will shape the future of circular wood waste solutions - and their impact on labour markets, education systems, and organisations. Your expertise in sustainability, innovation, policy, and socio-technical systems can help us identify the skills and strategies needed for a successful circular transition.

Why you?
If you work in circular economy, waste management, sustainable design, or future skills development, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Your input will help shape policies, business models, and workforce strategies for a more sustainable future.

Take the survey now and share your vision!

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Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)

By 2050, two billion city dwellers could face drought risks—double today’s figure. Urban areas are especially vulnerable, with high soil sealing rates, limited groundwater storage, and the amplifying effects of rising temperatures, like urban heat islands. Climate change is exacerbating these… Read More

Catch my latest episode of Climate Connections! ??

This time, I feature amazing STEM educators around the world who are doing their part for the environment through their efforts in bringing science learning out of the classroom. Rainforest and wetlands right in the heart of an urban school in Singapore (no, I’m not kidding you!) and also, a customised outdoor syllabus with a heart for the underprivileged communities in Europe!

Why would it benefit Mother Earth - you may ask!

Well, because by igniting that interest or even love for science will directly impact whether we see enough next-generation scientists who will trudge the way forward as we play catch-up with climate change.

Listen here to find out more about these projects and how passionate these folks are!

https://omny.fm/shows/moneyfm-morning-show/climate-connections-why-stem…

Thanks Jacob Tan and Lucy Avraamidou for sharing the amazing green journeys with our listeners!! ??

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https://omny.fm/shows/moneyfm-morning-show/climate-connections-why-stem-education-out-of-the

Well-designed and accessible public spaces are more than just places for recreation—they are key drivers of a green economy and a just economic transition. By fostering social inclusion, improving air quality, and enhancing urban resilience, these spaces contribute to healthier, more sustainable cities while creating economic opportunities for local communities.

Sharing this UN-HABITAT Guidance Paper that explores the critical link between public spaces and urban well-being, offering strategic approaches and actionable recommendations for city leaders and planners. Dive in to learn how investing in green and open spaces can advance ecological sustainability, economic fairness, and community prosperity.

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https://unhabitat.org/healthier-cities-and-communities-through-public-spaces
OECD, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)

Evidence suggests that territories fostering walking, cycling and shared transport for the bulk of the trips perform better in terms of well-being and environmental sustainability than car-centric territories. The region of Catalonia, Spain, has been a pioneer in identifying the need to transition… Read More

Here’s my latest episode of Climate Connections ???

Over the past half century, Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, has undergone rapid population growth, resulting in the loss of millions of trees due to urban development in the city.

I featured Manja Kargbo Co-Architect of FreetownTheTreeTown initiative and finalist of The Earthshot Prize 2023 who shares how the city is on course to meet its ambitious target of planting one million trees by 2024, and how her team is reimagining nature sustainability for cities beyond Freetown.

Big thanks to The Earthshot Prize for arranging!

Take a listen here:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4hFucVSGlq2noA1hgwoLn1?si=-o-5Zs8ASuaG…
OMNY: https://omny.fm/shows/moneyfm-morning-show/climate-connections-freetown…

#nature #biodiversity #restoration #restorenature #sustainabledevelopment #sustainability #environment #climatechange #science #scientificcommunication #naturaldisasters #COP28 #carboncredits #climateaction #climatefinance #urbandevelopment #urbanplanning

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