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.

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Cities and Urban Development

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Ellen MacArthur Foundation

How can innovative digital and data-driven solutions create circular, climate neutral and thriving cities? Join the webinar online on February 23rd, 16-17.30 CET to participate. At the event the cities of Copenhagen, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Toronto and New York City together with the… Read More

Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance

The Alliance will soon launch a new product that will highlight how National Development Banks (NDBs) can support subnational governments with the development of #climatesmart infrastructure. Based on first-hand interviews with NDBs and cities, the result is a conceptual model of 12… Read More

Green Growth Knowledge Partnership(GGKP)

To enhance knowledge exchange worldwide—for more informed, targeted, and rapid decision-making for a green and just economy—the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) is launching the Green Forum on 18 February (15:00-16:30 EAT/13:00-14:30 CET) at the Fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5). Read More

The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures has published its first chapters as part of the Living Reference

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https://medium.com/mark-and-focus/palgrave-encyclopedia-of-urban-and-regional-futures-ddeb68602290

Urban wetlands breathe life into Sri Lanka’s capital city -- Colombo is built on and around wetlands, which keep people safe from floods, cool the air, filter polluted water, provide food and medicines, fight climate change, and provide city dwellers respite from the urban jungle. However, during the last 30 years, an estimated 40% of the wetlands in Colombo has been lost due to direct and indirect impacts of urbanization. If Colombo were to lose all its precious wetlands, the city would be flooded annually costing as much as 1% of its GDP in flood damage...

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https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/urban-wetlands-breathe-life-sri-lankas-capital-cit...

Today WRI and NewClimate Institute, in collaboration with ICAT, unveiled a new tool to better recognize the importance of climate action by businesses, regions and cities.

The Climate Action Aggregation Tool enables researchers and policymakers to quantify the impact of region, city and business emission-reduction efforts, evaluate how they complement national policies and determine the combined impact of joining national and subnational climate action. The Excel-based tool guides users in a step-by-step process to determine the scope of their research, compile non-state and subnational data and analyze the findings.

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https://climateactiontransparency.org/icat-toolbox/climate-action-aggregation-tool/

Cities are turning to green infrastructure to improve water quality and manage water quantity by restoring the hydrologic function of the urban landscape. One city doing so is Raleigh, North Carolina.

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https://medium.com/mark-and-focus/rewarding-the-capture-of-rainwater-f51454b622f8