Just ahead of the UN Climate Action Summit, a new report titled Climate Emergency, Urban Opportunity was launched by the Coalition for Urban Transitions. This report, a collaborative effort of more than 50 organisations that includes LSE Cities, outlines the immense social and economic benefits of creating compact, connected and clean cities with net-zero emissions, and presents a clear six-part action plan for national governments around the world.
The report clearly illustrates the imperative for national governments to support the development of clean, connected, and compact cities to drive economic prosperity and address the global climate emergency. The report shows that cutting 90% of emissions in cities is possible using proven technologies and would generate returns worth almost US$24 trillion by 2050 based on direct cost savings alone. But that city governments cannot drive a zero-carbon transition without the cooperation and support of national governments. Inclusive, zero-carbon cities must therefore be at the heart of countries’ long-term economic & social development planning. The main message of the report is that thriving cities make prosperous countries, and national governments must embrace this transition or risk being left behind.
LSE Cities has been a member of the Coalition for Urban Transitions since its inception, co-leading the workstream on national policy frameworks together with the OECD.
Learn more about our research and the work of the Coalition in the new report.