The Unassuming Economist

From the World Economic Forum:

“Imagine a city in Asia and the Pacific, in 2030, where sustainability flourishes, public services are accessible to all, and green spaces abound amid bustling urban life. In several cities across the region, local governments are moving towards achieving such a vision, but progress is slow.

But time is of the essence, and the cities of tomorrow will be shaped by decisions made today. The building of resilient, equitable and sustainable urban environments requires a new type of city leadership that champions a transformative approach that goes way beyond traditional urban management.

In today’s world, cities account for more than 70% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, mainly from transportation and buildings. By 2050, rapid urbanization will add 1.2 billion people to cities in Asia and the Pacific, putting immense pressure on already strained infrastructure and services, compounded by the impacts of climate change.

Without rapid transformation, many cities in Asia Pacific will see rising inequalities and be even more vulnerable to climate-induced disasters.

Six of the 10 countries most affected by climate-related events over the past two decades lie in Asia and the Pacific, compounding to the vulnerability of some of the growing cities. This unfolds as many of them already struggle to provide basic services like clean water, affordable housing and reliable energy for their growing populations.”

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