The FINANCIAL — The world’s 724 largest cities could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually by 2030 through better, more efficient transport systems. This is more than the annual emissions of Japan, according to the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
This figure comes from a new series of studies released by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, and led by LSE Cities at the London School of Economics and Political Science, which suggests how cities develop will be critical to achieve economic growth and tackle climate change. The studies provide real-world examples of how to achieve better patterns of urbanisation and highlight how cities can grow their economies while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
One of the case-studies focuses on the city of Lima. Lima currently has over 7 million inhabitants and is one of the fastest growing cities in Latin America. Without further action it will see substantial increases in energy bills, which will be bad for the poor, and more greenhouse gas emissions, which will be bad for the climate, according to LSE.
“The challenge of supporting economic growth and tackling climate change will be met in the world’s cities. Investing in public transport is good for citizens, good for business and good for the climate. This study shows that it is in the economic interest of the city and of its people to build better. Clear leadership is now needed to make this vision a reality,” Susana Villarán, the Mayor of Lima said.
Research conducted for the Global Commission shows that through effective investments in transport Lima can reduce its carbon emissions by 15% by 2025 while saving citizens US$1.1 billion per annum in energy bills. If done well, these investments would be paid back in less than 3 years, building on the improvements already implemented in the city.
There is real potential for similar savings across major cities:
Progress on transport is being made in South America and around the world. Over 160 cities have already implemented Bus Rapid Transit systems. Bogota’s BRT carries 2.1 million passengers per day at 15% of the cost of a metro. Nearly 700 cities have implemented bike-sharing schemes.
Curitiba in Brazil has accommodated a threefold increase in population since the 1960s while achieving per capita GHG emissions 25% lower and gasoline consumption 30% lower than the national average.
Stockholm reduced emissions by 35% from 1993 to 2010, but grew its economy by 41%. Car ownership in London decreased 6% from 1995 to 2011, while the city’s economy grew by 40%.
Business-as-usual urbanisation is creating huge economic and social costs:
Traffic congestion for example costs 3.4% of GDP in Buenos Aires and 2.6% in Mexico City. In Beijing, the social costs of motorised transport, including air pollution and congestion, are as high as 15% of GDP.
Urban sprawl in the United States adds some US$400 billion in extra costs each year, as a result of greater infrastructure, public service delivery and transport costs.
Alarmingly, 86% of cities currently exceed World Health Organisation guidelines for outdoor air pollution, leading to 730,000 premature deaths.
“The success of cities centrally depends on their ability to provide efficient access to people, goods and ideas. Reducing congestion and excessive travel costs in cities through enhanced public and shared transport, walking and cycling is a prime example of how economic development strategies can deliver social and climate benefits,” Philipp Rode, co-director of the research and Executive Director of LSE Cities, said.
The work for the Commission’s report shows that shifts towards more compact, connected and coordinated development can create cities which are better for people to live in, more economically competitive and also lower carbon. Such an approach has the potential to reduce urban infrastructure capital requirements by more than US$3 trillion over the next 15 years, according to LSE.
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