Report
The Weight of Cities
Resource Requirements of Future Urbanization
This report stresses the importance of resource monitoring and the integration of cross-sector urban actions to prepare for urban growth and climate change.
Without a new approach to urbanization, material consumption by the world’s cities will grow from 40 billion tonnes in 2010 to about 90 billion tonnes by 2050. The resource use implications and environmental impacts of urbanization are significant. Resources should now become a central policy concern, in addition to concerns about climate change.
This report presents a strategy of parallel actions on urban planning, sustainable infrastructure design, and cross-sector resource efficiency that are required for a transition towards low-carbon and socially inclusive cities. Monitoring key resource indicators to better understand current and future resource dependencies and embedding resource efficiency into spatial planning will be critical for policymakers to improve urban productivity. City leaders can utilize this report’s new governance model, innovative business propositions, and other recommendations to make this urban transition possible. This report was produced by UNEP.
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Building Materials and the Climate: Constructing a New Future
Published by UNEP, this report highlights the need to develop new models for decarbonizing building materials, if the world is to reach its goals for net zero emissions from the built environment sector by the mid-century.
First National Dialogue for China
This virtual convening created a space for participants to discuss strategies for supporting biodiversity and low-carbon development across China.
Looking Back on 2023 and ahead to 2024: Supporting Integrated Urban Planning to Tackle the Climate, Nature and Pollution Crises
Reflecting on an impactful 2023, UrbanShift will continue its focus in 2024 on supporting collaborative, cross-cutting leadership to fund and implement sustainable urban transformations.
How data and integrated planning approaches can help cities fight air pollution
Poor air quality threatens wellbeing everywhere. Learn how cities in Latin America are taking a data-driven approach to reducing pollution and promoting livability.