Author: Daniela Carrington

1. © 2009 UNDP. All Rights Reserved
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Distribution Without Prior Written
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Urban NAMAs
Daniela Carrington
Energy and Environment Practice
UNDP BRC

2. Climate change is no longer a future threat but
something which is happening today (FAR IPCC)
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Failure of decision-makers in business and government to appreciate the magnitude of what has
already happened, and the implications these changes have for the future, are putting the long
term sustainability (and indeed survival) of natural systems, communities and companies at risk
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3. URGENCY
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To keep within 2C threshold CO2eqv
concentration should stabilize at 450 ppm
A sustainable emissions pathway will require
the world to cut of 50 percent by 2050
McKinsey : Resource Revolution “ Meeting the world’s energy, materials,
food, and water needs greater pressure on
resource systems together with increased
environmental risks present a new set of
leadership challenges for both private and
public institutions.”
A window of opportunity of 100 months
Long global economic crises
The Stern Review – cheaper to take action now
World population predicted to reach
nearly 9 billion by 2050
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4. Urbanization
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Half of humanity ( 3.5 billion people) – live in cities today
By 2030, ≈ 60% of the world’s population will live in urban areas
95 % of urban expansion in the next decades in developing world
The world’s cities occupy just 2% of the Earth’s land, but account for 60-80% of
energy consumption and 75% of carbon emissions
• Rapid urbanization is exerting pressure on fresh water supplies, sewage, the living
environment, and public health
• The high density of cities can bring efficiency gains and technological innovation
while reducing resource and energy consumption
• Urban development will have to fundamentally change to facilitate the transition
towards a green economy
• Unique opportunities exist for cities to lead the greening of the global economy +
economic, social, environmental benefits
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6. Possible urban mitigation actions
A package measures or stand alone policy, measure,
project with transformational change:
• Transport measures (e.g. optimization, change of fuel, cycling
paths, parking, better public transport)
• Energy efficiency (in buildings)
• RES – (domestic solar, street lights)
• Waste management
• Energy – (heating, biomass)
• Parks and green areas
• Introduction of Standards
• Green procurement
• Public awareness, behaviour change (3R), GHG registry
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7. Carbon neutral cities
In the deserts of Abu Dhabi, construction is under way on a green oasis Masdar City, a zero-carbon, zero-waste, self-contained community meant
to house 50,000 people
The $22 billion megaproject will include cutting-edge solar power and water
treatment systems, nonpolluting underground light rail, and a small
research university operated in conjunction with the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
Denmark's second largest city Aarhus,
decided to finance a plan to become
carbon-neutral by 2030
The City of Sydney is the first local
Government in Australia to be certified
as carbon neutral under the National
Carbon Offset Standard
http://www.ge.com/innovation/masdar/index.html
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8. Benefits
• Attracting finance, technologies, private
investments
• Better energy security
• Economic -Green jobs
• Social – improved quality of life
• Environmental
• Meeting EU and int.obligations
• Supporting sustainable development
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9. Thank you!
daniela.carrington@undp.org
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