Introduction: Strategies and Approaches to Greening Urban Sectors

Abstract

Although cities only cover around between 1 and 2 % of the Earth’s land surface, a relatively small amount, they account for between 70 and 80 % of total greenhouse gas emissions as well as the majority of global GDP. The carbon/ecological footprint of cities combined with their economic importance, within the context of an increasing urbanization trend, make urban areas the most important arena for a transition to a Green Economy. In relation to greenhouse gas emissions, Gouldson et al. in the first chapter of Part IV highlights a key question by asking how to decarbonize a city. Cities are not just regarded as source of environmental problems but they also offer many of the solutions, particularly as a result of the various opportunities that exist in urban areas which have been detailed in Part II.