1st Edition

Green CITYnomics The Urban War against Climate Change

Edited By Kenny Tang Copyright 2009

    Today, more than half of the world's population are living in cities that are now contributing 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions. They cover less than 3% of the earth's surface. And urbanization continues apace. With such a massive carbon footprint, it is vital that cities are part of the solution. Despite this, scarcely any consideration has been given to the potential impact of climate change on urban dwellers, especially in the developing countries and burgeoning megacities of Africa, Asia and Latin America, where a wide variety of environmental and development challenges are likely to further exacerbate their vulnerability to climatic effects.

    Green CITYnomics presents a rich set of contributions by a highly diverse group of 45 of the world's leading urban experts on climate change. In particular, it illustrates the desire some cities are already demonstrating in engaging in this war. Standing still is not an option. Budgets have to be fought for; minds have to be won over; old, untenable and unsustainable ideas and solutions must be challenged; green and sustainable solutions must be given the chance to develop and to prove themselves.

    Each of the cities and urban centres discussed – from Hong Kong to Dresden; from Mexico City to Qatar – are, in their own ways, heroes and examples to us all. This book provides a compelling manifesto for the world's cities in their "Urban War against Climate Change". It is essential reading for climate scientists, national and local policy-makers and scholars worldwide.

    Foreword: Leadership by citiesChris Walker, The Climate GroupPrefaceKenny Tang Section 1: Introduction1. Introduction to Green CITYnomics: the urban war against climate change 2. Climate change: a tipping point for a move towards sustainable development? 3. A blueprint for the integrated assessment of climate change in cities Section 2: Policy-making and CO2 management systems4. Climate change impacts and responses: Hong Kong's vulnerable environment, infrastructure and economy  5. Municipal Adaptation Planning: a city-based framework for climate change adaptation6. Developing a CO2 management system for public authorities7. Climate change and policy-making in the Baltic Sea regionSection 3: Health, air quality, transport, land use and water8. Urban local governments and human health in a climate of change9. Better urban air quality and the Clean Development Mechanism: bringing together local and global interests10. Climate change and unsustainable land uses: the case of repetitive loss properties11. The contribution of water supply systems to climate changeSection 4: Solar heating, urban heat island, buildings and urban planning education12. Environmental solar heating standard: a GHG mitigation policy in Mexico City13. A Study of urban heat island intensity: the case of Doha14. Emissions trading: a building block to the climate change solution?15. Climate change, peak oil and new curricula in urban planning education

    Biography

    Tang, Kenny