Abstract
Rapid decarbonization across all urban areas of the world is crucial if humanity is to realize pathways that lead to a more limited global warming of 1.5 °C that is essential for the life-support systems of the planet. Such a challenge requires balancing the rapid pace of urban change with opportunities that will enable a transition to greater penetration of renewable energy, resource efficiency, and more compact urban form. This chapter summarizes the approach of quantifying urban emissions in 1.5 °C pathways that are compared to 2.0 °C pathways for 30 urban areas across the world leading to the year 2050. The 30 urban areas take place within the most populated urban agglomerations across world regions. The pathways are mapped for each world region and discussed in the context of the mitigation measures that are in the process of being taken while emphasizing the need for increased levels of transformative action. The significant differences in urban emission reductions in these scenarios are put forth alongside the existing levels of urban emissions from consumption-based perspectives, targets in support of engaging in the Race to Zero emissions, and the expected changes in urban population leading to mid-century. The opportunity of decoupling emissions from greater well-being for a more sustainable future is indicated based on comparisons with the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems Index. Pathways leading to the year 2050 that can provide more benefits for people and the planet within the constraints of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C will require action across urban areas inclusively.
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Appendices on Urban Mitigation Actions and SDEWES Index Indicators
Appendices on Urban Mitigation Actions and SDEWES Index Indicators
The Appendices include additional information on the selected urban areas based on urban GHG emission reductions by 2030 in two pathways, the scope of existing mitigation actions, and current involvement in the Race to Zero (Table A1). The second table provides the dimensions and indicator framework of the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems (SDEWES) Index (Table A2).
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Kılkış, Ş. (2022). Tackling the Climate Emergency with Urban Sustainability Approaches. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Doni, F., Salvia, A.L. (eds) Handbook of Sustainability Science in the Future. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68074-9_58-1
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