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Abstract
It is widely recognized that cities must play a leading role in efforts to mitigate climate change. Building on previous inventory work, this study looks at options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from major cities around the world. The strategies identified reflect the unique characteristics of different cities, such as their climate, industry, urbanized density and electricity supply. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avert potentially disastrous global climate change requires substantial redevelopment of infrastructure systems1,2,3,4. Cities are recognized as key actors for leading such climate change mitigation efforts6,7,8,9,10. We have studied the greenhouse gas inventories and underlying characteristics of 22 global cities. These cities differ in terms of their climates, income, levels of industrial activity, urban form and existing carbon intensity of electricity supply. Here we show how these differences in city characteristics lead to wide variations in the type of strategies that can be used for reducing emissions. Cities experiencing greater than ∼1,500 heating degree days (below an 18 °C base), for example, will review building construction and retrofitting for cold climates. Electrification of infrastructure technologies is effective for cities where the carbon intensity of the grid is lower than ∼600 tCO2e GWh−1; whereas transportation strategies will differ between low urban density (<∼6,000 persons km−2) and high urban density (>∼6,000 persons km−2) cities. As nation states negotiate targets and develop policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, attention to the specific characteristics of their cities will broaden and improve their suite of options. Beyond carbon pricing, markets and taxation, governments may develop policies and target spending towards low-carbon urban infrastructure.Cite this article
Kennedy, C., Ibrahim, N. & Hoornweg, D. Low-carbon infrastructure strategies for cities. Nature Clim Change 4, 343–346 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2160 