Cities and low carbon development: Summry sheet
This document contains summary sheet of low carbon development and cities. Cities and urban areas contain most of the productive and consumptive activities that are contributing to climate change. Indeed, almost all growth, both demographic and economic, is now occurring in and around urban settlements. Urban populations are also increasingly exposed to climate change impacts, such as increased flooding or water shortages. Though the challenges are immense, cities have major potential to influence the causes and consequences of climate change through climate compatible urban planning and management. These improvements will need to be driven locally, and supported nationally and internationally. The report presents the case study of Brazil. Through its innovative approaches in urban planning, Curitiba has been able to grow in population from 361,000 (in 1960) to 1.828 million (in 2008), without experiencing typical negative effects from congestion, pollution and reduction of public space. By turning areas vulnerable to flooding into parks planted with trees, and creating artificial lakes to hold flood waters, Curitiba has managed to address its potentially costly flooding problem.