Lesson
Part of: Financing Sustainable Urban Development: An Introduction

Why do we need sustainable urban development?

BOOKMARK

Urban Population Surpassed Rural Population in the mid-2000s

Source: World Bank, based on UN estimates
  • Over 4 billion people live in cities.
  • Cities account for more than 80 percent of global GDP (McKinsey Global Institute 2011). 
  • Cities consume more than two thirds of global energy and account for 70 percent of global emissions (World Bank 2010, p.15UNFCCC 2017, p.8).
  • Cities provide basic infrastructure and services, but often lack the fiscal resources to maintain and expand them.
  • Curbing the negative impacts of climate change depends on cities providing sustainable urban infrastructure and services.