City planning will determine pace of global warming

Given the inextricable link connecting urbanization, urban poverty and climate change, the way in which the world's growing cities were planned and managed would largely determine the pace of global warming, Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial).

As she introduced reports relating to the Committee's agenda item on human settlement matters, Ms. Tibaijuka said the urbanization of poverty was now the biggest development challenge.

With half the world's population now residing in cities, and one billion slum dwellers living in life-threatening conditions, 2007 marked a turning point in human history.

In addition, cities were responsible for 75 per cent of global energy consumption and 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.

She said seizing the opportunity to reduce the vulnerability of cities to the effects of climate change should be a priority alongside improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable urban populations.

Policymakers, planners, environmental specialists and citizens must now join forces and place cities and urban issues at the forefront of the sustainable development agenda.

Ms. Tibaijuka introduced the reports of UN-HABITAT's Governing Council on its twenty-first session, the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the UN-HABITAT, and a note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report on the coordination and implementation of the Habitat Agenda.

Originally published 30 0ct 2007

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