Cities are our future.
By the year 2050,
more than 70% of
the world's population will live in one.
But how will our world cope under
the strain of 3 billion more city duelers.
Together, cities already consume 80%
of material and energy resources,
and produce 75% of all carbon emissions.
The high concentration
of people and infrastructure
make them vulnerable
to the impacts of climate change,
like raising sea levels,
higher temperatures, and storm damage.
And in the developing world,
many cities are growing faster
than the infrastructure
that is needed to support them.
Sustainability is the key
and cities are striving for it.
When cities are sustainable,
they are more competitive,
more attractive to people and investments,
more able to lift
their citizens out of poverty
and provide them with
a great place to live, work and play.
All over the world,
cities rich and vibrant
in their own cultures
are shaping their own ambitious plans
for their sustainable futures
but sharing common aims:
to take real action on climate change,
to encourage economic development
to the benefit not the determent
of the environment,
to become more resilient
to disasters and the changing climate,
to improve the quality
of life and well-being of citizens
fostering supportive
and inclusive communities
in which everyone can thrive,
and to take advantage
of smart technologies
to improve
the efficiency of infrastructure
and provide citizens with better,
more responsive services.
But how?
Even the most advanced cities
can't make this journey alone.
And that's where business can help.
All over the world,
behind the drive towards
a sustainable urban future
are businesses dedicated to finding
and implementing the best solutions.
They're leading the way,
when it comes to creating
integrated systems of urban infrastructure
where buildings, energy, mobility,
water runways and communications
operate more efficiently and sustainably
for the benefit of everyone.
But too often their expertise
is introduced too late
in their planning life cycle
to be of full benefit.
And there could be barriers
which stop valuable dialogue taking place.
That's why the world business council
for sustainable development
established
the urban infrastructure initiative
or UII.
An innovative model
for early collaboration
between cities and business.
It's a simple idea,
in ten cities around the world
experts from 14 leading companies
and municipal governments
gathered around one table,
working together
they identify new approaches
to realizing the city's visions
of a sustainable future.
Innovative practical solutions emerged,
producing real benefits for
the city's inner sustainability programs.
Could this new approach
work for your town too?
We think so.
Everyone wins.
Cities by identifying solutions
that can make
their sustainability aspirations a reality
and business
by unlocking markets
for new services and products
essential in creating
the sustainable cities of the future.
To find out more go to:
wbcsd.org/urban-infrastructure.aspx