The Fifth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the most up-to-date, comprehensive and relevant analysis of our changing climate. Urban centres account for more than half of the world's population, most of its economic activity and the majority of energy-related emissions. This briefing explores the roles cities will play in the fight against climate change.
In this paper, the authors explore the many successful strategies and measures for climate resilience and low carbon development that communities and leaders have pursued at the subnational level. They draw on the rich and practical experiences of CDKN’s project partners and the broader ICLEI network.
They argue that the battle for climate compatible development will be won or lost in provinces, districts and cities. There are distinct challenges at subnational level– for example, future climate data for local and subnational levels is more uncertain than at larger scales, and subnational decision-makers face intense local pressure to act on the negative impacts of climate extremes and disasters. There are also unique opportunities. Subnational decision-makers often have a sound understanding of climate trends in their area, based on first-hand experience and local and indigenous knowledge. They have a good sense of solutions that are effective in the local context and they have the ability to mobilise local resources for implementation, including people’s time and knowledge.
The "Guidelines for developing eco-efficient and socially inclusive infrastructure" provide practical tools for city planners and decision makers to reform urban planning and infrastructure design according to the principles of eco-efficiency and social inclusiveness. The guidelines build on knowledge accrued and lessons learned though case studies and pilot projects conducted in cities across Asia and Latin America. It is based on the recognized need for an urgent shift in the way urban infrastructure is planned, designed and managed in order to respond to the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, globalization and climate change. The guidelines contain sections on: the importance of building urban infrastructure in an eco-efficient and inclusive way; what strategies planners can use to facilitate eco-efficient and inclusive outcomes; how they should be integrated in a strategic planning cycle; and who is making the change based on best practices examples from Singapore, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Philippines, Japan, Tajikistan and Chile.
Financial constraints are among the most important barriers to proper municipal solid waste (MSW) management in the developing countries of Asia and the Pacific. The reform of fiscal measures and the adoption of economic instruments could help local governments by increasing revenue, causing MSW management authorities in the region to attempt to recover costs by levying fees for their services. However, the polluter pays principle is not easy to enforce in countries where the population has never paid the actual cost of public services aimed at mitigating environmental damage. Since it directly affects their available income, local people often do not understand why they should pay for these services while at the same time, rising public awareness of environmental issues is making it more difficult to implement low-cost solutions, such as the creation of new disposal sites. The fermentation of waste in open dumps and landfills generates landfill gas (LFG), a major component of which is methane, a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG). Proper management of MSW which includes utilizing this LFG, can thus contribute to climate change mitigation.
This study on innovative sanitation financing recognizes the challenge facing the region, to halve the proportion of the population without access to sanitation by 2015. The study proposes a “paradigm shift” to outcome models, recognizing that sanitation not only remains a focus of international development targets but is also linked to many other development issues such as health, environment, education, gender, disability, tourism and economic growth. This study proposes the inclusion of the private sector in a value proposition, with everyone in society benefiting from improved sanitation, and generating the willingness to pay for these services. ESCAP published this discussion paper, targeted for discussions at the Second Asia-Pacific Water Forum (2APWS), in Chiang Mai, May 2013, to provide background materials for the discussions at both the Technical workshops and the Focus Area Sessions.