Half of humanity – 3.5 billion people – currently live in cities and by 2055 an estimated 75% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Cities occupy just 2% of the Earth’s land, but account for over 70% of both energy consumption and carbon emissions.

However, cities present the world’s population with the best chance of reducing our ecological footprint. Urban areas are uniquely positioned to lead the greening of the global economy through improvements in transport, energy, buildings, technology, water and waste systems, as well as producing a wide range of economic and social benefits.

Against this backdrop Climate Action, the UNEP supported communications platform for global business sustainability, launched Sustainable Cities at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June 2012. 

Sustainable Cities is circulated twice a year to a hand-researched and constantly updated database of Ministers responsible for urban development, global Mayors and their city-wide senior policy, planning and procurement staff, as well as international Developers, Facility Heads and Architects.

The publication is the essential title for the sustainable urban development community as it assists them to make better and more informed decisions regarding their planning and procurement.

Simply put, there is nothing more important for cities of the future than to ensure their developments are energy efficient, resource efficient and take advantage of the latest technologies and innovations from the private sector. Sustainable Cities is designed to ensure this process happens.

You can order a free copy of the book by emailing copies@sustainablecities2013.com.