The REAL Green Cities!

Shashank Shekhar Tiwari
Aug 22, 2020
6 min read

On 23 September 2019, UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened a one-day summit to catalyze increased ambition on climate change action. Country and municipal leaders and the private sector announced steps and initiatives to address climate change, including achieving net zero global emissions by 2050.

The Climate Action Summit brought together more than 65 Heads of State and Government as well as leaders of sub-national governments and the private sector. The event included an opening ceremony, general statements and thematic sessions on: Plans for a Carbon Neutral World, Climate Finance, Powering the Future from Coal to Clean, Unlocking the Potential of Nature in Climate Action, Towards a Resilient Future, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Live, Work and Move Green, Cutting Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Now with Cooling and Energy Efficiency, Adapting Now: Making People Safer, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), People Centered Action Now, and the Economy Moving from Grey to Green.

In his opening remarks, Guterres highlighted the need to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030, and called for increased acceleration of climate finance, including by implementing the commitment by developed countries to mobilize USD 100 billion annually for developing countries by 2020, and replenishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

During a dialogue between youth and the Secretary-General, Guterres noted that young people are calling for and implementing climate action. Greta Thunberg, Sweden, said “the world is waking up, and change is coming whether you like it or not,” but noted that “governments are failing us.”

Hilda Heine, President, Marshall Islands, called on countries to join a pledge to deliver new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2020 and achieve net zero global emissions by 2050.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, India, announced shifts in national energy policy worth over USD 50 billion, including increases in renewable energy capacity and in the ratio of bio-fuel blended in petrol and diesel.

Wang Yi, State Councilor and Special Representative of President Xi Jinping, China, highlighted that since 2005, China’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions intensity has dropped by 45% and the country has contributed a quarter of newly afforested land globally.

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, UK, announced a doubling of UK spending on climate change through the country’s official development assistance (ODA).

During the session on Climate Finance, Emmanuel Macron, President, France, announced a doubling of France’s contribution to the GCF to USD 1.7 billion. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar, pledged USD 100 million to support the climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts of SIDS and LDCs.

Other financial pledges made during the Summit included: USD 6 million in international climate finance from Hungary; contributions of EUR 55 million to the GCF and EUR 2 million to the Adaptation Fund by Spain; and an announcement by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation of USD 310 million over the next ten years for CGIAR to tackle climate change and food production and, with partners from governments and the World Bank, of over USD 790 million in support for smallholder farmers to adapt to climate change.

Private sector actions announced at the Summit included: 130 banks, accounting for one-third of the global banking sector, signing up to align their businesses with the Paris Agreement goals; a group of the world’s largest asset owners, responsible for over USD 2 trillion in investments, committing to move to carbon-neutral investment portfolios by 2050; and 87 major companies, with a combined market capitalization of over USD 2.3 trillion, pledging to reduce emissions and align their businesses with a “1.5°C future.”

In his closing remarks, Guterres noted key announcements made during the day, including the 77 countries, ten regions and over 100 cities that committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Warning of the work that still lies ahead, he reiterated his call for no new coal plants to be built from 2020.

Zero-carbon city

A zero-carbon city runs entirely on renewable energy, it has no carbon footprint and will in this respect not cause harm to the planet. Most cities throughout the world produce energy by burning fossil fuels, emitting carbon in the atmosphere. To become a zero carbon city, an established modern city must collectively reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to zero and all practices that emit greenhouse gases must cease. Also, renewable energy must supersede other non-renewable energy sources and become the sole source of energy, so a zero-carbon city is a renewable-energy-economy city. This transition which includes decarbonising electricity and zero-emission transport, is undertaken as a response to climate change. Zero-carbon cities maintain optimal living conditions while eliminating environmental impact. Instead of using established cities, many developers are starting from scratch in order to create a zero-carbon city. This way they can make sure every aspect of a city contributes to it being carbon free.

There are two zero-carbon prototype cities: Masdar City, United Arab Emirates and Dongtan, China.

Malacca also has a stated ambition to become a carbon-free city, with a Low Carbon Cities programme running since 2014 and as of 2019 they have reduced their carbon emission by as much as 40% as compared to 2014.

Masdar City

The Masdar Initiative is an environmental urban ambition by Foster + Partners to develop a sustainable city where residents would enjoy a carbon and waste-free environment. The 6km² project is based on the principles of an ancient walled city, combined with modern alternative energy technologies.

Construction of this large-scale project will occur in two phases. In phase one, a solar photovoltaic power plant will be built as a central energy source. In phase two, urban growth will occur. The site is located in close proximity to Abu Dhabi's transportation infrastructure, which will allow for easy access to and from surrounding communities. An efficient network of rail, road and public transit will link the city to central Abu Dhabi and the international airport.

Dongtan

The city is planned for Chongming Island, situated in the mouth of the Yangtze River, where it empties into the East China Sea. Across the river lies Shanghai, the largest of five cities in the Yangtze River Delta area. Nearly 90 million people live in the region, one of the most densely populated in the world.

Dongtan, China is located at the east end of Chongming and is adjacent to the Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve. The developers had plans, with 80,000 residents by 2020 and full completion by 2050. It is claimed that, compared with typical developments, the city will have an ecological footprint that is 60% smaller, will require 66% less energy, will produce 40% of its energy from bio-energy and emit almost no carbon dioxide. Dongtan (which means ‘East Beach’) will go on the island’s southeastern tip, covering 86km². When construction ends in 30 or 40 years, 500,000 people will likely live in Dongtan’s three villages. Although some may commute to Shanghai, the intention is to attract companies to Dongtan so that most residents can work on the island. As of August, 2020 the project has been postponed indefnitely.

Adjacent to booming Shanghai, plans are coming together for the prototypical city of Dongtan, which designers argue would be the world's first truly sustainable new urban development. London-based Arup and the Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation (SIIC), the city's investment branch, have partnered to create a master plan for Dongtan. The brief calls for integrated sustainable urban planning and design to create a city as close to carbon-neutral as possible within economic constraints. Located in sensitive wetlands on Chongming Island at the mouth of the Yangtze River just north of Shanghai, Dongtan's first phase, a marina village of 20,000 inhabitants, was unveiled at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

Programs in Europe

The ‘URBACT Zero Carbon Cities project’, is led by Manchester.

Manchester is working closely with Frankfurt (Germany), Vilvoorde (Belgium), Zadar (Croatia), Bistrita (Romania), Modena (Italy) and Tartu (Estonia) in the framework of the Zero Carbon Cities project. All of these cities will set up a local carbon budget and a Zero Carbon strategy and action plan by 2022.

The network of 7 european cities, will establish science-based carbon reduction targets, policies and action plans, including governance and capacity building.

These action plans will enable them to contribute to the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement and the EU’s strategic vision for carbon neutrality by 2050.

Initiatives

Transport

Cars will be banned within the city, instead battery-powered and auto piloted personal rapid transit systems (PRT) will be used Visitors to the city must park their cars outside and use public transit. Both prototypes give ideal conditions to encourage walking or cycling. Additionally, both Masdar City and Dongtan will be connected to their larger counterparts via rail or road.

Energy

Eco-cities are self-sufficient in energy. They meet energy need through solar, wind and biomass sources. About 80% of energy will be solar energy, it will be generated through photovoltaic panels, concentrated solar collectors, and solar thermal tubes. In order to keep cooling costs down wind cooling towers and narrow streets will be put in, these help to maximize shaded areas. Planners in Dongtan installed meters in each house to display energy use.