The World’s Cities Account For 70% Of Greenhouse Gas
A new study from the IEA that was meant to educate urban leaders says that 70% of greenhouse gas emissions come from cities. They also consume two-thirds of the world’s electricity. As cities grow, their contribution to these problems will grow as well. Almost no cities in the world have started any means to create solutions. If the past is any indication, that will not change.
More City Problems –Miami And Tampa
Another City Problem –Las Vegas Winds
Urban use of electricity may not be as high in total on a percentage basis as the paper says. This is only because AI and crypto electricity use has surged and within a decade, will be about the same as that of the entire nation of Japan. That only worsens the problem in many ways, as overall electricity use will likely soar more than the report forecasts. Many AI and crypto facilities are outside cities. Urban leaders know better than to drain their own electricity use by having them within their borders.
Heat waves, which increase the need for cooling systems, will also be challenging. Many large cities will not be habitable, and some will not be able to afford air conditioning. The impoverished people in these urban areas are the great majority of the population.
Public Policy
The solution, the analysis says, is public policy changes. Across the world’s hundreds of large cities, finding a common solution based on budgets and priorities is extremely unlikely. However, the study’s authors write, “According to the report, better alignment of planning timelines is important to reduce the risk of power outages and cut backlogs for new electricity connections for renewable assets, electric vehicle chargers, businesses and housing developments.”
Global warming has a number of causes. Reigning them in requires efforts that are in concert across cities, nations, and industries. And, the investments to combat change will require trillions of dollars, much of which is not available.
A set of problems without a solution
