Think global, act local to transform cities and our planet

WITH urbanisation here to stay, our future lies in our cities. All around the world, countries are experiencing the largest wave of urban growth in history. Singapore has long achieved 100 per cent urbanisation, as announced by the United Nations in 2018, while South-east Asia’s urbanisation rate is at an all-time high.

Because of this, cities now lie at the forefront of the most pressing global challenges, including climate change, accounting for over 70 per cent of global carbon emissions. While ensuring a sustainable urban future has always been on the global agenda, with cities being hotspots of the global carbon cycle, what are the steps necessary to achieve this?

Despite their carbon footprint, cities have great potential as catalysts for change. Contributing over 80 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP), cities are hubs for innovation and creativity, offering solutions that can pave the way towards a sustainable future.