Exploring the Possibilities of Smart Urbanization in the Asia Pacific to Achieve Climate Change and Net Zero in Cities of the Region: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Asian cities currently contribute 80 percent of Asia’s economic activity and account for 54 percent of the region's carbon emissions. By 2050, Asia’s urban population could grow by 1.1 billion and reach 3.4 billion, which is the equivalent size of today’s global urban population. In the absence of significant climate adaptation measures, the most significant increase in energy consumption and green house gas emissions is expected to take place in Asian mega-cities. Existing infrastructure and urban development pathways could lock cities into unsustainable growth and consumption models, with worsening impacts on climate change. Hence, smart and effective urbanization is the order of the day and all measures need to be put in place to make the Asian cities smart, robust, livable keeping in mind the global issues of climate change. The future expansion of urban areas on agricultural lands and forests could also lead to the destruction of natural carbon sinks and important climate adaptation systems. Limiting climate change therefore means decarbonizing Asian cities. The good news is that there is a strong value proposition for Asian cities to accelerate their decarbonisation. Physical climate risks and their associated social and economic costs are already significant. Their impact, if unmitigated, could increase substantially, and have a material effect on Asia’s 597 million urban poor. As the majority of Asia’s economic activity takes place in cities and urbanization is still progressing fast, there is a significant opportunity to increase resource efficiency and transform Asian urban growth models to make them more circular, regenerative, and inclusive. It is seen that the Asian cities contribute significantly to climate change, urban population growth creates opportunities to decarbonize at scale, and that Asian cities are also exposed to climate risks.