The process of urbanization is progressing rapidly worldwide - with far-reaching consequences for the environment. More than half of the world’s population already lives in cities, which generate 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and consume 75 percent of the energy used worldwide. Forecasts indicate that the number of cities with more than ten million inhabitants is set to rise from 22 to 26 by 2015. Most of these megacities will be in developing countries and emerging markets, whose infrastructures are often lacking when it comes to sustainability. To blunt the impact of this rapid urbanization, municipal authorities are increasingly turning to energy- efficient technologies and sustainable city planning concepts.
Huge Growth Market for Green Urban-Infrastructure Solutions
In a study conducted on behalf of Siemens, the Economist Intelligence Unit drew up the European Green City Index, which evaluated the sustainability efforts of 30 key European cities. Copenhagen comes out top, followed by Oslo, Stockholm, and Vienna. The cities received their good rankings in recognition of their energy-saving and climate-protection efforts.
What Makes a City a Winner?
Wind, Wood & Two Wheels
Due to a lack of space and resources, Singapore is forced to implement sustainable urban planning in a confined area. To this end, it encourages international companies to use the city state as a test bed for green innovations, making it one of Asia’s greenest megacities. China is also looking at ways of giving urban growth a greener complexion - for example, through the use of highly efficient Siemens technologies. A wide range of solutions will be presented at EXPO 2010 in Shanghai in line with the world fair’s slogan of "Better City, Better Life".
China’s Cities Come of Age
Green Test Bed
To turn the dream of a green city into reality, scientists all over the world are working on new kinds of technologies and visionary ideas. Researchers at Siemens, for example, want to install transparent organic LEDs in buildings or exploit the principle of photosynthesis to create a special façade coating. Energy-saving LEDs from Osram are already being used in streetlamps in Regensburg. Some scientists would also like to transform skyscrapers into greenhouses in order to at least partly meet demand for food in megacities with locally-grown products.
Turning Carbon into Cash
Food Where it’s Needed