Cities, Agriculture and Climate Change
Cities and climate change
Cities are both a cause and victim of climate change. They consume up to about 80 % of global energy resources and emit the largest share of greenhouse gases. But they will also be one of the prime victims of climate change, because many are located close to the coasts. Sustainable 3 von 4 05.06.2008 09:41 development therefore, above all else, must mean sustainable urban development. How will cities grow in future? How are city governments going to have to react to climate change?
The WFC wants to contribute to making cities more energy efficient, with drastic increases in their use of renewable energy sources. A good example of this is Dongtan in China, the world’s first eco city, where construction work will begin in 2008.
The WFC is also putting the spotlight on other climate-relevant issues, such as air and water pollution or the important question of local decision-making structures. In November, it reached an agreement on long-term cooperation with Hamburg’s HafenCity University: a joint commission with 20 experts from all continents is to identify effective political approaches to the problems and stimulate politicians to act accordingly. The commission will initiate studies on “best policies” for cities, and organise and participate in international congresses.
Agriculture and Climate Change
Will the world’s last cohesive rain forests disappear to create arable land for growing biofuels to run our cars? Will the increasing price of bio-fuels cause a worldwide hunger crisis? The food crises in Haiti and other countries of the South in April 2008 have shown how topical and explosive these issues are.
The relationship between agriculture and climate change is the focus of this particular expert commission. Industrial agriculture produces far higher emissions than ecological agriculture. At the moment, the production and distribution of food depends greatly on fossil fuels. Any increase in the oil price makes food more expensive, jeopardizing the safety of our food supplies. Another important link with climate change is the carbon dioxide stored in the soil. Concentrating organic substances in the soil could make a major contribution to removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The commission led by Vandana Shiva will be start work in mid-2008. Its main task is to look for “best policies” and achieve accelerations in positive developments.
