- Development & Aid - Economy & Trade - Human Rights - Global
Governance - Civil Society Tuesday, May 21, 2013 - UNITED
NATIONS, June 20 — Cities have large stakes in the environmental
degradation and resource exhaustion stretching the planet to
breaking point, but inspiring new initiatives point the way
towards escaping the downward spiral. Up to 80 percent of the
world population is expected to reside in cities by 2050,
further intensifying the environmental impact of urban areas,
which currently produce 50 percent of all waste, 60-80 percent
of all greenhouse gas emissions, and consume 75 percent of
natural resources. The Global Initiative for Resource-Efficient
Cities, launched by the United Nations Environmental Programme
(UNEP) Monday at the Rio+20 summit, seeks to work with local and
national governments, the private sector and civil society
groups on issues of energy, water and waste in urban areas. The
initiative’s accompanying report, “Sustainable Resource
Efficient Cities. Making it Happen” illustr