Climate change, also called global warming, is a change in global or regional climate patterns. It is the rise in the average surface temperatures on Earth. It is of concern as even small increases in Earth’s temperature caused by climate change can have severe effects on human, plant and animal life. The primary cause of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, which emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere—primarily carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide makes up 70% of the total greenhouse gases emitted. The ability of these gases to trap heat is what causes the greenhouse effect. Since the industrial revolution began in 1750, CO2 levels have risen by more than 30% and methane levels have risen more than 140%.
Mitigation …show more content…
It is a complex process inextricably tied to economic development and technological change. By the end of the last decade, half of the world’s population lived in urban areas. Urbanization has profoundly affected the environment and climate all over the world and has intensified the climate change impacts. The pace of urbanization in the world today is very fast, with a nearly five times increase in the urban population from 1950 to 2011. The world is urbanizing quickly and under these scenarios, greenhouse gas emissions will also increase dramatically. This is because so much economic activity is concentrated in urban areas that urbanization and growth have a direct consequence on city greenhouse gas emissions and related climate change. Thus, it is important to understand the forces shaping the world’s growing urban areas in order to be able to mitigate climate change and to cope with its inevitable …show more content…
Sustainable urban development requires a shift away from the mono-functional city of low density and long distances, which is poorly connected, socially divided and economically inefficient. The compact city suggests high urban density, open space protection, mixed land uses, revitalizing downtowns, central business districts with residential uses and high use of public transit system. The benefits of compact cities are perceived more through high density and public
Mitigation …show more content…
It is a complex process inextricably tied to economic development and technological change. By the end of the last decade, half of the world’s population lived in urban areas. Urbanization has profoundly affected the environment and climate all over the world and has intensified the climate change impacts. The pace of urbanization in the world today is very fast, with a nearly five times increase in the urban population from 1950 to 2011. The world is urbanizing quickly and under these scenarios, greenhouse gas emissions will also increase dramatically. This is because so much economic activity is concentrated in urban areas that urbanization and growth have a direct consequence on city greenhouse gas emissions and related climate change. Thus, it is important to understand the forces shaping the world’s growing urban areas in order to be able to mitigate climate change and to cope with its inevitable …show more content…
Sustainable urban development requires a shift away from the mono-functional city of low density and long distances, which is poorly connected, socially divided and economically inefficient. The compact city suggests high urban density, open space protection, mixed land uses, revitalizing downtowns, central business districts with residential uses and high use of public transit system. The benefits of compact cities are perceived more through high density and public