Low on carbon, high on development

Cities should be the prime focus for low carbon development. Eventually they will house most of the world's population and therefore whatever happens in cities will, more generally, have a huge impact on low carbon energy use. Cities often provide the stimulus for innovation and improved living conditions, and become the source of most consumption. These factors can provide the demand side for improved standards in transportation and building quality and efficiency for linking health, environment and quality of life concerns that form an essential part of the low carbon message, and for good planning and design.

But cities also can become toxic, unsafe places - the exact opposite of low carbon urban areas. They can turn into sprawling places that are inefficient and corrupt in their decision-making, rely heavily on private vehicles, have poor basic services such as water supply and waste management, and comprise isolated areas for wealthy citizens while most of the residents suffer in poverty.

Many cities in the world lie between these extremes, and therefore offer considerable potential for development - or, in many cases, redevelopment to become sustainable, low carbon habitats.