Research in the report, which was undertaken by the world's megacities networking group, C40 Cities, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and the NewClimate Institute estimates that by 2030, a boost in urban climate action could save 40 billion hours of commuters’ time plus billions of dollars in reduced household expenses each year.
The report also shows that the top three areas that could benefit from additional jobs are the U.S. with 1.32 million, the EU with 3.8 million and China with 1.86 million. The Climate Opportunity report examines a number of effective urban solutions to climate change including energy efficiency retrofits in buildings, and clean energy application in countries and regions.
Top findings show that:
Investments in residential energy efficiency retrofits will result in a net creation of 5.4 million jobs in cities worldwide.
Improved bus services and more extensive networks can prevent the premature deaths of nearly 1 million people per year from air pollution and traffic fatalities worldwide.
District-scale renewable energy for heating and cooling in buildings can prevent a further 300,000 premature deaths per year by 2030, as well as create approximately 8.3 million jobs and contribute to significant emissions reductions.
Overall, the report highlighted that climate action policies can have proportionally greater outcomes for lower-income groups in developing cities, where populations have the most to gain from the introduction of new technologies.
Commenting on the report's outcome, Thomas Day, a partner at NewClimate Institute who led the research, said that "cities account for 73 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making large-scale climate action in urban areas an urgent focus of efforts to meet the highest goals of the Paris Agreement."
He also explained that cities are already leading the way in emissions reduction by cutting energy usage in buildings, transport systems, and in industries. "Climate Opportunity will give policymakers a compelling justification for climate action by illustrating the deep connection between climate and other urban priorities like public health, poverty alleviation, and economic growth," Day said.
The Climate Opportunity report was released ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit, which will be held between Sept. 12 and 14 in San Francisco where global policymakers, scientists, businesses, and activists committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement will convene.
(Αnadolu Agency)