Bright Green Book I

Cities have a vital role to play in the realisation of sustainable development and poverty eradication, particularly in the context of the Green Economy. As more and more land is converted to urban uses, the ways in which our cities evolve will have far-reaching effects on the world’s economies, energy use and climate change.

As part of our future strategy for sustainable development, urban practitioners need to focus onurban planning and emphasizeurban mobility and energy, urban governance and legislation, and expanding the urban economy and municipal finance. Greener practices that make economic, as well as environmental, sense include: promoting compact cities and planned extensions to existing urban areas; creating a greener built environment with better use of water and energy; expanding network infrastructure; and promoting clusters of green industries and jobs.

A “Green Economy” is not only an abstract vision but also a viable economic development strategy.

Dr. Joan Clos

Executive Director, UN-Habitat