SMART CITIES
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Tackling climate change and creating sustainable cities in the face of rapid population growth , ageing infrastructure and the pace of technological change has never been more important . Cities make up 2 % of the world ’ s surface but house more than half of the world ’ s population and consume 75 % of energy resources . By 2030 , urban areas are projected to host 60 % of people globally . Very soon , one in every three people will live in cities with at least half a million inhabitants , as the world ’ s population is expected to grow by over 1bn people over the next thirteen years , reaching 8.6bn in 2030 .
Meanwhile , the increasingly digital , connected and electric nature of our lives means that we each as individuals have greater energy needs than ever before . Is this pace of growth sustainable for urban centres and cities like London or Paris , let alone megacities ? The answer is yes , but only if we make our cities ‘ smarter ’.
Incorporating renewables into our energy mix is a vital part of reducing
JUNE 2019