Creating the cities of the future

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More than half the world's people now live in cities. By 2050, the figure will be more than 70 percent. So what must cities do to ensure that they are creating efficient yet green and sustainable environments for this vast swathe of the planet's population"Energising Green Cities in Southeast Asia" at the start of the Asia Future Energy Forum today.

Bert Hofman, the World Bank's Chief Economist for the East Asia and Pacific Region and Director, Singapore Office, pointed to the importance of urban planning and the need for regional cooperation.

"One significant World Bank initiative--together with Australia and Southeast Asian countries--is the Sustainable Urban Energy and Emissions Planning (SUEEP) Program, which aims to provide planning and sustainability guidance to municipal governments in East Asia and the Pacific.

Vietnam's Danang City is a key partner in SUEEP. Van Huu Chien, Chairman of the Danang City's People Committee, spoke on the city's efforts to maximise energy efficiency across all municipal sectors while minimising emissions.

(Picture credit: EMA)

With GHG emissions from the city's public transportation system a major issue, a new rapid transit bus system will be introduced from 2016. Elsewhere the efficiency of municipal buildings is being tackled with the replacement of old and inefficient lighting and air-conditioning units. Danang had also "opened" its doors to investors willing to construct '"green" buildings using new technologies.

In Soo Kim, Energy Technology Executive Director of the Korea Energy Management Corporation, highlighted the importance of new technologies, pointing to energy efficiency, energy savings and renewable energies as the three fundamentals in future city planning and the assurance of a sustainable energy supply.

One key question was that of who needs to be involved to ensure that cities continue to move towards the creation of greener environments.

Pierre Cheyron, Chief Executive Officer of Cofely Southeast Asia, acknowledged the role of municipal leadership but said private sector must also play a crucial role, especially in financing. He said building the city of tomorrow requires all stakeholders to cooperate within a comprehensive framework – covering both the needs of the city and the interests of those behind the investment support.

He reiterated the importance of the World Bank's commitment to helping cities in the region as they look to create communities, establish long-term green growth plans and attract the public and private investment critical to any modern, energy-efficient urban environment.

BY : Maria Cacenschi, University of Vienna, Austria