By Derek Top, Senior Editor, Program Director - VERGE
While cities face considerable infrastructure challenges in urban growth, they're also taking the lead to fight climate change.
A C40 report released yesterday at Rio +20 shows how 59 of the largest global cities will reduce greenhouse emissions by 248 million metric tons in 2020, and by more than 1 gigaton by 2030.
When you consider these city actions are already taking place -- this is not a lofty, unrealistic goal -- it's clear that cities are setting the standard for what it takes to solve sustainable development challenges.
At GreenBiz.com, Senior Writer Marc Gunther debates if the higher costs of clean energy create a drag on economic growth, while money spent on efficiency reduces costs over time. And in Tianjin, China, a city about 100 miles south of Beijing, Morgan Peck finds out why urban planners are building an entirely new mini-city from scratch, rethinking the basic arrangements of car-centric metropolitan areas.
Elsewhere, at The Pop-up City, a very cool flowchart -- integrating nifty, web-based interactive elements -- provides an easy and comprehensive tool for understanding world population growth since 1950 and projected to 2050. And a global survey from Johnson Controls' Institute for Building Efficiency finds 85 percent of commercial building owners rely on energy management to boost operational efficiency, up significantly from two years ago.
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How to Leverage Sustainability Programs to Drive Enterprise-Wide Efficiency
In this free webcast, you'll learn the business case for linking sustainability and financial results, and get clear guidelines for identifying efficiency opportunities within your organization. What technologies that can support your sustainability programs and what are the best practices of world-leading companies that have leveraged their sustainability initiatives for financial and operational gains? Click here for more information.
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YKK AP windows open new possibilities.
YKK AP systems can achieve incredibly low U-factors by minimizing energy convection. YKK AP fixed and operable windows can incorporate standard 1-inch insulating glass and advanced glazing technologies. Entrances up to 1 1/2-inch thickness, including suspended film insulating glass. Curtain wall up to 2-inch triple glazing. Click here for more information.
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The 2012 Cleantech Open National Conference
Join CleanTech Open on June 21 at Santa Clara Convention Center for the largest cleantech gathering in Silicon Valley! Peruse the Innovation Expo, featuring the debut of 140 new cleantech companies, attend expert sessions and network with the best. As a partner, we can offer you a 20% discount off the regular rate, making it only $120! Register here today: http://www.cleantechopen.com/app.cgi/events/476/register/80
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| June 20, 2012 |
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