Climate

An estimated 70 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions come from cities. Rapid urbanization is expected to continue, intensifying even further the energy use in the cities. Yet there is also an opportunity. Cities are also where the greatest energy efficiencies can take place.

Cities are at the forefront of the climate challenge and the climate solution. Urban areas generate most global greenhouse gas emissions but also hold the greatest potential to reduce them through compact urban form, clean energy, green buildings, and sustainable transport. Integrating climate action into city planning strengthens resilience, protects vulnerable populations, and ensures that growth aligns with low-carbon, nature-positive pathways. A climate-conscious city not only mitigates risks but also creates opportunities for innovation, green jobs, and improved quality of life.

 

Explore more resources in the GPSC Knowledge Products, featuring case studies, toolkits, and technical guidance from cities around the world. Use the filters and categories to navigate by theme or topic and find content tailored to your city’s priorities.

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Samarkand, Uzbekistan

GPSC City Academy on Green Urban Infrastructure and Nature-Cultural Tourism

04 June 2026, 12:08

Background The City Academy Key Themes The Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC), led by the World Bank and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), serves as a global knowledge platform that connects cities and partners across disciplines. It provides technical expertise,…
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Climate

Integrating Climate Adaptation: a Toolkit for Urban Planners and Adaptation Practitioners

The toolkit on Integrating Climate Adaptation is aimed at both urban planning and climate adaptation specialists working for cities. This toolkit was developed with the goal of facilitating the
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Climate

The city-industry-climate nexus: Cities as engines of global net-zero transitions in a shifting world

By 2050, almost two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities, which already consume most of the world’s energy and emit the majority of greenhouse gases. This makes urban areas central to

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Climate

Financing urban resiliency and low emission development in Asia [Summary Report]

This peer-to-peer workshop at the Resilient Cities Asia Pacific (RCAP2019) of the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC) brings together representatives of some GPSC cities in Asia (Vijayawada
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