Editing IPCC:AR6/WGIII/Chapter-8 (section)

=== FAQ 8.1 | Why are urban areas important to global climate change mitigation? ===

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Over half of the world’s population currently resides in urban areas – a number forecasted to increase to nearly 70% by 2050. Urban areas also account for a growing proportion of national and global emissions, depending on emissions scope and geographic boundary. These trends are projected to grow in the coming decades; in 2100, some scenarios show the urban share of global emissions above 80%, with 63% being the minimum for any scenario (with the shares being in different contexts of emissions reduction or increase) (Sections 8.3.3 and 8.3.4). As such, urban climate change mitigation considers the majority of the world’s population, as well as some of the key drivers of global emissions. In general, emissions scenarios with limited outward urban land expansion are also associated with a smaller rise in global temperature ( [[#8.3.4|Section 8.3.4]] ).

The urban share of global emissions and its projected growth stem in part from urban carbon lock-in – that is, the path dependency and inertia of committed emissions through the long lifespan of urban layout, infrastructures, and behaviour. As such, urban mitigation efforts that address lock-in can significantly reduce emissions ( [[#8.4.1|Section 8.4.1]] ). Electrification of urban energy systems, in tandem with implementing multiple urban-scale mitigation strategies, could reduce urban emissions by 90% by 2050 – thereby significantly reducing global emissions ( [[#8.3.4|Section 8.3.4]] ). Urban areas can also act as points of intervention to amplify synergies and co-benefits for accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals ( [[#8.2|Section 8.2]] ).

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