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What UNEP has to offer to cities: Introduction to UNEPs work on built and urban environment

Cities as Potential Drivers of Change

Population: 50% of the world population lives in cities today. 70% expected by 2050 All of the population growth in the next four decades will be absorbed by urban areas Resource pressure: Cities consume over 75% of the worlds natural resources, use 60% - 80% of global energy and are responsible for 75% of the CO2 emissions

Economic driver: Urban based economic activities account for 55% of GNP in LDCs, 73% in middle income countries, and 85% in the most developed countries
=> Dilemma: Cities as driver of global unsustainable resource use, but also greatest potential for sustainability-oriented innovations

Promoting Sustainable Cities

The Urban Environment Programme aims to: Integrate the urban dimension in key global environment issues Promote the link between local and global agendas and action Promote resource efficient and sustainable cities Make the case of integrating environment in strategic planning at city level and to provide advice to cities/city networks UNEP addresses these goals from three different angles: 1. Awareness Raising, Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships 2. Development of Tools and capacity-building 3. Contributing to Global Knowledge on cities

Through Partnerships, Networks, Campaigns

Local Governments Climate Roadmap Support to Local Governments Sessions at UNFCCC COPs Promotion of Low-Carbon Cities (e.g. in China, South Korea) Partnership with Local Government Associations (e.g. ICLEI and UCLG) Partnership with UN-HABITAT and World Bank Member of Cities Alliance Recruiting cities in UNEPs Climate Neutral Network

UNEPs Green Economy Initiative

Launched in 2008 by UNEP, macroeconomic analysis of policy reforms and investments in green sectors and in greening brown sectors To offer a viable alternative to the unsustainable status quo

Three sets of activities Green Economy Report and related research materials Providing advisory services in specific countries Engage in implementing the Green Economy Initiative with a wide range of partners

Cities and Green Economy

Cities are platforms for delivering environmental sustainability, economic growth and well-being (inclusive growth)
Cities are central instruments for de-linking higher living standards and increasing resource consumption Report provides public policy recommendations for transforming existing cities, and delivering new ones, taking into account regional differences in climatic conditions, culture and societal values

For more information, see http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/

Strong international platform to establish baselines to measure and report buildings performance, develop tools and strategies, advice and support to policy-makers. Mission: present the common voice of building sector stakeholders on buildings and climate change, drawing on UNEPs unique capacity to provide a global platform for collective action. Our members: International and national companies; Federations; Green building councils; Local authorities; Associations and NGOs

UNEP-SBCI works to promote sustainable building policies and practices worldwide

OBJECTIVES: Common platform ACTIVITIES and OUTPUTS: Outreach, awareness-raising, training workshops Advice and support to policy-makers (cities, governments, UNFCCC)

Tools and strategies

Core issues for sustainability (Sustainable Buildings Index) Baselines of performance National and regional assessments of the status of sustainable buildings

Support local, national and global projects

Pilot Tools at city, portfolio and individual building levels

More information: www.unep.org/sbci

Sustainable Buildings Index

A framework for building performance: -Energy + GHG Emissions; -Water; -Materials; -Economics; -Social issues; -Biodiversity

Measuring Energy Use & Reporting GHG Emissions from Building Operations Energy: kWh/m2/yr Emissions: kgCO2e/m2/yr

In collaboration with: World Resources Institute (WRI)

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Sustainable Buildings and Cities

Sustainable Buildings Policies in Developing countries (SPOD) :
Assist governments at national and local levels to develop policy tools in support of mainstreaming sustainable construction and building approaches, also resulting in reduced carbon footprint from buildings Quick-scan tool: assess policies, barriers and challenges
Building blocks: find the most appropriate tool for the context Field testing: piloting of tools and training Dissemination and awareness-raising

Sustainable Social Housing Initiative

Aim: promote sustainability in social housing programmes Output: Methodology and tools for implementation of sustainable solutions and technologies in social housing projects Pilot implementation in Bangkok and So Paulo: - Assessment of local priorities and challenges;
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Status of social housing programmes; Policies, market initiatives, voluntary actions. Training, awareness-raising, capacity building; Database of solutions; Guidelines for pilot sites.

Definition of actions to address challenges:

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The Need for Private Sector Support

Agents of change: Work with governments to develop policies that make a difference Renovate Buildings: To maximise the emission reduction and improve climate adaptability Demonstrate best practice: Demonstrate technology know-how frontiers on own and rented offices Holistic Solutions: Move to holistic and system solutions to sustainable buildings Educate the supply chain

For example., the Partnership for Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV)
Set up in 2002 at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (Rio + 10) Public private partnership

USEPA and UNEP among founders

Clearing house in UNEP

To promote and support cleaner fuels and vehicles in transitional and developing countries
3 specific campaigns: To phase out leaded gasoline To reduce fuel sulphur levels To promote cleaner vehicles

Leaded Petrol Phase out in Leaded Gasoline Phase Out in Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa

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Conclusion
Strategic attention on built environment and urban planning necessary Reduction potential of buildings is important & deserve better attention Political will is key, Business action is necessary & consumers awareness is critical

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Thank you for your attention!

Arab.hoballah@unep.org Soraya.smaoun@unep.org Hilary.french@unep.org United Nations Environment Programme Division of Technology, Industry and Economics 15, rue de Milan, 75441 Paris Cedex 09, France Tel : +33 (0) 1 4437 1429 Fax : +33 (0) 1 4437 1474 E-mail : unep.tie@unep.org Web: www.unep.fr