Decarbonising Cities

Abstract

This chapter begins by highlighting cities’ vulnerability to climate change and why they are keen to take action. An overview of the research relating to how greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to cities globally is then provided. Cities are the driving force in twenty-first century economies, so the potential for cities to address climate change is high if it can be facilitated. Australia is used as an example to highlight these main sources of carbon within the built environment, which includes a discussion on urban form and an overview of the current arguments for and against various types of urban form and their ability to reduce emissions.