ABSTRACT
Perhaps the largest planning challenge humanity has ever faced – and one of the preeminent threats to cities and towns around the world – is climate change. Within the lifetimes of many of those living today, societies will need to become virtually carbon-neutral, a huge challenge given that our transportation systems, buildings, agriculture, and industries are currently extremely fossil fuel-dependent. And then there will be the enormous task of adapting to climate change impacts that to a certain extent are now inevitable. These coming effects include a temperature rise of at least 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), drought or flooding in many parts of the world, and a sea level rise of several meters within a century and much more after that.
