ABSTRACT
Cities are increasingly being recognised as critical arenas for addressing climate change. Since 2008, for the first time half of the world’s population is living in towns and cities (UN 2008). The concentration of social and economical activities in cities has led to the recognition of urban areas as key sites in the production of greenhouse gas emissions and as potentially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (e.g. Stern 2006; IEA 2008). In this context, there is a growing acknowledgement of the opportunities that cities provide for addressing climate change. Cities are portrayed as financial centres and centres of technical, social and political innovation (OECD 2008), and they are regarded as providing ‘hubs’ where innovative approaches to climate change mitigation can be ‘tested’ (e.g. DECC 2009) and adaptation measures adopted. Furthermore, city governments have had an important role in creating opportunities for climate change action (e.g. Bulkeley and Betsill 2003). The emergence of global city networks such as ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the Climate Alliance and the C40 has demonstrated the importance of cities in driving global responses to climate change, sometimes filling the vacuum left by national governments’ inaction.
