Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the economics of a 'green city' and of the urban war against climate change. The chapter explains climate change: specifically, the desire of cities to fight the urban war against climate change. Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental, economic, security and social issues affecting the world. Climate change threatens the basic elements of life for people around the world—access to water, food, health, and use of land and the environment. The consequences of climate change will become disproportionately more damaging with increased warming. Furthermore, the high density of people in urban centres makes them possible focal points of potential vulnerability to the impact of climate change. The concentration of people and economic activities in towns and cities is likely to intensify their strategic and tactical vulnerability to the effects of climate change. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.