Cool, calm and carbon-neutral

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Economist or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Copenhagen, once on the verge of car congestion, has transformed into a cycling hub with over 60% of commuters using bikes
• The city aims to become the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025, integrating green energy, transportation reform, and climate-conscious urban planning
• Its success serves as a model for cities worldwide striving for sustainability

🔭 The context: Cities contribute over 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making them both key players in the climate crisis and its most vulnerable victims
• The EU’s NetZeroCities initiative is helping 100 urban centers achieve climate neutrality by 2030
• Other cities, like Melbourne and Milan, are expanding green spaces and urban forests to combat heat and air pollution

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Urban climate strategies reduce emissions while improving public health and resilience to extreme weather
• Flood-prone cities like Rotterdam are repurposing public spaces to manage rising waters, showcasing how adaptation can be both functional and aesthetic
• Without bold action, climate vulnerabilities will intensify, especially in under-resourced regions

⏭️ What's next: Cities must integrate carbon neutrality into all aspects of urban planning, from transport to construction
• National governments, international bodies, and the private sector need to collaborate to scale up these efforts, particularly in the developing world
• Without coordinated action, urban areas will struggle to cope with accelerating climate threats

💬 One quote: "Trump has probably done more to make China great again in two weeks than Xi has managed to do in his own right in over a decade." – Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS

📈 One stat: Over 90% of urban residents in Economist Impact’s Ground Up survey are taking or planning steps to increase their climate resilience

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