‘Over 60 percent of land projected to become urban by 2030 yet to be built’
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Global urbanisation will have significant implications for biodiversity and ecosystems if current trends continue, with knock-on effects for human health and development, observes a new assessment by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The assessment ’Cities and biodiversity outlook’, which draws on contributions from more than 123 scientists world-wide, stated that over 60 percent of the land projected to become urban by 2030 has yet to be built. This presents a major opportunity to greatly improve global sustainability by promoting low-carbon, resource-efficient urban development that can reduce adverse effects on biodiversity and improve quality of life, it says.
The ’Cities and biodiversity outlook’ is the world’s first global analysis of how projected patterns of urban land expansion will impact biodiversity and crucial ecosystems. It was produced by the Secretariat of the CBD in partnership with the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) and Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI).
Source: Business Recorder (link opens in a new window)
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