Learning Journal - Cities and Climate Change

Running head: LEARNING JOURNAL
Learning Journal
Student’s name
University
Author’s note

LEARNING JOURNAL
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Learning Journal
Article Summary
Cities and Climate Change
Global Report On Human Settlement (United
nations Human settlement programme 2011)
 The conflict between urbanization and
climate change poses as the biggest
threat to the future of mankind.
 To ensure a sustainable future for the
humankind, the major challenges
include reduction of greenhouse gas
emission and adaptation of
environmentally sustainable patterns in
urban development.
 The major source of GHG emission are
energy generation and consumption,
transportation, industrial operation,
solid waste and other commercial and
industrial waste, as well as residential
and commercial buildings.
 The impact of climate change on urban
development can be environmental,
social as well as economic.

LEARNING JOURNAL
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Cities and Climate Change
Global Report On Human Settlement (United
nations Human settlement programme 2011)
(contd.)
 Rise of see level, increase of tropical
cyclones, increased instances of urban
flooding due to severe precipitation and
extreme heat are all results of climate
change.
 The extreme climate and weather
conditions can also affect the economic
and social environments of urban
regions by damaging infrastructures
such as roads, bridges, buildings, water
supply, energy provisions etc.
 The five key sectors where mitigation
action are occurring include the built
environment, urban infrastructure,
urban form and structure, transport and
carbon sequestration.
 Community-based adaptation responses
are urgently required in the context of
urbanization-climate change conflict
that includes expansion of community
participation, risk assessment and
investment in major infrastructure.

LEARNING JOURNAL
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CITIES, PEOPLE, PLANET
By Herbert Girardet
 The central purpose of the article is to
address the issue of environmental
sustainability in growing urban
developments, or the lack thereof. Ti
this end, it hypothesizes that without
sustainable urban development, holistic
sustainable development is not
achievable.
 The article addresses the complex
relationship between people, cities and
the planet, focusing on the emerging
challenges in the expansion of urban
dwelling and its impact on the
environment.
 Urban sprawl- the expansion of urban
areas is becoming a major concern for
environmentalists, given its impact in
resource depletion, waste and climate
change.
 To mitigate the emerging challenges in
sustainable development, it is essential
to develop sustainable cities with
immediate effect.