Creativity - IDA Ireland

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‘Because they
account for huge
consumption of
energy, cities are
responsible for
about 80pc of
greenhouse gas
emissions globally’
TODAY, MORE THAN HALF OF THE PLANET’S
INHABITANTS ARE LIVING IN URBAN AREAS, WITH
THREE MILLION MORE PEOPLE ARRIVING IN
CITIES EVERY WEEK. BY 2050, MORE THAN 70PC OF
THE GLOBAL POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO LIVE IN
CITIES. CITIES ARE THE FUTURE, AND THEY ARE
WHERE THE CLIMATE CHANGE BATTLE WILL BE
WON – OR LOST.
That is according to Willfried Wienholt, vice-president of
urban development at Siemens, who is was in Dublin in May
to address the second annual Green Economy Business &
Leadership Briefing, where other international speakers included
the former UN climate change chief Yvo de Boer.
Issue 2 Spring/Summer 2011 INNOVATION IRELAND REVIEW 61