Climate: the fight must start in the cities

According to a study carried out by the United Nations, it is from cities that the fight to curb climate change and stop environmental degradation must start. Urban areas, in fact, occupy only 2% of the Earth’s surface but cause 70% of climate-altering gas (CO2) emissions. Based on per capita greenhouse gas emissions, the countries with highest emission rates are to be found in the Middle East. At the top of the list is Qatar, followed by Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Slightly below the Middle-Eastern countries there are the United States, Australia and Canada. If the great urban areas are taken into consideration, Washington D.C. is in first place with an average of 19.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per head per year, followed by Glasgow with 8.4 tonnes of per head per year, New York with 7.1 tonnes, Beijing with 6.9 tonnes and London with 6.2 tonnes. These emissions are mainly due to the combustion of fossil fuels for heat supply, for electricity generation and for transportation. The United Nations report asserts that actions carried out at a local level are the most effective response to curbing global warming. In fact, in cities there is greater energy use and waste and therefore it is here that measures must be taken in order to curb climate-altering emissions.