Decarbonization of Cities in Asia

Book excerpt: This book provides best practices for decarbonizing cities in East Asia, in which buildings are the major contributor to carbon emissions. Beyond the global commitment through the Paris Agreement to make collective efforts on climate action and accelerated policies, investment and development at the country and city level to combat climate change are occurring at an unprecedented rate. Rapid urbanization and increasing energy demand for large and dense Asian cities require smart and sustainable strategies to balance development with decarbonization. A poly-centric approach is needed, where a combination of policy-, market- and technology-driven changes can aid the transition towards development of carbon neutral cities. With practical examples in the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, green financing, climate action roadmap and policy, deployment of renewable energy, and low- to zero-carbon buildings, readers can find the motivation, considerations and implementation pathways to facilitate the transition into the new normal. It is the hope of the authors to encourage readers to see successful pathways in transitioning into a carbon-free industry and overcoming the effects of climate extremes.