The Weight of Cities: Resource Requirements of Future Urbanization calls for a new strategy to meet the needs of 21st century urbanization, one that would result in cities that are low-carbon, resource-efficient, socially just, and in which people can live healthy lives. The report, the 25th from the International Resource Panel, an eminent group of experts set up by UN Environment in 2007 to examine natural resource use, was one of two summary reports to be launched at the 9th World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur today.

The second report launched today, Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Transitions in the ASEAN Region: A Resource Perspective, was produced by UN Environment with scientific input from International Resource Panel member Dr Anu Ramaswami. It examines future urbanization in ASEAN nations – Indonesia, the Philippines, Viet Nam, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore and Brunei — where 205 million people are expected to move to cities by 2050, resulting in the rapid rise of 200 new small cities or urban areas with populations of fewer than 500,000. This is likely to take place against a backdrop of increasing air pollution and climate risks, and in a region where 73 million people live in slums, 120 million lack access to electricity and 280 million lack clean cooking fuels.

This report was done in collaboration with the Sustainable Healthy Cities Network, a GI-REC member.

Click on the photos below to download the summaries of these two reports.