Solar panels are flanked by the Hong Kong skyline. It is already possible to reduce emissions from cities by 90 per cent using proven low-carbon measures such as solar power, mass transit and improved recycling. Photo: Shutterstock Solar panels are flanked by the Hong Kong skyline. It is already possible to reduce emissions from cities by 90 per cent using proven low-carbon measures such as solar power, mass transit and improved recycling. Photo: Shutterstock
Solar panels are flanked by the Hong Kong skyline. It is already possible to reduce emissions from cities by 90 per cent using proven low-carbon measures such as solar power, mass transit and improved recycling. Photo: Shutterstock
Naoko Ishii
Opinion

Opinion

Macroscope by Naoko Ishii

In the fight against climate change, cities need not be hotbeds of environmental degradation

  • Instead of being seen as pressure points for the environment, cities could be planned as innovation hubs
  • National governments must lead the move towards inclusive and sustainable cities, through initiatives such as carbon pricing and tax policies

Naoko Ishii
Naoko Ishii

Updated: 10:32pm, 5 Feb, 2020

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Solar panels are flanked by the Hong Kong skyline. It is already possible to reduce emissions from cities by 90 per cent using proven low-carbon measures such as solar power, mass transit and improved recycling. Photo: Shutterstock Solar panels are flanked by the Hong Kong skyline. It is already possible to reduce emissions from cities by 90 per cent using proven low-carbon measures such as solar power, mass transit and improved recycling. Photo: Shutterstock
Solar panels are flanked by the Hong Kong skyline. It is already possible to reduce emissions from cities by 90 per cent using proven low-carbon measures such as solar power, mass transit and improved recycling. Photo: Shutterstock
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Naoko Ishii

Naoko Ishii

Naoko Ishii is a former finance minister of Japan. She is CEO and chair of the Global Environment Facility, whose new Sustainable Cities Impact Programme is helping cities tackle the drivers of environmental degradation in an integrated way that factors land use and natural resources into all aspects of planning.