Communities at the front-line as climate change challenges arise

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ommunity will be the front-line as people stand together to address the unfolding circumstances arising from climate change.

The adage of “United we stand, divided we fall” underlines the importance of community as towns and cities, and their communities, link arms deal with hitherto unknown dilemmas.

Integral to the inherent strength of communities will be how they are designed and structured and with that in mind it was interesting read an observation about this in  Nicholas Stern’s new book: “Why Are We Waiting?: The Logic, Urgency, and Promise ofTackling Climate Change”.

The fellow responsible for the legendary “Stern Report” that considered the economic impacts of climate change and how best to reduce or limit costs wrote:

The design of towns and cities, for example, will be crucial as the world urbanizes. The structure of future towns and cities as the world moves from around half urbanized to three-quarters or more in the next few decades will be crucial (approximately equivalent of three additional billion people in cities). Much of what is likely to be necessary will have a strong community focus: increased public transport options to encourage wider social interactions; encouraging modal shifts like walking or cycling to increase health and decrease local pollution; recycling and reusing to reduce waste; advanced combined heat and power systems; more housing options for increased social inclusion, and so on. The community focus necessary for resource efficiency is likely to have strong further benefits in the form of more cohesive societies.