The Weight of Cities: Resource Requirements of Future Urbanization - Summary for Policymakers

This summary for policymakers outlines the resource implications of rapid urbanisation and highlights the need to place resource efficiency alongside climate change as a central policy priority. It presents a strategy for achieving low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially just cities through integrated urban planning, sustainable design, resource-efficient technologies and cross-sector infrastructure planning. The summary emphasises the importance of linking land use, infrastructure and governance to improve urban productivity, reduce material consumption and environmental impacts, and support sustainable urban development through coordinated policy action, innovation and long-term investment decisions.