What are the building blocks of a net zero carbon city?

Around half the world’s population (including three quarters of Europeans) currently live in cities – which makes urban spaces one of the biggest opportunities for meaningful transformation when it comes to achieving climate goals. Here, our experts highlight 14 key areas to focus on when it comes to building net zero cities.

1. Sustainable Energy
   Net Zero Cities prioritise renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy system that reduces carbon emissions and improves air quality.
2. Efficient Transportation
   Net Zero Cities encourage and prioritises alternative modes of transportation, such as public transit, Active Travel (cycling and walking), to reduce the use of fossil fuels and minimise traffic congestion and air pollution.
3. Smart Infrastructure
   Net Zero Cities use innovative and integrated technology to optimise energy and water usage, reduce waste, and minimise environmental impact.
4. Green Spaces
   Net Zero Cities prioritise the creation and preservation of green spaces, such as parks and urban forests, to improve air quality, reduce urban heat islands, and provide recreational opportunities fostering wellbeing.
5. Circular Economy
   Net Zero Cities implement a circular economy model, which prioritises waste reduction, recycling, and repurposing, to minimize waste and create a closed loop system that reduces the need for new resources. Learn ho to build the circular economy into construction here.
6. Community Engagement
   A Net Zero City engages and empowers its residents to participate in sustainability initiatives, such as community gardens and composting programs, to create a culture of effective environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
7. Resilience
   A Net Zero City prioritises  resilience planning, such as flood mitigation and disaster preparedness, to ensure that it can withstand and recover from environmental and social challenges.
8. Anti-fragility
   Through fostering anti-fragility, a Net Zero City can thrive under stress, adapting and improving when faced with challenges, extreme weather events and disruptions; remaining resilient, robust, and innovative.
9. Health and Wellbeing
   Net Zero Cities are designed to promote health and wellbeing for their inhabitants, by creating liveable, sustainable, and resilient urban spaces. They are not only good for the planet, but also for the people.
10. Air Quality
    Net Zero Cities are designed to improve air quality by reducing fossil fuel consumption, increasing renewable energy sources, promoting public transportation, cycling, and walking, and planting more trees and vegetation. They are not only eco-friendly, but also health friendly.
11. Sustainable Transport
    Net Zero Cities are designed to encourage sustainable transport by providing efficient, affordable, and attractive multi-modal alternatives to private cars, such as public transit, cycling, walking, car-sharing, and electric vehicles.
12. Nature-first
    Net Zero Cities are designed to respect and protect nature by preserving biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, reducing waste, and enhancing circular economy. They are regenerative by design.
13. Social-Spatial
    Social-spatial is a term that relates to the interaction between social and spatial factors in shaping human behaviour, experience, and identity. Net Zero Cities utilise social-spatial design to foster sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity.
14. Locality
    Local issues often require local solutions that are tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the people and the environment. Net Zero Cities are designed to support local development by empowering local actors, enhancing local resources, and fostering local innovation.