Research Projects

This report looks at the challenge of growing cities from an urban metabolism perspective. It estimates the magnitude of resources that will be required to reach the levels of urbanisation forecasted for 2050, and investigates how various infrastructure and spatial planning interventions can be used to reduce this in line with planetary limits. The project ran over 3 years, and involved the coordination of an international network of subject experts.

Publication:

Swilling, M., Hajer, M. et al. Forthcoming. The Weight of Cities: Resource Requirements of Future Urbanization. A report for the International Resource Panel. Paris: United Nations Environment Programme.

Collaborating Institutes: Utrecht University, CSIRO, Urban Morphology Institute, UCSB, UMN