London is a typical example for the problems megacities have to face.

London is a prime example of how a city can meet international greenhouse gas reduction targets and other sustainability goals without dramatically impacting its inhabitants’ lifestyle. The means to this end are described in the study “Sustainable Urban Infrastructure: London Edition – a view to 2025,” jointly released by Siemens and the international management consultants McKinsey & Company in 2008. Annual CO₂ emissions in the British metropolis could be reduced by almost 20 megatons by 2025 simply by implementing currently available technologies. More than 200 technological levers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cutting water usage and optimizing waste disposal in the city were analyzed. The study shows that the adoption of many technologies for reducing greenhouse gases also makes good economic sense. Almost 70 percent of the potential abatement could be achieved using technologies that pay for themselves, largely by reducing energy costs.

Munich’s air can become cleaner in the future – and the study commissioned by Siemens explains how.

Climate protection is also a topic in Munich. The capital of the German state of Bavaria can cut its CO₂ emissions by up to 90 percent by mid-century without impairing the quality of life for its inhabitants. This is the main finding of the second study from the Sustainable Urban Infrastructure series, entitled “Munich – Paths toward a Carbon-Free Future.” Commissioned by Siemens, the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy examined how a modern metropolis like Munich can drastically reduce the amount of CO₂ it emits. Using a specific model urban district, the analysis concretely demonstrates how the transformation to a virtually carbon-free metropolis can be accomplished in terms of infrastructure and technology. Key levers for cutting CO₂ emissions are high-efficiency energy applications, in particular in buildings; infrastructure modifications in the areas of heating, electricity and transportation; and a transition to renewable and low-carbon energy sources wherever possible.

To improve Dublin's climate – that's the aim of a new Siemens study.

Ireland is often called the “green island.” But this doesn’t mean that the country is an environmental paradise – particularly when it comes to protecting the earth’s climate. In fact, with Dublin – which is home to one quarter of Ireland’s people – generating the lion’s share of its climate-damaging emissions, the country is in danger of missing both the climate protection goals set by the European Union and the Kyoto targets. In cooperation with University College Dublin’s School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Siemens has identified 22 levers that – by bringing to bear the world’s most advanced technologies – could improve Dublin’s climate. These levers include, in the first instance, the use of renewable energy, building insulation, an integrated traffic concept and fuel-efficient vehicles.

You can find the three studies in our Web feature “Sustainable Urban Infrastructure.”