Rural idyll worst for climate change

The idea that urban areas contribute a disproportionately-high amount to global climate change is challenged by a study from the International Institute for Environment and Development, which finds that the greenhouse gas emissions of large cities are far below those of rural areas.

The study finds that on average people living in cities emit fewer greenhouse gases than the average for their country.

For example, whilst Glasgow does not appear to fare well compared with the other eleven cities in the study, its emissions per person are still below the average figure for the whole of Britain.

The least-polluting city in the study, Sao Paolo, emits only 18 per cent of Brazil’s national average.

Cities are dirty, but more efficient

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Cities are huge producers of greenhouse gases but they provide the potential to house, heat and move people in a relatively energy efficient way”

David Dodman who led the study, tells New Scientist magazine: “Historically, people have associated pollution and environmental damage with cities and, as far as climate warming goes, it is true that urban areas have large energy consumption,” he says. “But many emissions come from rural areas, and methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.”

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