The rapid economic growth of many developing and emerging countries is concentrated in many urban and industrial areas. In 2008 the proportion of the world’s population living in cities exceeded 50% for the first time, equivalent to 3.3 billion people. In 1950 the figure was less than 30%, just over 730 million people; in 2030 it will be an estimated five billion people.

Industrialisation and urbanisation are closely linked to severe local and global environmental problems. The health and livelihoods of many people are threatened by waste and refuse as well as air, water and soil pollution.

Additional problems are posed by emissions that are harmful to the climate and ozone layer and by the mass consumption of resources in urban-industrial growth areas.

We advise our partner countries on the drafting of environmental policy and implementation of effective and efficient environmental management. Our objective is to separate economic growth from the consumption of natural resources and greenhouse gas emissions. Although the structural changes required to achieve this call for considerable efforts, these can also boost innovation and the creation of new jobs.