Outrage + Optimism: 153. Why the 21st Century is for Cities and Mayors with Sadiq Khan

153. Why the 21st Century is for Cities and Mayors with Sadiq Khan

May 12, 2022

Cities are where we will lose or win the climate change battle.

Chapter 8 of the IPCC report on mitigation reported that more than half of the global population now lives in cities, and that proportion is expected to grow to about two-thirds by 2050.

That is a lot of people. And that’s a lot of emissions.

As of 2020, urban areas are the source of about 67-72% of emissions with about 100 of the highest emitting urban areas [currently] accounting for approximately 18% of the global carbon footprint.”

But with problems like urban heat, growing disparities in income and access to food and healthcare, how are mayors uniquely empowered to adapt to everything a climate emergency brings with it?

This week, we have the Mayor of London and Chair of C40, Sadiq Khan. He shares his personal journey with being diagnosed with Adult-Onset Asthma after breathing in too much pollution in London, and how educating the public and bringing people along with you in your leadership is the way forward to cleaner, greener cities.

And this week a special sample of Environmental Music Prize finalist, Holy Holy with their song ‘Hello My Beautiful World’

Enjoy the show!

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Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

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Mentioned links from the episode:

LEARN: CDP Cities, States and Regions Open Data Portal

VOTE: Environmental Music Prize

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Thanks to our guest this week, Sadiq Khan!

Sadiq Khan