2 - The growing impact of cities

Cities are hotspots of human activity.

Today, over half of the global population live in cities and by 2050 this share is expected to reach 68%1. Cities are undeniably the centres of human activity; they are where we live, relax and do business. All this puts enormous pressure on urban resources, creating a negative impact on economic, environmental and social well-being.

Yet, the dynamism of cities also makes them hotbeds of innovation and ideal testing places for sustainable solutions and new opportunities to enable long term resilience, resource optimisation, economic prosperity and human well-being.

Planners, policymakers and organisations all have the chance to rethink the way our current urban systems operate - and the city of Glasgow is leading the way.

Through Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and its initiative, Circular Glasgow, pioneering businesses are already taking steps towards adopting more circular strategies, supporting the city's ambition to position itself as a leading circular city.

What are the impacts of the way we live now?

Activities of cities and businesses help to provide the key needs of Glaswegians, from the food that is eaten, to the homes that are lived in.

Yet, our current way of living also generates a number of environmental impacts, including:

Scottish households throw away 566,000 tonnes of food waste each year. That’s the equivalent of 38,000 double-decker buses!

Consumer goods such as clothes, phones and furniture are responsible for 13% of global resource consumption.

Transport in Glasgow accounts for 32% of the city’s CO2 emissions6

Housing and infrastructure (construction) accounts for half of all waste generated in Scotland7

Facts and figures

80%

of global GDP is created in cities2

55%

of the global population lives in cities3

70%

of greenhouse gases are generated in cities4

75%

of all resources are consumed in cities5

2/3

of all energy is consumed in cities