In a context of climate change with a strong impact on cities and their populations, this partnership aims to limit regions’ environmental footprint and to put forward new urban development models as part of a circular economyapproach. This partnership will last three years and have two stages. The first one will develop a shared vision of resource management in cities, by bringing SUEZ projects in line with the 10 sustainability principles to reinvent cities defined by WWF France, and then to identify areas for improvement. An experimentation phase will then test this vision with pilot projects including the assessment and the optimisation of waste recycling, energy efficiency and production. WWF France will support the project teams and facilitate the involvement of stakeholders and residents, in order to change behaviour and guarantee the viability of the service in the long term.
Cities at the heart of the ecological and energy transition
With 50% of the current global population living in cities and 70% by 2050, they have become humanity’s main ecosystem. Energy and natural resource intensive, they emit 70% of global CO2 from end energy consumption. The ecological transition is mainly playing out in city centres, where development policies and innovation take root. In its ‘Reinventing cities’ initiative, WWF France is working with public and private stakeholders to promote sustainable city models. The challenge is twofold: to reduce the country's ecological footprint while improving residents’ quality of life.
"It is urgent that we rethink our models to make our resource-intensive cities compatible with the limits of one planet. This partnership is an opportunity to reinvent cities and regions and reduce their ecological footprint, to guarantee citizens’ well-being", says Pascal Canfin, WWF France CEO.
The transition towards a sustainable model for cities requires us to reconcile growth, regional appeal and respect for residents and the environment. This partnership is a real opportunity to develop innovative models based on the circular economy in order to support cities’ environmental ambitions", says Jean-Louis Chaussade, Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ.
