Last updated: April 14, 2023

In Brief Narrated by Edward Norton for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, this project explores how over 60% of land projected to become urban by 2030 has yet to be built -- presenting both a threat to biodiversity and an extraordinary opportunity. The accompanying assessment, contributed to by 200 scientists, argues that low-carbon urban development can reduce ecological harm while improving quality of life.

Stockholm Resilience Centre | Convention on Biological Diversity

An Urbanizing Planet

Acclaimed Hollywood actor Edward Norton, who also serves as a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), has generously contributed his vocal talents to a newly released video. This informative and engaging piece delves into the complexities and potential solutions associated with the rapid urbanization of our planet. As cities continue to grow and expand, Norton’s narration sheds light on the unique challenges we face, as well as the opportunities that arise from this evolving landscape, emphasising the importance of sustainable development and responsible urban planning.

The video was produced to present the framework of a new book Global Urbanization, Biodiversity, and Ecosystems: Challenges and Opportunities — A Global Assessment. The scientific foundation of the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook project, the book presents the world’s first assessment of how global urbanisation and urban growth impact biodiversity and ecosystems. It builds on contributions by more than 200 scientists worldwide.

The book and video were launched in New York as part of UN-Habitat´s World Habitat Day 2013 celebrations. The book states that over 60 percent of the land projected to become urban by 2030 has yet to be built, but emphasizes that this presents a major opportunity to greatly improve global sustainability. By promoting low-carbon, resource-efficient urban development, it is possible to reduce adverse effects on biodiversity and improve quality of life, it says.

Urban growth in India

Cities and Biodiversity Outlook 2013

Cities and Biodiversity Outlook — urban ecosystems

Cities and Biodiversity Outlook — urban biodiversity

Cities and Biodiversity Outlook — urban land use

Cities and Biodiversity Outlook — urban sustainability

Cities and Biodiversity Outlook — urban planning

Cities and Biodiversity Outlook — urbanization impacts

Stills from An Urbanizing Planet — Cities and Biodiversity Outlook project, presenting the world’s first assessment of how global urbanisation and urban growth impact biodiversity and ecosystems

Did You Know?

Over 60% of the land projected to become urban by 2030 has not yet been built, making the next decade a narrow window of opportunity to embed biodiversity-sensitive design into cities before concrete makes those decisions permanent.

Cities occupy roughly 3% of Earth's land surface but consume approximately 75% of natural resources and produce more than 70% of global carbon emissions, making urban planning one of the highest-leverage interventions for planetary sustainability.

The world adds the equivalent of a city the size of Paris to its urban fabric approximately every two weeks, a pace of construction that has no precedent in human history and that will not decelerate until at least mid-century.

Research presented in the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook found that urban areas can harbour surprisingly rich biodiversity -- some cities contain more plant species than surrounding rural areas -- but only when green infrastructure is deliberately designed into the urban fabric rather than treated as an afterthought.

The transition from majority-rural to majority-urban humanity occurred in 2007, a demographic tipping point that was essentially invisible at the time but that represents one of the most consequential shifts in the 300,000-year story of Homo sapiens.