Humanity�s ability to curb global greenhouse emission largely depends on how future cities and towns embrace carbon mitigation, says a leading researcher ahead of 2015�s largest meeting of climate scientists.

�Despite uncertainties on how cities will evolve in the future, we have a large window of mitigation opportunities in guiding new urbanization,� says Shobhakar Dhakal, Associate Professor at the Asian Institute of Technology and keynote speaker at the Our Common Future Under Climate Change conference taking place in Paris from 7-10 July.

These mitigation options include avoiding unnecessary activity, over-consumption and carbon intensive infrastructure development; shifting to lower carbon modes of food, energy, transport, infrastructure, urban design; and improving technology (e.g. electric vehicles charging on renewables), low carbon fuels, and efficiency.

The science should guide us for developing visions for the future, he says, and the alternative pathways to reach there.�

�We need science that shows us feasibility of options, clarifies costs and benefits and provides ideas on policies and actions for what works, what does not, and how to make it work.� � � �

�We need transformative change and the future is in our hands. It�s up to us to decide and plan what type of world and cities that we want to live in the future.��

This is part of a blog series profiling climate scientists, economists, social scientists and civil society members who are presenting and discussing innovative climate science at Our Common Future. For more follow and #CFCC15 on Twitter.

Below is an edited transcript of an interview with Dhakal, who can be reached for comment at [email protected]�

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Q: What do you plan to present at the Our Common Future conference?

A: I plan to talk on low carbon cities and have four key messages:�

1.�Humanity�s ability to curb global greenhouse gas emission largely depends on how cities and towns embrace carbon mitigation in the future�

2.�Low carbon future cities must address greenhouse gas emission �within� as well as �outside� its physical boundaries, such as consumption and supply chain emissions, since cities are complex open systems

3.�Despite uncertainties on how cities will evolve in the future, a large window of mitigation opportunities lie in guiding new urbanization in next two decades and must be pursued actively

4.�Opportunities to reduce existing cities� emission through systemic and integrated mitigation solutions must be tapped but cities must develop long-term visions and overcome policy fragmentations.

Q: Humanity's future is the future of cities. What's your favourite city and why?

A: I would not say that any one city is ideal. Different cities have different attributes that are key for low carbon city development- Tokyo is a good example of efficient public transport system, that is a key for low carbon development of mega-cities; city of Masdar is a showcase of how technology can be used for low carbon city. Generally speaking, I strive for mid-size, reasonably compact, mixed land-use city which has efficient public transport and the city that provides ample opportunities for renewable energy integration into energy system. � ��

Q: What are the key steps we need to take for a low-carbon future?

A: Fundamentally, three things are important for a low carbon future: avoid, shift and improve. Avoid unnecessary activity, over-consumption and carbon intensive infrastructure development. Shift to lower carbon modes- food, energy, transport, infrastructure, urban design. Improve for using best practices technology, low carbon fuels, and efficiency.�

A low-carbon future asks for transformative change; incremental change is no longer enough. But remember, there are lots of other sustainability challenges beyond carbon- therefore, realizing co-benefits and multi-objective planning should be our goal.�

While end-of-pipe solutions and sectoral actions are necessary in cities, a truly low-carbon city cannot be achieved without systemic and long-term interventions, city�s carbon relations over and across urban boundary, and far-reaching inter-sectoral policies and policy coherence. � � � ��

Q: Where do you anticipate we will see the most staggering science or tech advancements to combat climate change in urban environments?

A: Rather than what we anticipate, I would say that we need transformative change and the future is in our hands. It�s up to us to decide and plan what type of world and cities that we want to live in the future.�

The science should guide us for developing visions for the future and the alternative pathways to reach there. New options, new technology, use of best practice technologies (e.g. electric vehicles charging on renewables), better way for urban design/form in newly urbanizing regions and the regions that will be built in next 2-3 decades, and managing consumption are key.�

We need science that shows us feasibility of options, clarifies costs and benefits and provides ideas on policies and actions for what works, what does not, and how to make it work. � � ��

Q: What do you hope people leave the conference thinking about?

A: I hope people leave conference realizing the urgency of greenhouse gas mitigation and with optimism that we can achieve a deeper cut in greenhouse gas emissions consistent with 2 degree pathways. Lets� not forget, this task is not easy. I hope people will realize the needs for early actions, rapid building up of the enabling environment for early transition and the need for continue to generate knowledge and advancing policy actions. � ��

This is part of a blog series profiling climate scientists, economists, social scientists and civil society members who are presenting and discussing innovative climate science at Our Common Future. For more follow and #CFCC15 on Twitter.