Greening the Future: Policy Options for Greener Cities

Increasing levels of urbanisation are one of the biggest challenges facing Europe. It is expected that 88% of the population of the EU will live in urban areas by 2050. This raises a number of
inter-related policy challenges, such as road congestion, sustainability, the environment, well-being, income, housing and accessibility of regions.
While the expansion of urban areas can lead to more jobs, higher incomes and higher standards of living, the negative impacts of urbanisation can lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, urban sprawl, higher crime levels and destruction of ecosystems. This paper will examine the increasing levels of urbanisation experienced at a European level from 1990 to 2018 and consider what the potential impact will be for Europe in the future (2050).This will have important implications for sustainability, economic prospects, environmental outcomes and quality of life