Siemens 2010 Annual Report Download - page 28

14 Foundation 4 Introduction 26 Structure
27 Demographic change and healthcare
28 Urbanization and sustainable development
28 Climate change and energy supply
29 Globalization and competitiveness
30 A strong structure
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Urbanization and sustainable
development
In 2009, for the first time in history, more people
lived in cities than rural areas. By 2050, the propor-
tion of city dwellers will have risen to 70 percent –
with a simultaneous increase in world population.
Today’s booming urban centers are making a major
contribution to economic development. For exam-
ple, 40 percent of Japan’s gross domestic product is
generated in Tokyo, while Paris accounts for 30 per-
cent of all the goods and services produced in
France. As cities increase in economic importance,
their inhabitants are demanding a higher quality of
life. Clean air, clean water, reliable energy supplies
and efficient transportation systems are key needs.
Urbanization – another of today’s megatrends –
poses an enormous challenge. Cities currently con-
sume some 75 percent of the world’s energy and
generate 80 percent of its greenhouse gases. Traffic
jams cost the European Union an estimated
€100 billion a year in lost economic performance.
Our task is to provide convenient, cost-effective
green infrastructures for the cities of tomorrow.
Siemens’ products and solutions for the processing
industry, mass transit, buildings, energy conver-
sion, power distribution and hospitals are creating
energy-efficient, sustainable infrastructures that
enhance the quality of urban life, foster competi-
tiveness, conserve resources and minimize environ-
mental impact.
Climate change
and energy supply
The scientific consensus is clear: our climate is
changing. Between 1850 and the beginning of the
21
st
century, the average temperature on the earth’s
surface rose by 0.76° Celsius. The period between
1994 and 2005 included 11 of the 12 warmest years
on record. Since the beginning of industrialization,
the warming of the earth’s surface has been accom-
panied by a massive increase in greenhouse gas
emissions. The concentration of CO2 in the atmo-
sphere is now at the highest level in 800,000 years.
Climate change is closely linked to shifting demo-
graphics. Due to world population growth and
ongoing globalization, the amount of power gener-
ated worldwide will increase more than 60 percent
by 2030. Emerging and developing countries will
account for two-thirds of this increase. Drastic mea-
sures will be required to limit the rise in global tem-
perature to a maximum of 2° Celsius. Innovations
are the most effective means of combating the neg-
ative consequences of climate change – innova-
tions relating to energy efficiency, power genera-
With the Green City Index, we’re now
helping numerous cities minimize their climate footprint –
because we’re the ideal partner for
climate-friendly infrastructure solutions.
www.siemens.com/city-index