Cities, Settlements and Infrastructure
Urban systems are critical for achieving deep emissions 
reductions and advancing climate resilient development, 
particularly when this involves integrated planning that 
incorporates physical, natural and social infrastructure (high 
conﬁdence). Deep emissions reductions and integrated adaptation 
actions are advanced by: integrated, inclusive land use planning 
and decision-making; compact urban form by co-locating jobs and 
housing; reducing or changing urban energy and material consumption; 
electriﬁcation in combination with low emissions sources; improved 
water and waste management infrastructure; and enhancing carbon 
uptake and storage in the urban environment (e.g. bio-based building 
materials, permeable surfaces and urban green and blue infrastructure). 
Cities can achieve net zero emissions if emissions are reduced within 
and outside of their administrative boundaries through supply chains, 
creating beneﬁcial cascading effects across other sectors. (high conﬁdence) 
{WGII SPM C.5.6, WGII SPM D.1.3, WGII SPM D.3; WGIII SPM C.6, WGIII 
SPM C.6.2, WGIII TS 5.4, SR1.5 SPM C.2.4}
Considering climate change impacts and risks (e.g., through climate 
services) in the design and planning of urban and rural settlements 
and infrastructure is critical for resilience and enhancing human 
well-being. Effective mitigation can be advanced at each of the design, 
construction, retroﬁt, use and disposal stages for buildings. Mitigation 
interventions for buildings include: at the construction phase, low-
155 A set of measures and daily practices that avoid demand for energy, materials, land and water while delivering human well-being for all within planetary boundaries. 
{WGIII Annex I}
emission construction materials, highly efﬁcient building envelope 
and the integration of renewable energy solutions; at the use phase, 
highly efﬁcient appliances/equipment, the optimisation of the use 
of buildings and their supply with low-emission energy sources; 
and at the disposal phase, recycling and re-using construction 
materials. Sufﬁciency155 measures can limit the demand for energy 
and materials over the lifecycle of buildings and appliances.