Sustainable Cities of the Future: A Vision for Asia

As the world grapples with the pressing challenges of climate change, urbanisation, and resource scarcity, the imperative for sustainable cities has never been more urgent. In Asia, where rapid economic growth and burgeoning populations have led to unprecedented urban expansion, the need for sustainable development is particularly acute.

To create resilient, and equitable cities we must leverage sustainable engineering and technology, while developing a pipeline of human talent. This will ensure that we meet these considerable challenges with new ideas, expertise, and energy. Here are a few ways this could be achieved.

Decarbonizing Our Cities

Buildings account for nearly 40 percent of global CO2 emissions. Singapore has been implementing a proactive approach to green 80 percent of buildings by 2030, as well as to mandate energy audit and improvement works for around 100 most energy-intensive buildings from 2025. In Hong Kong, buildings and related activities account for about 90 percent of the country’s electricity usage and 60 percent of its carbon emissions. Given that a large percentage of existing buildings will still be in use by 2050, retrofitting these buildings is crucial for meeting global carbon reduction targets.

Accurate data is key to defining and then meeting these targets. Tools such as Decarbonomics™, developed by AtkinsRéalis, can help decarbonize existing assets and processes, through cost and program-optimized carbon neutral strategies. In Hong Kong, we have employed a bespoke digital modelling approach to help decarbonize over 50 government buildings via retro-commissioning for which energy savings of up to 10 percent has been achieved.

With capital investments spent on retrofitting and renovating old buildings, substantial energy savings can be realized with reasonable payback periods of five years or less. And of course, we need to make the most of digital tools to inform our design and construction of new buildings. AtkinsRéalis has developed Carbon Insights, an open-source benchmark database to help clients identify measures that can decarbonize new buildings and infrastructure (roads, highways, utilities) using open-source data and our in-house library.

Investing in Public Transport and Infrastructure

Given its public transport mode share of 89%, Hong Kong has a lower greenhouse gas emissions per capita for daily commute. Cities across Asia are increasingly aware of the need to transform into green and sustainable mobility: via connected, electrified, autonomous, and shared public transportation systems, which also reduce reliance on private vehicles, ease traffic congestion, and improve air quality.

In recent years, many Asian cities have made significant investments in infrastructure. Korea has identified core areas including intelligent safety management, smart maintenance, and intact service, as it developed its eco-friendly railways, and is also building smart roads. As of 2022, Vietnam’s infrastructure spending stands at six percent of GDP, invested mainly in roads, seaports, airports as it seeks to raise its infrastructure standards from 77 out of 141 countries.

This necessity to invest in smart, green and resilient solutions is vital to creating more liveable as well as greener urban environments. At AtkinsRéalis, we are committed to designing and delivering sustainable transportation solutions. For example, we masterplanned and designed the first car-lite new town for a major city in Southeast Asia, featured by self-driving vehicles for first-and-last-mile journey between train stations and key nodes within the town.

Energy Transition and Efficient Resource Management

One of the biggest barriers to achieving carbon net zero in Asia is coping with energy demand. In Asia, we have some of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases countries due to the sheer volume of carbon emissions coming from steel, cement and chemical sectors.

Nuclear energy plays a crucial role in Asia’s energy transition for several reasons. Many Asian countries, such as China, have rapidly growing populations and economies, leading to increased energy demands. Nuclear energy is a low-carbon energy source, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It can also complement intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar. By diversifying their energy mix, countries can reduce their reliance on imported fossil fuels, enhancing energy security.

The solution lies in modular and scalable energy transition solutions. For example, AtkinsRéalis are the stewards of CANDU® technology, the only type of nuclear reactor in the world that does not require enriched uranium, instead using heavy water, which contains the deuterium isotope of hydrogen, to control and cool the reactions. We recently signed an agreement to support the ongoing 30-year life extension of the two CANDU reactors at the Qinshan Nuclear Generating Station in China.

Global Knowledge Exchange and Industry Development

To create sustainable cities of the future, it is essential to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation. The skills shortage and mismatch has been a global issue since the Great Resignation in 2021 and Asia is no exception. In Hong Kong, for example, three out of four firms struggled to source talent and the construction industry is no exception.

By working together, we can learn from best practices, develop new technologies, and accelerate progress towards a more sustainable future. That is why leveraging a wider talent pool of global expertise while investing in local capabilities become key to meeting cities’ evolving needs and accelerating growth.

At AtkinsRéalis, we are able to draw on our global talent base of 38,000 employees, with an emphasis on excellence, diversity and the opportunity to collaborate across countries and disciplines on the most critical issues facing the planet. Our Asia Young Professionals (AYP) Program aims to nurture an inclusive workforce and promote knowledge sharing across the business in the region, including Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Korea.

These are all vital steps to creating cities that are resilient, equitable, and thriving. It is a bold vision but one that we believe is within reach if we stay focused on these key areas for development.

This article was first published at PRC magazine.