Urbanization
The city is a powerful magnet for humanity: eight out of 10 urban dwellers appreciate the living environment offered by the city(1). More than half the world's population lives in cities and the level of urbanization continues to rise in line with population growth.
To meet the increasing needs of new residents, a result of both natural and urban growth and migratory flows, cities must continue adapting their infrastructures to absorb both the natural expansion of urban areas and migratory flows, cities will need to continue adapting their infrastructures to meet the growing needs of new residents: Veolia Environnement offers comprehensive solutions today for the cities of tomorrow.
(1)According to the Veolia Observatory of Urban Lifestyles.
Inequality
Access to essential services such as water, waste management, transportation and energy is far from universal. Glaring disparities persist(1), between and within countries. Even where services exist, they very often vary widely in quality and efficiency. To respond to the challenge, Veolia Environnement applies its expertise and innovative thinking to create forward-looking solutions adapted to diverse local needs and to individual circumstances.
(1)According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 13% of the world's population still did not have access to drinking water in 2008.
Finite resources
The Earth's non-renewable resources are rapidly running out, starting with oil; certain mineral reserves will soon be depleted. Renewable natural resources like water are threatened and are already scarce in some areas. With 60% of the vital 'services' provided by nature damaged or overexploited (1), there is an urgent need to find ways of doing more with less. Veolia Environnement creates solutions for a less consumptive world and a more harmonious relationship between humans and their planet.
(1)According to the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals.
Global warming
Climate change will undoubtedly create a new world order for humanity: experts(1) predict that the Earth's average surface temperature will increase between 1.8 and 4°C by 2100. Through its actions in 2010, Veolia Environnement contributed to avoiding 27.5 million tons of CO2 emissions equivalent as part of the urgently needed response to this phenomenon. Equally critical is to account for the multiple consequences of climate changes already occurring, as Veolia Environnement is doing in determining the lifespan of its systems and facilities and other planning decisions.
(1)From the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).