rban environments carry environmentalimpact, contributing heavily to theconsumption and cost of energy, while at the same time disturbing the balance of nature through artificial light, pollution andwaste. A climate change agenda has become both apolitical and an economic imperative for the world'sleading economies.URBANISATIONLess than a century ago, fewer than 10 per cent of theworld's population lived in cities. Today, that figurestands at over 50 per cent, and by the middle of the21st century it is estimated that three-quarters of us willlive in cities. By 2030, nearly five billion people will beliving in cities, as some 60 million people - equivalentto the population of Great Britain - move into urbanareas every year. Many of these new city dwellers can befound in the emerging markets, where conurbations of20 million inhabitants or more are rapidly expanding. At the same time, cities in developed regions likeEurope and North America must adapt as they becomepopulation hubs for service economies and the post-industrial age changes the very nature of city life.Faced with this unparalleled expansion, municipalauthorities worldwide are now recognising the need tocreate cities and towns that are safe and enjoyable tolive in, to work and do business in, and relax in. As justone example, crime rates are rising in urban areas, andclose to one billion people - almost a third of all citydwellers - live in slum conditions. Quality of life (urbansafety, security, health and well-being), the promotionof commerce, entrepreneurism and tourism, andhistoric preservation are all high on national agendas. Regardless of region and social structure, all citiesshare commonalities: all wish to establish identity, asignature that defines their appeal and theirdifferentiation from other cities in the world, theirregion, or even their nation. This is not only about civicpride, but also an effort to ensure that they remainviable and competitive in the global marketplace. ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS Cities are front and centre in the climate changedebate. They account for 75 per cent of the world'senergy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Totackle this impact, governments increasingly applylegislative measures to reign in carbon emissions andmeet internationally-agreed targets, while at the sametime they commit significant investment towardsinfrastructure projects that stimulate growth and drivea sustainable global economy.To retain both private and corporate citizens, citiesmust maintain safety and security, either throughtackling and preventing criminal activity, or byproviding safer streets for both motorists andpedestrians alike. Poorly, or inappropriately, installedlighting can decrease safety. At the same light level,more than 80 per cent of people feel safer with bright,white light than with poor quality yellow light.Furthermore, there are financial benefits to well-designed lighting. Cities can recognise financialsavings by reducing crime while they recoup theinvestment costs of improving street lighting betweentwo-and-a-half and ten times after just one year. Wecannot, however, escape the fact that artificial light isan essential part of lighting urban environments, notonly after dark, but also as part of a city or town'sidentity. But it does come with an environmental price.Lighting accounts for 19 per cent of all electricityRight: Harry Verhaar,Senior Director Energy & Climate Change,Philips Lighting B.V.SIMPLY ENHANCING LIFE WITH LIGHT IN THE TRANSITION TOWARDS LIVABLE CITIESINNOVATION 060TECHNOLOGYHARRY VERHAAR, SENIOR DIRECTOR ENERGY & CLIMATE CHANGE, PHILIPS LIGHTING B.V.U

INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY061consumed (Source: IEA), and non-residential buildings(offices; schools; shops etc) and streets - particularly inurban environments - represent 75 per cent of allelectricity used for lighting. Global savings of around?120 billion in energy costs and 630 million tonnes ofCO2 a year are achievable (the major part in cities) justby switching from older lighting to the latest lightingtechnology. A growing number of cities are doingsomething about their energy burden. Philips ispassionate about creating inspirational, desirable,livable cities across the globe. It is our goal to make ourcities safer, more comfortable, more beautiful andlivelier, with the least impact to our environment.BEAUTIFICATION AND IDENTITYCities and towns have good reason to want to appeal tothe public; when they are vibrant, beautiful, interestingand safe, they attract people. Phillips lights up many ofthe world's biggest cities and their most iconiclandmarks, such as the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Acropolis in Athens, theBrandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Petronas Twin Towers inKuala Lumpur, and last but certainly not least, Big Benand Buckingham Palace in London. LED lighting hasbrought new life to many local identities, as the creativeand colorful possibilities of LED transform both theexterior and interior of our buildings. Philips is playing aleading role in this metamorphosis by providingarchitects and lighting designers with flexiblearchitectural lighting solutions that enabling them to,quite literally, "paint" with light. And let us not forgetthat by highlighting such benefits of low-carbon (LED)solutions we should be able to accelerate the transitionto a more resource efficient society where we enjoy tolive, work and leisure in livable cities. nABOUT THE AUTHORHarry Verhaar has over 20 years of experience in thelighting industry, with his current role being Head ofStrategic Sustainability Initiatives at Philips Lighting.He has in the past seven years been the architect ofthe lighting strategy on energy and climate change,which has resulted in a global momentum on phasingout of old lighting technologies for cities, non-residential buildings and homes. He is an activemember of a number of partnership networks, amongwhich The Climate Group; WBCSD; World GreenBuilding Council; Prince of Wales CorporateLeadership Group on Climate Change, and a memberof the Advisory Board of The Lisbon Council. ABOUT ROYAL PHILIPS ELECTRONICSRoyal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs more than 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of ?23 billion in 2009, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.