Although there is a fairly strong consensus amongst the players when remote time horizons are involved (cf. ‘’factor 4’’ – F4 - by 2050), said consensus tends to weaken when shorter horizons supposedly geared to implementing factor 4, like the “3x20” in 2020, are considered and is virtually non-existent when it comes to establishing next year’s budget (the energy-climate tax for 2010 is a good example of this). In fact, such overlapping time frames raise a number of issues and lead to confusion.

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Energy and climate issues might appear to be new on the agenda when we consider our cities' future.
Although often presented as added constraints, don't they present – quite to the contrary – an opportunity to rethink our cities and improve our quality of life?

Transforming our cities to improve our lives
Historically, people settled close to energy sources (water, wood and, later, coal deposits) until the electricity revolution, and subsequently oil and gas, changed the order of things.
"Freed" from the constraints of local energy supplies, regions embarked on "above ground" development programmes, without regard to energy supply constraints and environmental consequences. Energy sources, though vital, became remote and anonymous. Cheap energy took care of the rest. Construction proceeded with no thought for energy consumption. Cities sprawled unimpeded, relying on inexpensive private transport. Long-term town planning decisions disregarded energy considerations.
Long-distance travel for work, leisure, shopping, and educational purposes, for instance, became the be all and end all of urban development; often at the cost of quality of life.

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