More than half the world's population now lives in a city, and carbon emissions from them are estimated to be as high as 87 per cent. But if we did things differently, what would Australian cities look like in the year 2040?

Melbourne University, University of NSW and Swinburne University researchers have attempted to model what four Australian cities – Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth – would look like if a drastic attempt was made to slash pollution by 80 per cent.

The answer is: very different.

The researchers behind the report, to be released by Melbourne University on Wednesday, came up with four possible scenarios if such a big reduction in emissions were to happen.

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