Introduction

- The World Cities Report 2024, released by UN-Habitat, investigates the impact of climate change on urban areas.

- In the report, cities are recognised as significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, whilst also being disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change.

 

Key Findings

- Temperature increases: By 2040, approximately two billion people in urban areas will experience a 0.5°C rise in temperature.

- Cities' climates changing: 14% of cities are projected to transition to drier environments while around 900 cities may experience a shift towards more humid, predominantly tropical climates.

- Rising sea levels: Over 2,000 cities, primarily those less than 5 metres above sea level, will expose more than 1.4 billion people to heightening risks from sea-level elevation and storm surges by 2040.

- Disproportionate impact: Urban areas simultaneously contribute to and are more vulnerable to climate change effects such as floods and cyclones.

- Insufficient funding: A major shortfall in funding is highlighted, with current financing versus the estimated USD 4.5 to USD 5.4 trillion needed annually to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure.

- Riverine flooding: Risks in cities have risen directly contributing to flood exposure increasing 3.5 times faster in urban areas compared to rural areas since 1975.

- Decline in green spaces: Urban green spaces have seen a drop from 19.5% in 1990 to 13.9% in 2020 causing difficulties for the environment and society within these cities.

- Increased vulnerability: Informal settlements or 'slums' are particularly at risk due to their location in flood-prone areas, lack of protective infrastructure, and eviction fears preventing investment.

 

UN-Habitat’s role

- Mandate: UN-Habitat's mandate is to promote environmentally and socially sustainable urban development.

- Global Focal Point: The agency is a vital component of the UN system addressing urbanisation and human settlement issues.

- Core Mission: The organisation aims to reduce inequality, discrimination, and poverty by fostering inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities.

- Global Presence: It operates in over 90 countries and provides knowledge, policy advice and technical assistance.

- Strategic Approach: A holistic and integrated strategy to tackle modern urban challenges.

 

Urban Areas and Global Warming

- Cities contribute to global warming mainly through high energy consumption associated with urban lifestyles, industrial activities and changes in land use.

 

Impact of Global Warming on cities

- Through rising global temperatures, the effects of global warming pose increasing threats to cities in the form of heatwaves, urban heat islands (UHIs) and heightened coastal flooding owing to melting glaciers.

- Additionally, wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense due to higher temperatures and prolonged periods of drought.