COP27
Cities and climate change
Cities are critical actors in the climate crisis. By 2050, towns and cities are expected to grow by 2.5 billion people raising the urban share to 68% of the global population. Rapid urbanization, population growth, economic development, and rising prosperity are expected to contribute to increased emissions in cities.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that without drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, global warming will not be held to the target of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. With global warming comes extreme weather events that are acutely felt in cities. Hence, climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban areas is more critical than ever.
Urban impacts of climate change
Photo by Sadiq Nafee on Unsplash
Photo by Sadiq Nafee on Unsplash
Groundwater depletion, fires, food shortages, sea-level rise, energy spikes, and the increased frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and storms affect city infrastructure and the well-being of residents. More than 90% of the world’s urban areas are located along coastlines, where rising sea levels and storms threaten inhabitants and infrastructure with flooding and strong winds. More than 10% of the world’s physical assets and population are in urban centers and clusters in low-elevation zones (less than 10 meters above sea level). Sea-level rise is already affecting more than 25 megacities. More than 1 billion people living in urban slums and informal settlements are especially vulnerable to climate change, as many live along waterfronts and riverbanks prone to flooding.
@Felix Vollmann
@Felix Vollmann
Cites race to net zero
There is growing international awareness that the climate battle will be won or lost in cities. Cities are committing to climate action. Around 11,500 local governments have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change through the Global Covenant of Mayors.
At COP26, more than 1,000 cities and local governments joined the Cities Race to Zero. Over 1,000 cities and local governments signing the Race to Zero represent 722 million people. They will pursue ambitious climate action in line with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius – the global standard for climate action.
@Felix “Vollmann
@Felix “Vollmann
Climate finance
New estimates from the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy show that this collective action can reduce global emissions by at least 1.4 gigatons annually by 2030. However, there needs to be more investment in urban climate resilience. Today, only 21% of climate finance goes towards adaptation and resilience, equivalent to $US16.7 billion annually, and only around 10% of climate investments reach the local level. According to the UN Environment Programme estimates, the developing world will have to spend up to USD 300 billion annually to cope with climate change by 2030.
COP27
Many countries and cities, as well as some companies, have taken bold steps toward climate action. However, urban dimensions of climate change and climate action have yet to receive enough attention. To speed up this work and put in place the necessary frameworks and guidelines, UN-Habitat and COP27 Presidency, Egypt, hold the ministerial meeting on urbanization and climate change for the first time. It will showcase frontrunner countries with a solid urban climate track record in their Nationally Determined Commitments and cities and towns implementing local net-zero and climate resilience plans.
@Felix Vollmann
@Felix Vollmann
Built with Shorthand