This publication is a call to action for cities to address Climate Change. It presents information and practical case studies of what cities can do to respond to one of today's leading challenges in 12 key messages.

It takes the view that climate change presents cities with an opportunity to review urban policy and local strategies which would lead to more sustainable, livable and vibrant cities.

Public Policy, Water Governance and Climate Change This report on water governance and climate change provides an insight on UN HABITAT's experience on two cities of southeast Mexico. It demonstrates that considering climate change scenarios, vulnerabiity assesments, and key stakeholder's perception may result in adequate climate change adaptation public policy processes focusing on water when recomendations are built through dialogue among diverse sectors and governmental levels. It emphazises public policy recomendations regarding climate conditions, water availability, local adaptation capacity, vulnerabiity of periurban areas and urban development.

There are a number of key areas of local government competencies that city officials may want to target when implementing carbon trading projects; including town and urban planning, infrastructure development, service provision, waste management, energy provisioning and transportation.

It is the objective of this tool to provide environmental, planning and development officials at the local government level with clear guidance on how to develop Clean Development Mechanism and Verified Emission Reduction projects.

A nivel mundial, el Cambio Climático es reconocido hoy como uno de los desafíos del siglo XXI, poniendo de relieve el aumento del riesgo de los asentamientos humanos ubicados en los sectores más vulnerables. El Programa Ciudades en la Iniciativa para el Cambio Climático (CCCI SUD-Net - por sus siglas en inglés) del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para los Asentamientos Humanos (ONU-HABITAT), tiene por objetivo preparar a las ciudades para responder adecuadamente y reforzar las capacidades de mitigación y adaptación de las ciudades frente al cambio climático, particularmente en los países en desarrollo.

This is an orienting document seeking to provide technical guidelines that will facilitate the design and implementation of policies and actions aiming at fighting the adverse impacts of climate change. It was drawn up in a participative fashion and was based on the empowering documents for the management of development in canton Esmeraldas.

It is made up of two strategic objectives and three core themes. A series of Action Lines of each one of the areas identified as priority by the local population are proposed for each one of these components.

Part of a series of four entitled Urban Patterns for a Green Economy, this guide argues that strategic investment in physical infrastructure with the diversification of economies allows cities to play a specialized role in polycentric urban development.

Furthermore, it suggests that green economic development can be achieved through the development of green clusters and green jobs. Finally, this guide argues that a number of green economy outcomes may be reached through efficiencies and shared infrastructure, rather than duplication.

Part of a series of four entitled Urban Patterns for a Green Economy, this guide (Working with Nature) focuses on the effect of unplanned, rapid growth of cities on the functioning of a city-region's natural systems. It outlines how guided development can maximise the ability of ecosystems to support sustainable human and natural processes.

It offers a perspective on how to work with nature and the ecological processes in regions, and looks at the need to work across scales; to understand regional systems; and develop principles and measures that can be applied at the regional, city and local scales.

Part of a series of four entitled Urban Patterns for a Green Economy, this guide explores the compact city and its benefits within the developed and developing world's contexts. The guide illustrates how the compact city concept and planned (versus unplanned) urban extension can support sustainable urban patterns that benefit the functioning of developed as well as developing world cities.

Properly managed, compaction can positively enhance the life of the city dweller and support related strategies aimed at promoting a green economy and sustainable urban settlements.

Part of a series of four entitled Urban Patterns for a Green Economy, this guide proposes that cities can act as agents for change that allow their large populations to live less wastefully.

It considers how infrastructure systems can be viewed as an opportunity to shift cities onto a more sustainable path by paying close attention to the resources that pass through them, and the manner in which they support the activities of the city. Each city context differs, based on stage of development, pace of growth and available resources.

This tool provides local policy-makers and major stakeholders with a methodology to plan for climate change. These plans must address both mitigation (e.g., reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere) and adaptation (responding to the impacts of climate change). If they are to be effective, local plans for climate change (both adaptation and mitigation) require the involvement of a variety of stakeholders and a specific focus on the most vulnerable groups.