Just Released! Order “Waking Up to Climate Change” by George Ropes, and receive 25% Discount. Learn More

Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

HOME          CATEGORIES          OUR TAKE

Resiliency on Tap for Cities Across the Globe by ClimateYou Editor Abby Luby

Clear and decisive pathways for cities to become resilient against climate change are spelled out in the new report “Climate Change and Cities (ARC3.2).” The the 800+ page report report was issued on March 6, 2018 by the Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN) and is UCCRN’s Second Assessment Report (Cambridge University Press) where over 350 scientists from all over the world weigh in, guiding cities to prepare for climate change. The ARC3.2 urban scientists not only guide, but warn of dangerous temperature hikes in 100 cities around the world and predict temperatures will increase 1.1°C (33.98°F) to 2.0°C (35.6°F) in the next ten years. The outlook for sea level rise is as grim: in 52 cities the projected sea level can rise from 4 to 19 cm (1.5 inches – 7.48 inches) by the 2020s.

The ARC3 reports are about the entire gestalt of dealing with urban climate change, stressing the need for science-based assessments that cover climate risks, adaptation, mitigation, and policies relevant to cities. The report includes a Case Study Docking Station with over 150 case studies from cities around the world which classifies the report as an invaluable resource for urban government officials and decision makers. The case study information leads the way and shows how researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners are working together to achieve low-carbon resilient cities. The report also gives concrete solutions for cities on Mitigation and Adaptation; Urban Planning and Design; Environmental Equity and Justice; Economics, Finance, and the Private Sector; Urban Health; Urban Sectors such as Energy, Water, Transportation, Housing and Informal Settlements, and Solid Waste Management; and Governing Carbon and Climate in Cities. Other key topics include Ecosystems and Biodiversity, and Urban Coastal Zones.

“The report released today presents massive evidence that cities and city leaders can and are playing a central role in the global climate change challenge,” says William Solecki, Co-Director of UCCRN. “The need for small incremental actions is rapidly being superseded by demands for larger-scale transformative action.” The actions Solecki refers to include: 1) Integrate rather than isolate mitigation and adaptation actions; 2) Link near-term disaster risk reduction with climate change adaptation; 3) Co-generate climate action plans with stakeholders and scientists; 4) Address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable citizens; and 5) Advance finance and good government, and share lessons learned through city networks.

UCCRN was established in May 2007 during the C40-Large Cities Climate Summit held in New York City. The initial group consisted of 100 researchers in 60 cities whose goal was to provide climate change science to the C40 cities for urban decision makers to use to make climate science based policies.

Comment on this article

ClimateYou moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (New York time) and can only accept comments written in English.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE


More Posts Like This

CITY TECH BLOG

Pakistan as Part of the Paris Climate Change Agreement

Pakistan, a country located in South Asia, is known for its diverse landscapes, ranging from towering mountains in the north to vast river valleys in the east and arid deserts in the south. Despite its natural beauty, Pakistan is one of those countries most vulnerable to the impacts

CITY TECH BLOG

Adapting to Heat Waves in the Era of Climate Change

Climate change is ushering in a new era characterized by increasingly frequent and intense heat waves, presenting profound challenges to ecosystems, communities, and individuals around the world. I will talk about the changing nature of heat waves in the context of climate change, multifaceted impacts, and the adaptive

CITY TECH BLOG

Global Pandemics & Climate Change

In the year 2020, the world went through a massive event that forced us all to go into lockdown and change the way we lived for the entirety of that year. COVID-19 had impacted us in numerous and heavy ways, as the day-to-day life we once experienced was