UNITED NATIONS, Nov 2007 (IPS) – Cities are uniquely positioned to be both the largest emitters of greenhouse gases and the most affected by the greenhouse effect. A new UN report says rapid urbanization and industrialization are having negative impacts on the environment, including rising sea levels, prolonged rainfall and flooding, and rising overall temperatures. Coastal areas, which are most often populated by cities, are facing the brunt of these impacts, with marginalized populations being the most vulnerable.
The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) World Cities Report 2024 details a comprehensive list of research findings focusing on the relationship between urban development, climate change, and worsening existing inequalities.
The report highlights the urgency of action to mitigate the climate crisis. 2023 was recorded as the hottest year in human history, raising concerns among humanitarian groups, climate groups, and world leaders that the climate crisis could threaten the ‘collapse of civilization.’
“As global temperature rises continue unabated, extreme weather events such as heat waves, hurricanes, storms, floods, fires and other hazards are increasing recurrently, posing serious threats to the lives, livelihoods and well-being of particularly marginalized populations. “The vulnerability of these communities means that routine weather events can become full-blown humanitarian crises, with attendant impacts on loss of life, destruction of property and displacement,” the report says.
According to figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the first two decades of the 21st century were about 1°C warmer than the previous century. Key findings from the World Cities Report project show that if the world follows current global practices, more than two billion people will be exposed to a hotter climate. 99% of all urban populations will be exposed to drier climates.
Climate change in urban environments is expected to cause significant losses to the global economy. By 2030, annual losses due to global warming and natural disasters are estimated to reach more than $430 billion. It is estimated that by 2050, extreme weather events related to the greenhouse effect could destroy $25 trillion worth of homes.
Additionally, rising temperatures in cities pose many problems for both civilians and urban infrastructure. It is estimated that more than 180 million people in cities around the world will face water shortages as urban water reserves dry up or become damaged. As temperatures rise, so does cooling demand, which can deplete local power grids and cause power outages.
“We cannot cope with climate-induced disasters such as rising sea levels, heat waves and other extreme climate impacts if essential infrastructure such as buildings, housing and water and transportation systems are not properly planned, constructed and managed. These problems affect the poorest and most vulnerable people. It disproportionately affects the poor, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “a vulnerable population.”
Sea level rise is a particularly important issue for urban development. According to the IPCC, global average sea level is expected to rise by 0.43 to 0.84 meters by 2100 compared to sea levels between 1986 and 2005. The impact of this will be greatest on coastal communities. More than 800 million people in 570 cities will be affected by coastal flooding by 2050, according to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Inc., a coalition of 96 cities around the world, representing one-twelfth of the world’s population. You will live in the city. Moreover, estimates suggest that rising sea levels could cause more than $1 trillion in damage by mid-century.
For example, New York and Miami in the United States are expected to see sea levels rise three times faster than average. South Asian cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai and Dhaka are expected to have the highest number of civilians at risk of coastal flooding, with 11 to 14 million people.
Floods and natural disasters are also by-products of climate change that will negatively impact urban environments. According to the report, flood exposure due to climate change has increased significantly in urban areas in low-income countries. For urban communities, exposure to flooding is expected to increase by 20% by 2025 and 20% by 2030.
In 2023, 1,700 people were reported to have died from climate-induced flooding in Pakistan. In late October this year, the Spanish residential region of Valencia suffered prolonged heavy rain and flooding, killing more than 200 people and causing billions of dollars in damage. Hurricane Rafael, an ongoing tropical cyclone, is expected to bring severe flooding and hazardous weather conditions to cities in the Gulf of Mexico and Bay County regions.
Historically, marginalized communities have been disproportionately affected by climate-induced disasters in urban environments. Vulnerable communities facing systemic inequalities and limited access to basic services are facing problems that are significantly exacerbated by rising temperatures. According to UN-Habitat Secretary-General Anacláudia Rossbach, women, children, people with disabilities, the elderly, migrants, ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples and individuals below the poverty line are generally particularly sensitive to the environment and are located in areas where protective structures are lacking. These groups are also less likely to receive support.
According to the World Cities Report, slum communities face a “perpetual cycle of hardship.” Certain urban communities live in poverty because they rely on agriculture and other climate-sensitive industries for their income. These communities often have poor drainage and sanitation, little or no health and education facilities, and live in low-quality housing that is prone to destruction by extreme weather events.
This can also have a number of negative health effects. Climate change is worsening unsafe working conditions in low-income communities, resulting in frequent deaths and injuries. Climate shocks such as storms, heat waves and floods can cause large-scale food system disruption, leading to hunger and famine. Food security continues to be a major issue for marginalized groups in urban areas.
Moreover, water reserves in slums are often damaged by extreme weather events and there is a lack of government support to correct these problems. This leads to the spread of vector-borne diseases. Health complications such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and mental health problems are prevalent even in these areas where access to healthcare or medication is limited.
To prevent large-scale loss of life in urban environments, it is important to address these systemic inequalities and adopt healthier global practices to mitigate the greenhouse effect. “Cities and regional leaders must continue to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change. In many cases, cities are moving faster and faster than national governments to limit global temperature rises to well below 1.5 degrees Celsius. The success of new national policies Or fail climate plans will be realized at the community level, with local leaders involved every step of the way,” Guterres said.
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