What are the #climatechange impacts and opportunities in #cities? IPCC report too long? Here are 15 Key Takeaways (mostly) from the Urban chapter (Ch6) from the @IPCC_CH AR6 WGII Climate Report 2022. Unroll thread below:
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1. Climate change is a threat multiplier: Climate hazards interact with urban development to drive vulnerability and risks in cities. Impacts and risks likely to increase for the next two decades and risks from 2050 onwards could be severe if warming is not limited to 1.5°C.
2. It is the poorest and marginalized who are the most vulnerable: 4.2 billion people live in cities and 2/3rds are projected to live in cities by 2050. Adaptation that reduces risks and impacts needs to be targeted for those most in need to safeguard urban lives and livelihoods.
3. Coastal cities are at risk: More than a billion people will live in low-lying cities and settlements by 2050 and be at risk from coastal climate hazards. Sea level rise and increases in tropical cyclone storm surge and rainfall intensity will increase coastal city flooding
4. Extreme heat could affect many urban areas: The majority of human exposure to heat waves will be in urban centers. Globally up to 16x as many people may be exposed to extreme heat in the future. Deep and rapid cuts in carbon emissions are paramount to avoid severe heat impacts
5. Drought and water scarcity may increase: 350 million people living in urban areas may be exposed to water scarcity from severe droughts at 1.5°C warming, and even more (410 million) at warming of 2°C. Limiting warming to 1.5°C is essential to avoid more severe impacts.
6. Impacts will be widespread: IPCC projects an increase in poverty and inequality as well as increased involuntary migration of people due to climate change. Also likely are increases in the frequency and strength of regional wildfires and diseases.
7. Adaptation may be limited in some areas: Especially in rapidly growing towns and cities and smaller settlements including those without dedicated local government. Infrastructure already built without taking climate change into account may constrain innovation
8. Multiple climate hazards will occur simultaneously more often: They may reinforce each other and result in increased impacts and risks to nature and people that are more complex and more difficult to manage. Impacts can impact global supply chains affecting many cities.
9. What can we do? Start with conserving and protecting biodiversity: Nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation are now mainstream urban adaptation options and can be expanded through conservation, restoration, and protection as a key part of building urban resilience
10. Protect the most marginalized: Intersectional, gender-responsive and inclusive action can accelerate transformative climate change adaptation. Greatest gains in wellbeing can be achieved by prioritizing investment to reduce climate risk for low-income and marginalized people
11. Participation is key to equity: Participatory planning can have co-benefits for equity if it includes focus on informal and under-serviced neighborhoods, the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge and Local Knowledge, and building local leadership amongst women and youth
12. It’s about policy, planning, and management: Addressing the gaps between policy and action requires managing social infrastructure such as community facilities, services and networks to address complex interconnected risks for example.
13. Adaptation must be a top priority: 90% of climate finance is for mitigation. To secure a livable future climate risks must be factored into every decision, design, and plan. This includes protecting and conserving nature, while improving planning and management of cities.
14. Cities can be solutions: Cities are hotspots for climate impacts and risks - and they are growing fast. This growth however provides a global opportunity to build climate resilience into future urban development with cities leading the way for climate resilient development.
15. It’s about our youth: The youth climate movement and many NGOs have raised public awareness of climate and its impacts. We must consider future generations in every decision, design and plan. We already have the knowledge and tools in hand to transform cities and urban region
@wef @sthlmresilience @caryinstitute @USL_NYC @URExSRN @natura_project @TheNewSchool @IIED @UNBiodiversity @Cities_IPCC
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