Cities Will Be Hardest Hit by Climate Change, UN Report Warns – Global Issues
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 07 (IPS) – Cities are in a unique situation, at the same time they emit large amounts of greenhouse gases and are the most affected areas of the greenhouse effect. As a new UN report shows that rapid urbanization and industrialization are having negative effects on the environment, causing rising sea levels, prolonged rains and floods, and an increase in overall temperature. Coastal areas that are often populated by cities are particularly vulnerable to these effects, with the most vulnerable populations.
The United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN-Habitat) World Cities Report 2024 details a wide range of research findings that have focused on the relationship between urban development, climate change, and increasing inequality.
This report emphasizes the urgency of measures to mitigate the climate crisis. The year 2023 has been recorded as the hottest year in human history, prompting humanitarian organisations, climate groups and world leaders to fear that the climate could threaten the “collapse of civilisation”.
“Global warming continues unabated, leading to an increase in extreme weather events—heat waves, hurricanes, hurricanes, floods, fires, and other hazards—that pose a serious threat to lives, livelihoods, and well-being, especially among disadvantaged populations. . The vulnerability of these communities means that regular weather events can become a humanitarian crisis, with its impact: loss of life, destruction of property and displacement,” the report said.
According to the calculations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the first two decades of the 21st century were about 1°C warmer than the previous century. A key finding from the World Cities Report project is that if the world follows its current global trends, more than 2 billion people will be exposed to climate change. 99 percent of all urban residents will experience dry weather.
Climate change in urban areas is expected to cause significant losses to the global economy. It is estimated that by 2030, annual losses from global warming and natural disasters could reach more than 430 billion dollars. By 2050, it is estimated that extreme weather events related to the greenhouse effect could destroy more than 25 billion dollars worth of homes.
In addition, rising temperatures in cities are causing a number of problems for both residents and urban infrastructure. It is estimated that more than 180 million people in cities around the world will face water shortages due to urban water degradation or vulnerability. Hotter temperatures also lead to higher cooling demand, which can overwhelm local power grids, leading to blackouts.
“When buildings, homes and critical infrastructure such as water and transportation systems are not properly planned, built and managed, they are no match for climate-induced disasters such as rising sea levels, heat waves, and other extreme weather impacts. This challenge disproportionately affects the poorest and most vulnerable people,” said the Secretary-General. of the UN António Guterres.
Rising sea levels are a major concern for urban development. According to the IPCC, global sea level is expected to rise between 0.43 and 0.84 meters by 2100, relative to sea level in 1986-2005. The impacts of this will have a major impact on coastal communities. According to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Inc., a coalition of 96 cities around the world that account for one-twelfth of the world’s population, by 2050 more than 800 million people from 570 cities will be living in cities affected by coastal flooding. In addition, estimates suggest that rising sea levels could cause more than 1 trillion dollars in damage by mid-century.
For example, in the United States, New York and Miami are expected to face global sea level rise that is three times faster than average. South Asian cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai and Dhaka, are expected to have the highest number of residents at risk of being washed ashore, between 11 and 14 million.
Floods and natural disasters are also a consequence of climate change that will have negative effects on urban areas. According to the report, exposure to flooding due to climate change has increased significantly in urban areas from low-income countries. In urban communities, exposure to flooding is expected to increase by 20 percent by 2025 and another 20 percent by 2030.
In 2023, 1,700 people were reported to have died in climate-driven floods in Pakistan. In late October of this year, Spain’s populous province of Valencia was hit by heavy rains and floods that killed more than 200 people and caused billions of dollars in damage. Hurricane Rafael, an ongoing tropical storm, is expected to cause severe flooding and severe weather conditions in cities along the Gulf of Mexico and the Bay County area.
Historically, disadvantaged communities have been disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters in urban areas. Faced with systemic imbalances and limited access to basic services, vulnerable groups have their problems exacerbated by rising temperatures. According to UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, women, children, people with disabilities, the elderly, migrants, minorities, indigenous peoples, and people living below the poverty line are often in areas that are more sensitive to the environment and lack protective structures. Additionally, these groups are less likely to gain support.
According to the World Cities Report, slum communities face a “perpetual cycle of hardship”. By relying on agriculture or other climate-sensitive industries for income, some urban communities are kept in a state of poverty. These communities often live in areas with poor water or sanitation, few or no medical and educational facilities, and low-quality housing that is highly vulnerable to destruction by extreme weather events.
This comes with a host of negative health effects as well. Climate change exacerbates unsafe working conditions in low-income communities, and deaths and injuries are common. Climate shocks, such as hurricanes, heat waves, and floods cause severe food system disruptions, leading to hunger and starvation. Food access continues to be a major problem for disadvantaged groups in urban areas.
In addition, slum catchment areas are often vulnerable to extreme weather conditions and lack government funding to address these issues. This leads to the spread of animal-borne diseases. Health problems, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental health problems, are also prevalent in these areas, without access to health care or limited medicines.
In order to prevent the widespread loss of human health in urban areas, it is important to address this systemic imbalance and start using healthy global practices to reduce the greenhouse effect. “City and local leaders must also continue to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change. In many cases, cities are moving ahead and faster than national governments in reducing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The success or failure of the new country’s climate plans will be achieved at the community level, and local leaders they must participate in every step,” said Guterres.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
