Urban climate adaptation and mitigation action plans

The most significant trend of urban growth is currently happening. More than half of the world’s population presently resides in urban areas, with an estimated 68% urbanized population by 2050. At the same time, urban areas are the most exposed and vulnerable to a changing climate and its associated hazards, including heatwaves, floods, storm surges, and other natural hazards. These phenomena have invigorated the necessity to move beyond the “business as usual” approach to achieving sustainable urban development. For instance, recent reports have highlighted the need for urgent urban climate actions to drastically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and develop systems for climate adaptation. The more cities plan and implement actions to reduce GHG emissions, the closer the world moves to achieving the Paris Goals. This is because cities are responsible for over 70% of global GHG emissions and consume more than two-thirds of the world’s energy. The role of local governments in climate action planning has become more renowned amidst climate change and rapid urbanization [9–11]. Most local governments have greatly emphasized addressing climate change and ensuring sustainable urban development, at least since the inception of the Paris Agreement and the Climate Summit for Local Leaders in 2015. For instance, more than 100 cities participating in the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit announced various steps to address the climate crisis. Also, other city governments have become members and signatories to different international climate networks and initiatives, where they commit, collaborate, and deliver actions to confront the impacts of climate change. Established literature highlights how cities respond to climate change by developing climate action plans (CAPs). Urban CAPs detail city-level visions, targets, and actions for mitigation and/or adaptation. While mitigation actions reduce the sources or enhance GHG carbon sinks, adaptation efforts limit vulnerability and increase the coping capacity towards adjusting to actual or expected climate and its effects. This shows that developing urban climate action plans is a significant initial step in addressing city-level climate change. However, the real test for local governments lies in the suitability and implementation performance of the plans through effective actions and measures.

source :

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136403212300744X