How Can Cities Adapt to Climate Change?

It is estimated that around 70% of cities are already beginning to feel the effects of climate change, and nearly all are at risk. We explore some examples of how cities can adapt to climate change.

What risks do cities face as a result of climate change?

Flooding and sea level rise

This poses a particular risk to those low-lying coastal cities. In fact, it is estimated that, with business-as-usual emissions, over 570 low-lying coastal cities would face a projected sea level rise of at least 0.5m by 2050. This massively increases the risk of flooding for these communities which can have devastating and long-lasting impacts, especially if it becomes a frequently occurring event.

More frequent and severe heatwaves

Cities all over the world will become subjected to more frequent and severe heatwaves as a result of climate change, even those not typically considered as ‘hot countries’. According to C40 Cities, if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current trajectory, by mid-century the number of cities exposed to extreme heat would nearly triple. This will include cities not well-equipped to deal with hot weather, and will particularly affect those living in poverty in developing country cities.

Drought

A reduction in access to freshwater supply will mean that cities will likely face an increasing number of droughts, all while demand for water increases as a result of a growing population and rising temperatures.

Food insecurity

Drought, combined with supply chain disruption, changing weather conditions, and other damage that climate change places on agriculture and successful crop yields, will also put cities around the world at risk of food insecurity. In turn, a lack of food can lead to rising prices and increased conflict.

Disease

Water borne diseases and vector borne diseases (those transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, ticks and fleas) are also likely to become more common in cities as a result of climate change. This is because of increased heatwaves, flooding and prolonged wet conditions.

How can cities adapt to the effects of climate change?

Since there are so many risks currently facing cities around the world, climate action needs to be key to city planning strategies.

Some potential solutions could include the following:

1. Increased use of renewable energy
2. Moving away from fossil fuels
3. Improving energy efficiency
4. Making transport systems electric
5. Reducing the volume of traffic in cities
6. Green roofs on buildings to insulate and absorb pollution
7. Creating more green spaces for nature to thrive
8. Strengthening river embankments and flood defences
9. Using green solutions to solve flood threats
10. Reduce heating and air con costs

Adaptation case studies

To further understand how cities can adapt to climate change, we take a look at two case studies: Athens and Florence.

Athens

Athens is Europe’s warmest city and temperatures can surpass 40 degrees in the summer. However, the mayor has started investing in nature-based solutions to protect the city against the effects of climate change.

The budget allocated to green space has quadrupled and every year €10m is earmarked for nature conservation.

A so-called “double regeneration project” will involve turning a football stadium in the heart of Athens into an urban park and investing in a green overhaul of the industrial Western suburbs.

Some of the actions currently taken include reducing car lanes to encourage pedestrians and cyclists, rejuvenating the hills of Athens, fixing fountains in public squares and creating “pocket parks”.

Florence

Florence is one of the cities that is at risk of flooding. They worked on a flood protection scheme, a project which prioritised a nature-based solution to flooding by using the existing park around the banks of the river Ema. Instead of building typical concrete flood defences, they created hills and valleys in the park to absorb flood water, and this can also double as a recreational space when not being used, such as a bike path or walking path.

These are just some of the ways that cities can adapt and plan to account for the damaging effects of climate change, as well as limiting its future impact!