Over 2 billion in cities will be exposed to 0.5ºC rise by 2040 (Report)
A new UN report released on Tuesday reveals that over two billion urban residents may experience a temperature increase of at least 0.5 degrees Celsius by 2040.
“Almost no urban resident will be unaffected, with billions of people subjected to hotter temperatures or exposed to the risks of flooding and other threats,” stated Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat.
According to UN-Habitat, the program responsible for this report, about half of the world’s population currently lives in cities, a figure projected to rise to 70% by 2050.
The rapid migration of people to urban areas significantly affects communities, cities, economies, climate change, and policy decisions. A significant portion of this growth is expected to occur in Africa, where the population is anticipated to nearly double over the next 30 years.
While cities struggle to implement effective climate action, those most at risk are also the individuals already facing persistent and chronic structural inequalities, Rossbach noted.
“Informal settlements and slums – typically situated in environmentally sensitive areas and lacking in protective infrastructure – often bear the brunt of climate-related disasters or extreme events,” she explained, adding that these marginalized communities not only face greater exposure to risks but are also less likely to receive assistance during crises.
“Accelerated transformation of slums and informal settlements, as well as addressing the needs of the most vulnerable territories in cities is thus a priority,” she emphasized.
Despite the complex challenges cities confront in the wake of an escalating climate emergency, the report highlights the necessity of viewing urban areas as part of the solution rather than merely contributors to the problem.
“With bold investments and good planning and design, cities offer immense opportunities to slash greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the effects of climate change, and sustainably support urban populations,” stated UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the report’s foreword.
He further remarked that hundreds of cities are “leading the way by expanding inclusive green spaces, reducing emissions through smart planning and building and investing in renewable energy to power civic services like transportation networks.”
