World Cities Report 2024:
The UN-Habitat has released the World Cities Report 2024: Cities and Climate Action.
- The report highlighted that the cities are among the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, yet they face disproportionately severe impacts of climate change.
Key Findings of the World Cities Report 2024:
- Temperature Increases: By 2040, nearly two billion people in urban areas will experience a 0.5°C rise in temperature.
14% of cities are expected to transition to drier climates while at least 900 cities could transition to more humid climates, especially tropical ones. - Sea-Level Rise: By 2040, over 2,000 cities in low coastal areas, many under 5 metres above sea level, will expose more than 1.4 billion people to higher risks from sea-level rise and storm surges.
- Disproportionate Impact: Urban areas are disproportionately affected by climate change but are also significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) making them more vulnerable to climate shocks like floods and cyclones.
- Investment Gap: To build climate-resilient systems, cities need an estimated USD 4.5 to USD 5.4 trillion per year. However, current financing stands at just USD 831 billion, highlighting a massive funding shortfall.
- Riverine Flooding: Flood exposure in cities has grown significantly, increasing 3.5 times faster than in rural areas since 1975.
- By 2030, 517 million people in cities will be exposed to riverine flooding, representing 14% of the global urban population.
- Decline of Green Spaces: Urban green spaces have significantly declined from 19.5% in 1990 to 13.9% in 2020 contributing to both environmental and social challenges in cities.
- Increased Vulnerability: Informal settlements (slums) are key drivers of vulnerability, as they are often located in flood-prone, low-lying, or precarious areas.
- Lack of protective infrastructure, and legal recognition make them more exposed to climate impacts and unable to invest in upgrades due to eviction fears.
- Green Gentrification: Some climate interventions, like the creation of parks, have resulted in green gentrification leading to displacement of underprivileged communities.
- Gentrification means a low-income neighborhood changes due to an influx of wealthier residents and businesses, leading to rising property values and rents.
UN-Habitat :
- Established by the UN General Assembly, UN-Habitat focuses on promoting socially and environmentally sustainable urban development.
