The urban impacts of climate change: introduction

Abstract: Climate change is a global phenomenon that significantly impacts urban life. Rising global temperature causes sea levels to rise, increases the number of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and storms, and increases the spread of tropical diseases. All these have costly impacts on cities’ basic services, infrastructure, housing, human livelihoods, and health. At the same time, cities are a key contributor to climate change, as urban activities are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. This special edition explores a range of climate change impacts in urban areas, the possibilities of adaptation and mitigation in different contexts, and the development of public participation and climate action.

Keywords: Climate change, urban, cities, adaptation, mitigation, informality, vulnerability.

Article posted to the Journal of the British Academy, volume 9, supplementary issue 9 (The Urban Impacts of Climate Change)