Key Impact Points:
- Widespread Threats: 83% of cities globally are experiencing significant climate hazards, primarily flooding and extreme heat.
- Increased Intensity and Frequency: Two-thirds of cities anticipate these hazards to intensify and occur more often in the future.
- Financial Needs for Resilience: Cities are seeking $21 billion in climate financing to enhance resilience and adaptation efforts.
Overview of Current Climate Hazards
As of July 2024, amid a backdrop of continual record-breaking global temperatures, fresh insights from the CDP—a non-profit running the world’s environmental disclosure system—highlight the dire climate challenges cities face. Flooding and extreme heat top the list, reported by 58% and 54% of cities respectively, according to CDP’s latest findings.
Anticipated Changes and Challenges
The data, gathered from 1,131 cities via the CDP-ICLEI Track, reveals a concerning trend: 83% of these cities note significant climate hazards, an increase from 80% last year. This uptick is coupled with a stark warning—nearly 67% expect these hazards to grow more intense, and 64% foresee a rise in their frequency.
Funding Gap in Climate Adaptation
The financial implications are substantial. Cities reported climate infrastructure projects worth $47 billion in total, with a funding gap of about $21 billion. A significant portion of these projects, especially those from cities in the Global South, focuses on bolstering climate resilience and adaptation.
Human Impact and Vulnerability
The human toll of these climate events is profound, particularly on vulnerable populations. In cities facing flooding, 98% reported impacts on low-income households, and 77% on the elderly. Extreme heat has similarly dire effects, with high percentages of elderly, low-income households, and children affected.
Statement from CDP Leadership
Maia Kutner, CDP Director for Cities, States, and Regions, emphasized the critical role of data in addressing these challenges:
“From the worst floods in nations’ histories to deadly heatwaves and wildfires, the effects of the climate breakdown are as devastating for cities and their people – especially in the Global South – as they are enormous in scale. As the world enters new and dangerous climate territory, shattering temperature records month after month, there is a golden thread that brings clarity, enables management of the problem and unlocks climate finance and action – data. Only data can give cities the insights they need to manage, mitigate and adapt to the impacts of our rapidly changing planet. It is the unique key that leads directly to meaningful and effective action to deliver a greener, safer and more sustainable future. We encourage cities around the globe to report their environmental data to CDP-ICLEI Track and tackle the greatest challenge of our age with renewed clarity of direction.”
Global Incidences of Climate Hazards
Recent months have seen extreme climate events around the world. For instance, the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil experienced its worst floods in history, while regions traditionally known for arid climates, like the Persian Gulf, were not spared. Heatwaves have similarly imposed unprecedented temperatures in countries such as India and the Philippines.
As cities continue to report rising challenges due to climate hazards, the data provided by CDP not only underscores the urgency of the situation but also acts as a critical tool in the global response to climate change, providing a foundation for future resilience and sustainability initiatives.
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