World Habitat Day: Expert Insights on Urban Climate Resilience

The 21st century has witnessed the rapid urbanisation of the global population, with over half of humanity now living in cities. While cities drive economic growth, innovation, and culture, they are also becoming more vulnerable to the growing impacts of climate change. As extreme weather events become more frequent, rising sea levels threaten coastal communities, and temperatures soar, cities need to develop the ability to withstand and adapt to these changes. This concept is called urban climate resilience.

This World Habitat Day 2024, CFC India interacted with Dr Rahul Mahanta, Associate Professor, Cotton University, Assam. He is a climate scientist with research expertise in paleoclimate and climate change.

Here’s the video:

Here are some key highlights of the interaction:

• What is Urban Climate Resilience?

Urban climate resilience refers to the capacity of cities to absorb, recover, and adapt to climate-related shocks and stresses while continuing to thrive. It encompasses the infrastructure, social systems, and governance mechanisms that help urban areas cope with the immediate impacts of climate change and adapt to long-term changes. Dr Rahul Mahanta stated, “Resilience doesn’t just mean bouncing back to the way things were; it implies bouncing forward by transforming urban environments to be more sustainable and better prepared for future climate challenges.”

Resilience efforts are significant because cities often magnify climate risks. Dense populations, concentrated infrastructure, and economic activities are hotspots for climate vulnerability in urban areas. Building urban climate resilience means addressing these vulnerabilities while creating systems that allow cities to survive and thrive despite climate change.

• Pressing Climate-Related Risks Facing Urban Areas

Dr Mahanta said that urban areas are already experiencing some of the most pressing climate-related risks. One of the most obvious is the increased frequency of extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, heatwaves, and droughts. These events can cause massive damage to infrastructure, displace people, and disrupt economies. 

For coastal cities, rising sea levels pose a critical threat. Cities like New York, Mumbai, and Jakarta are particularly vulnerable to flooding, storm surges, and land subsidence. In more arid regions, cities face water scarcity risks, which could lead to conflicts over resources, degradation of public health, and challenges in maintaining food security. Inland cities experience more intense heat waves, which can lead to heat-related illnesses and strain energy systems as demand for cooling rises. Air pollution, exacerbated by stagnant weather patterns caused by climate change, can compound existing health risks.

• The Long-term Impact of Climate Change on Urban Populations, Infrastructure, and Economies

“Over the next 20 to 30 years, the effects of climate change will increasingly shape urban life, putting immense pressure on populations, infrastructure, and economies.”, said Dr Mahanta. One of the most significant impacts will be on infrastructure. Roads, bridges, public transport, and utility networks are all vulnerable to damage from extreme weather events. In many cases, infrastructure built in the last century was not designed to withstand the intensity of modern climate stresses.

Urban populations, particularly marginalised communities, are at higher risk from these changes. Low-income neighbourhoods often live in flood-prone areas, lack adequate housing, and have limited access to healthcare and essential services. As climate impacts intensify, these populations may face increased displacement, loss of livelihoods, and even a decline in mental health due to the stresses of living in unstable conditions.

Economically, cities may experience declining productivity and rising costs. Climate change will disrupt global supply chains, which cities rely on for food, goods, and raw materials. As urban areas become more expensive to maintain, insurance premiums for homes and businesses in high-risk areas could rise significantly, making cities less affordable. This could result in businesses relocating, economic downturns, and unemployment in sectors most vulnerable to climate impacts.

• Which Cities Are Most Vulnerable?

Certain regions and types of cities are more vulnerable to climate change than others. Coastal cities are the most at risk, as rising sea levels and coastal erosion threaten homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure. Cities built on riverbanks or deltas, such as Bangkok, New Orleans, and Dhaka, also face a higher risk of flooding.

Cities in developing nations are particularly vulnerable because they often lack the resources to invest in resilience. These cities may have rapidly growing populations, inadequate infrastructure, and limited government capacity to implement large-scale climate adaptation strategies.

Smaller cities and towns dependent on agriculture are also at high risk. Climate change will alter rainfall patterns, making traditional farming practices less viable, which can destabilise local economies and lead to increased rural-to-urban migration.

• The Importance of Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

One key strategy for mitigating the effects of climate change in cities is developing climate-resilient infrastructure. This means designing buildings, roads, and utilities that can withstand extreme weather, reduce carbon footprints, and improve the overall livability of urban environments.

For example, elevating roads and bridges in flood-prone areas can help prevent significant storm disruptions. Using materials that absorb less heat in building construction can help reduce the urban heat island effect. Energy-efficient public transport systems can decrease emissions while providing reliable services during extreme weather.

Investing in resilient infrastructure is more than just a long-term benefit. It saves lives, protects economies, and creates a safer and more equitable urban environment.

• Climate Change and Urban Identity: The Threat to Cultural Landmarks

Urban climate resilience also extends to protecting cities’ cultural and historical heritage. Many iconic buildings, historic districts, and cultural landmarks face severe risks from climate change. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events could damage landmark buildings and monuments, often made from materials unsuited to withstand modern environmental pressures.

Moreover, as cities implement adaptation strategies like seawalls or elevated platforms, they may lose the aesthetic and cultural identities that define them. Venice, for example, is balancing between preserving its historical character and implementing flood defences.

Cultural landmarks are not just tourist attractions; they embody urban populations’ history, values, and identities. Losing them to climate change could erode the social fabric that holds cities together.

• The Role of Green Infrastructure in Urban Climate Resilience

Emphasising the importance of Green Infrastructure, Dr Mahanta said, “One of the most promising solutions for enhancing urban climate resilience is the integration of green infrastructure. This includes parks, urban forests, green roofs, and porous surfaces that absorb rainwater.” Green infrastructure helps manage stormwater, reduce flooding, and help cities during heat waves by absorbing and evaporating water, lowering temperatures, and providing shade.

Beyond the environmental benefits, green infrastructure also improves urban quality of life by offering recreational spaces, improving air quality, and promoting mental well-being. Singapore and Copenhagen have been global leaders in using green infrastructure to build resilience while creating vibrant urban spaces.

• Migration and Urbanization Due to Climate Change

Migration is likely to become one of climate change’s most significant social impacts. Dr Mahanta said that as rising sea levels, extreme weather, and desertification make rural areas increasingly uninhabitable, more people will move to cities in search of security, jobs, and services. This rural-to-urban migration could strain already stretched urban resources and exacerbate housing shortages, unemployment, and inequality.

In addition, migration between cities may occur as residents of more vulnerable towns, such as those in coastal areas, relocate to safer, inland urban centres. Governments must plan for this migration to ensure that cities can handle the influx of people while maintaining livability and access to services.

Conclusion

Urban climate resilience is an urgent and complex challenge as cities face a future of rising risks from climate change. Through a combination of climate-resilient infrastructure, green spaces, and thoughtful planning, cities can adapt to these changes while safeguarding their populations, economies, and cultural heritage. As migration patterns shift and urban populations swell, the need for resilient, adaptive cities will only grow more pressing in the future.

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/urban-resilience

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/green-infrastructure_en

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724011860

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Photo by Hoang NC https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-view-of-cars-on-gray-asphalt-road-13752044/