The World Cities Report 2024: Cities and Climate Action was released by UN-Habitat on November 7, 2024, highlighting the complex relationship between cities and climate change. The report emphasizes how cities are both significant contributors to climate change and disproportionately affected by its impacts.
Key Findings:
- Exposed to Climate Change: Climate Change is becoming increasingly Urbanized. Over 2 billion urban residents could experience an additional 0.5°C rise in temperature by 2040, intensifying climate risks in cities.
- Funding Gap: Cities receive less than 20% of the finance required for effective climate action. To build climate-resilient cities, an estimated $4.5-5.4 trillion per year is needed, but current funding is far behind at only $831 billion annually.
- Shrinking Green Spaces: Urban green spaces are shrinking, despite their climate benefits. The average share of green space in urban areas globally has decreased from 20% in 1990 to just 14% in 2020.
- Impact on Vulnerable Populations: The most vulnerable are often excluded from climate action- only 1% of expenditure goes towards adaptation. Some climate policies, such as creating parks, have unintentionally led to “green gentrification,” displacing low-income residents and raising property prices.
🚨World Cities Report 2024: Cities and Climate Action- Key Highlights🚨
🔶Released by UN Habitat
🌍 Exposed to Climate Change: Over 2 billion people in cities could face an additional temperature increase of at least 0.5°C by 2040.
💸 Funding Gap: Cities require $4.5-5.4… pic.twitter.com/NVFioFmUds
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Recommendations:
- Revenue Generation: Cities should explore funding mechanisms such as debt, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and other climate finance tools.
- Urban Planning Integration: Climate action should be embedded into urban planning, with an emphasis on locally-led adaptation efforts to build resilience.
- Social Protection: Strengthen social protection programs and adopt nature-based solutions to combat climate challenges.
About UN-Habitat:
- Established: UN-Habitat was founded following the Habitat I Conference in 1978.
- Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
- Mandate: The organization promotes sustainable urban development as directed by the UN General Assembly.
- Collaborations: It works with governments, UN agencies, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
- Flagship Publications: Includes influential reports such as the State of the World’s Cities and World Cities Report.
The report calls for urgent action to make cities climate-resilient and ensures that the poorest populations, who are often the most affected, are not left behind in climate solutions.
