Cities for Climate Protection Program

While cities are more vulnerable to climate change, especially urban poor and most marginalized inhabitants, urban local bodies have unrestrained potential to mitigate and adapt to climate change (see chapter “Climate Change”). The cities and towns are subjected to multiple climate hazards depending upon their geographical location and climatic conditions, ranging from increased precipitation, frequent inland and coastal flooding, and more frequent and stronger cyclones and storms to prolonged periods of extreme heat and cold, rising sea level (see chapter “Rising Sea Level”) and storm surges. Urbanization is one of the key trends of this century that is expected to continue with around 60% of world population living in cities in 2030. The cities, as engines of economic growth, contribute significantly to emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) (see chapter “Greenhouse Gas Emissions”), but at the same time, they are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. In 1900, 10% of world...