Four out of five cities face extreme climate risks, such as heat waves and floods, according to an analysis of almost a thousand cities in the world, 21 of them in Portugal, published
The data also indicates that 25% of cities face high-risk hazards, which are expected to get worse in the next three years, and that 28% of cities say that climate risks threaten the vast majority, 70% of its population.
The analysis, carried out by CDP, a nonprofit organization that manages the global environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions, concludes that, in global terms, cities today face significant climate impacts, which threaten most of their populations.
But in the document, “Protecting people and the planet”, it is also pointed out that if cities take climate action focused on people, they will see seven times more benefits in areas such as public health, job creation, social inclusion and biodiversity, in addition to the reduction of emissions.
People-centred actions examine and consider the needs of people as a central part of the entire process of combating climate change. The most vulnerable populations are identified, the experiences and needs of the different communities and their climatic risks are evaluated and discussed.
This work, says the organization in the document, makes cities a more attractive place to live, work and invest.
According to the report, 85% of cities that say they have people-focused actions reported social and public health benefits, from air quality to food security or protecting vulnerable people.
The report “shows that cities are five times more likely to see job creation as a co-benefit of their climate actions if they focus on people,” the CDP says in a statement about the report.
In addition, it adds, 75% of cities report broader environmental benefits, such as more green spaces and better water and soil quality.
“This report shows that climate action that puts people first improves lives. It unlocks social, economic and environmental benefits, enhances inclusion and supports a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Cities that identify, engage and understand vulnerable groups see the clear benefits and create a sustainable future for people and the planet”, says Maia Kutner, head of Cities, States and Regions at CDP, quoted in the statement.
Maia Kutner points out that Europe is facing the worst drought in 500 years and Pakistan has suffered the deadliest floods in history.
Regarding the phrases that are heard every day, such as “unprecedented”, “the worst of all” or “for the first time in history” they do not convey anything “the amazing impact that the increase in temperatures has on the planet and its population,” he said. He says.
The report shows that 63% of cities are taking at least one people-focused climate action. Nearly half (45%) engage civil society in their climate action planning, and nearly two-fifths (39%) consider vulnerable populations in their assessment of climate risks and vulnerabilities.
CDP was created in 2000 and works with more than 680 financial institutions.
More than 14,000 organizations worldwide published data through CDP in 2021, including more than 13,000 companies with more than 64% of the global market capitalization and more than 1,200 cities, states, and regions.
Source: TSF
