Climate-based risks in cities

Abstract

This chapter explores the links between climate risks and governance challenges of municipalities, with a focus on megacities, taking a global and comparative outlook. First the world's megacities are positioned in their geographical and economic contexts. With regard to geography contexts, three criteria are used: location vis-à-vis coasts, climate zones and national water stress. With regard to the economic context, two criteria are used: level of national income per capita; and recent economic growth experiences. After a brief section about the link between the global urbanisation process and climate change, the various climate risks are explored for megacity populations in different geographical situations. Some background information is provided about the various ways, municipalities are coping with challenges related to climate change. In two sections, these challenges are explored further with regard to urban-rural interfaces, and with regard to coping with flood and drought risks. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.