Climate-Focus-Paper Cities and Climate Change

This report outlines the role of cities as being drivers of global climate change and at the same time being affected by climate change. In addition to climate change, cities are confronted by challenges in relation to urbanization, natural hazards, and their interaction. The paper  highlights the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through climate mitigation policies, as well as the need for adaptation action to combat existing and potential climate impacts. Moreover, the paper underlines the challenges in finding synergies between adaptation and mitigation measures, suggests possible adaptation responses to inevitable climate change, and points out the financial barriers. Given the complexity and unique characteristics of individual cities, it is not possible to provide an in-depth  analysis of existing and  projected climate  risks, and possible mitigation and adaptation policies, for one particular city. Rather, this report provides a brief overview of various aspects, topics, and sectors of relevance to cities in general.