- Fresh data shows over half of cities report flooding (58%) and extreme heat (54%) as hazards, making them the worst climate hazards facing urban areas
- Around 2/3 of cities expect hazards to become more intense and frequent
- $21 billion in climate financing sought to build resilience and adapt
London, 3rd July 2024: As global temperature records are smashed for the 12th month in a row, new data insights from CDP - the non-profit which runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions - show that flooding1 and extreme heat2 are the most widespread impacts of climate change facing the world’s cities and their people.
Of the 1,131 cities reporting their environmental data through CDP-ICLEI Track in 2023, more than four fifths (83%) said they face significant climate hazards - a rise on 80% in 2022 - with over half of them (56%) already being significantly impacted by these hazards.
Around two thirds of reporting cities expect these hazards to be more intense (67%), and more frequent (64%), in future.
More than half of the reporting cities (58%) said flooding was a hazard for their jurisdiction, making it the most widely reported hazard affecting the world’s cities. This was followed by extreme heat (54% of cities), drought (38%), heavy rain (35%) and the risk of wildfires (22%).
CDP’s data also shows that around one third of all climate infrastructure projects reported by cities through CDP-ICLEI Track in 2023 (727 out of 2,346) focus on increasing climate adaptation and resilience, with 55% reported by cities in the Global South. These projects are collectively valued at $47 billion, while seeking approximately $21 billion in investment. This highlights the fundamental link between disclosing climate data and financing the projects that are essential for tackling climate hazards.
CDP’s new data analysis also examines the stark impact of climate hazards on people. Of the cities reporting flooding as a hazard, 98% said low-income households were impacted, 77% said the elderly were, and 67% said marginalised communities were. Of the cities reporting extreme heat as a hazard, 97% said the elderly were affected, 75% said low-income households were, and 73% said children were.
Maia Kutner, CDP Director for Cities, States and Regions, said:
“From the worst floods in nations’ histories to deadly heatwaves and wildfires, the effects of the climate breakdown are as devastating for cities and their people - especially in the Global South - as they are enormous in scale.
“As the world enters new and dangerous climate territory, shattering temperature records month after month, there is a golden thread that brings clarity, enables management of the problem and unlocks climate finance and action - data.
“Only data can give cities the insights they need to manage, mitigate and adapt to the impacts of our rapidly changing planet. It is the unique key that leads directly to meaningful and effective action to deliver a greener, safer and more sustainable future. We encourage cities around the globe to report their environmental data to CDP-ICLEI Track and tackle the greatest challenge of our age with renewed clarity of direction.”
Flooding
2024 has already seen devastating floods across the globe, from Brazil - which suffered the worst floods in its history in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in May - to the usually arid Persian Gulf in April. Of the cities that reported climate hazards, 83% in North America (164 cities) said flooding was a hazard, followed by 80% in Europe (160 cities), 69% in Africa and the Middle East (49 cities), 66% in Asia Pacific (113 cities) and 56% in Latin America (169 cities). These include cities such as Los Angeles (USA), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rome (Italy), Lagos (Nigeria), Kolkata (India) and Sydney (Australia).
Extreme heat
Heatwaves are also starting to grip the planet, with India and the Philippines already having recorded their highest ever temperatures in May. Of the cities that reported climate hazards, 85% in North America (167 cities) said extreme heat was a hazard, followed by 83% in Europe (166 cities), 54% in Asia Pacific (92 cities), 51% in Africa and the Middle East (36 cities) and 50% in Latin America (153 cities). These include cities such as Montréal (Canada), Bogotá (Colombia), Paris (France), Johannesburg (South Africa), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Auckland (New Zealand).
1 Flooding includes the following hazards: coastal flooding, river flooding, urban flooding
2 Extreme heat includes the following hazards: extreme heat, heat stress