Protecting People and the Planet

Putting people at the heart of climate action

Extreme and unprecedented weather events, severe droughts, floods and raging wildfires show us, time and again, the devastating impacts of climate change on people. Home to more than half of the world’s population, cities find themselves on the front line of climate change and exposed to extreme climate-related hazards.

Our new report, Protecting People and the Planet, uses the latest data to highlight the hazards cities face from climate change – from the people affected to critical resources under threat – and demonstrates the urgent need for cities to put people at the heart of their climate action.

The overwhelming scale of the climate crisis is clear, and it is growing ever larger. Our latest data comes from the responses of cities to CDP-ICLEI Track in 2022 and shows that 80% of cities are facing significant climate hazards, from extreme heat to floods, and for almost one in three cities (28%,) these hazards threaten at least 70% of their population. Moreover, a quarter of cities (25%) are facing a high-risk hazard, such as extreme heat, that is expected to increase in intensity and frequency by 2025.

Our analysis reveals that cities taking people-centred climate action - where the needs and experiences of people, especially vulnerable groups, are considered from assessment to target-setting to implementation - are seeing multiple social, economic and environmental benefits in addition to emissions reductions. These extra benefits include improved health, more jobs, enhanced social inclusion and increased biodiversity.

Cities taking people-centred climate actions identified seven times as many co-benefits from climate actions as other cities. All of these benefits make cities healthier, happier and more inclusive places to live, work and invest in:

• 85% of cities taking people-centred climate actions reported public health benefits (e.g. better air quality, physical and mental health) from climate action
• 85% of such cities identified social benefits (e.g. increased food and water security, better protection for vulnerable populations)
• 84% of such cities saw economic benefits (e.g. reduced costs, greater business innovation and improved productivity).
• Cities taking people-centred climate actions are five times more likely to realize job creation as a co-benefit of climate action
• 75% of such cities reported environmental benefits (e.g. more green space in the city, improved water and soil quality)

However, not all cities are able to take a people-centred approach, and so a shift in the approach to tackling climate change, combined with increased support and investment from national governments and the private sector, is needed.

With people at the front and centre of policies, climate action will reap even more social and economic benefits whilst creating a more sustainable, safe future for people and the planet.

The report in other languages.