Climate change is affecting cities and their residents, especially the poor, and more severe impacts are expected as climate extremes and variability increase. Cities are often already overwhelmed by the number and complexity of services they need to provide. Adding climate change mitigation and adaptation to the other challenges facing cities is an enormous burden; and at the same time cities must accommodate another three million new residents every week. Cities and Climate Change: An Urgent Agenda discusses the link between climate change and cities, why cities should be concerned about climate change and adopt early preventative policies, and how the World Bank and other organizations can provide further support to cities on climate change issues.

Full report 

Residents of cities are responsible for as much as 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions while at the same time residents of cities are facing significant impacts from climate change. Up to 80 percent of the expected $80 billion to $100 billion per year in climate change adaptation costs are expected to be borne in urban areas; see the World Bank's Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change study. Nevertheless, climate change offers cities opportunities to alter course, implement smart policies, and develop sustainable communities. Well managed, well designed, dense cities are also the only way to meet GHG emission mitigation targets, while providing an acceptable quality of life for the soon-to-be 6.5 billion urban residents.

Included in this report is a living table of city-level per capita greenhouse gas emissions data which will be regularly updated online as new city data is available.

Press Release    |    Feature 

Table of Contents

Foreword (download pdf)
Acknowledgements (download pdf)
Introduction (download pdf)
Part I: The Challenge (download pdf)
Part II: The Impact of Climate Change on Cities (download pdf)
Part III: Cities' Contribution to Climate Change (download pdf)
Part IV: Benefit for Cities in Climate Change Action (download pdf)
Part V: Support for Cities (download pdf)
References (download pdf)
Glossary (download pdf)
Acronyms and Abbreviations (download pdf)
Annexes (download pdf)