Urban Governments Most Prepared for Climate Change

This info on the ‘Cities Most Prepared For Climate Change’ I found on Fast Company, collated by Ariel Schwartz. Very interesting to see the local government action around the world.

As more than half the people on Earth now live in cities, urban governments are acting and the first Global C40 Cities Report – a look at how 42 of the world’s largest cities, including Jakarta, Berlin, Los Angeles, and New York, are preparing for climate change – shows urban governments are moving to mitigate the effects of climate change and profit from them, too.

It seems cities can react ‘more nimbly’ than nations???

“Plans To Increase Resilience

Twenty six of the C40 cities already have plans to protect their infrastructure against climate change. Sao Paolo has sped up the implementation of a drainage master plan, and Copenhagen plans to become the world’s first carbon neutral capital city. Jakarta is taking advantage of an anticipated uptick in rainfall to think about extending green areas.

Capitalizing On Climate Change

Six very smart cities – Seoul, London, Copenhagen, Tokyo, Yokohama, and Rio de Janeiro – believe climate change is an opportunity ‘for economic growth and as a key area for differentiation, improved competitiveness and a timely opportunity to kick start a green economy.’ These cities realize, in other words, that they will be at a competitive advantage if they are more prepared, and that everyone is going to be needing climate-proof technology soon.

Incorporating GHG Emissions Reductions Into Growth Plans

Some of the C40 cities – including Dhaka, Lagos, Jakarta, and Caracas – expect to balloon in population over the coming years. That requires planning on a number of levels – ‘including maintenance of greenhouse gas emission reductions in the face of population growth. So a total of 29 cities are incorporating GHG reductions into their larger growth plans. Rio De Janeiro’s master plan, for example, demands that climate change and its effects has to be in scope of urban planning and development.’

Emissions Targets

An impressive 27 cities have set greenhouse gas emissions targets, with two cities (Melbourne and Copenhagen) aiming for 100% emissions reductions by 2030. In the U.S., Seattle, Philadelphia, New York, New Orleans and Portland have all implemented more aggressive emissions targets than the national standard. Cities plan to achieve these goals through increased building retrofits, renewable energy, tree planting, better public transportation, and more.

These are all promising steps, but they aren’t enough. It’s currently difficult for cities to compare emissions, because there is no standardized greenhouse gas measurement methodology. And remember: The cities that responded to the CDP’s survey are probably more climate change savvy than most. As recent weather disasters have proven (flooding in the Mississippi, droughts in Texas), we are still woefully unprepared for a climate shift.”

Given the state of federal politics, will Australian Local Governments lead the way I wonder?