Abstract

Adaptation to climate change depends centrally on what is done in urban centers, which now house more than half the world’s population and concentrate most of its assets and economic activities (World Bank, 2008; UN DESA Population Division, 2012). As Section 8.4 emphasises, this will require responses by all levels of government as well as individuals and communities, the private sector, and civil society. The serious impacts of extreme weather on many urban centers each year demonstrate some of the risks and vulnerabilities to be addressed (UNISDR, 2009; IFRC, 2010). Climate change will usually add to these and other risks and vulnerabilities. Urban policies also have major implications for mitigation, especially for future levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and for delivering co-benefits, as discussed in WGIII AR5. This chapter focuses on the possibilities for governments, enterprises, and populations to adapt urban centers to the direct and indirect impacts of climate change.