How Cities Can Prepare for Climate Change

As climate change is enhanced, it becomes increasingly important for cities to prepare for climate change and the potential consequences that might arrive with it.

Firstly, cities can refine their planning strategies and add more green spaces and infrastructure to the cityscape. By doing this, they will be able to reduce the urban heat island effect, preparing the city for the increased temperatures brought by climate change.

Secondly, cities can invest in better sewage or flood prevention systems to protect the people against the intensified precipitation events under climate change. Sponge cities are a great example of this. They design more permeable road surface and more roof top gardens so that more water flows underground or gets retained and infiltrated by vegetation instead of becoming surface runoff that accumulates on the concrete ground.

Thirdly, cities can include more green buildings that are better at insulation and require less air conditioning in order to maintain at a comfortable temperature. This can be a great step in mitigating climate change and will reduce the overall carbon footprint of the city.