Cities are major contributors to GHG emissions, with cities in low-income countries contributing only 14% of emissions.
However, it would be wrong to claim that cities in the lowest income countries should do nothing to tackle climate change, as they account for only 0.2% of greenhouse gas emissions.
With cities expected to be home to 70% of the world’s population by 2050, making cities greener, more resilient and more inclusive is a good first step to address the interlinked challenges of climate change and urbanization, and policy makers at local and national levels must work together.
The World Bank analysis identified five broad sets of policy instruments that can be used technically to meet their objectives:
- Information: information stands out as early warning systems that allow for much better decisions to be made in the event of a hazard such as flooding occurring and would allow for better preparation
- Incentives: incentives matter, and they matter tremendously because it motivates the right kind of decisions
As an example, in 2014, Egypt had reforms of its fossil fuel subsidies resulting in a triple dividend. Reducing congestion, mitigating GHG emissions and improving public financing
- Insurance: Insurance is important when it comes to spreading risk. Indeed, getting good fair insurance helps to ensure rapid and efficient access to post-disaster finance.
The government can make insurance compulsory to encourage private actors to cover some of their risks.
- Integration: Cities must be integrated within themselves, i.e. they must be compact and not scattered and inefficient.
Integration is necessary insofar as cities are connected to rural areas or in the case where one city is connected to another.
- Investments: Investment in appropriate infrastructure (well designed, built and maintained) will help reduce the likelihood of disasters and the resulting loss of life and property.
Cities will then be prevented and well equipped to deal with the risks associated with climate change.
The mix and combination of these instruments must be customized to a city’s unique circumstances.
Zoning and land-use planning, harnessing the protective function of ecosystems such as mangroves and sand dunes, and strengthening and enforcing land-use regulations can also be seen as useful initiatives.