Cities and Climate Change - the Precedents and Why They Matter

What is it about?

Entirely omitted in the early stages of climate change debate, the importance of cities has been recognised, and city leaders now play a vital role in the politics of climatic response. While welcoming the new awareness of the threat of global climate change, our paper offers a reminder of earlier types of anthropogenic climate change at the local and regional scales, changes caused by cities themselves, since the very act of urbanisation creates a heat island, transforms the atmosphere, and changes the weather. What’s more we trace the linked histories of urban climate science and of its application in techniques to manage climatic impacts through landscaping, design and pollution control. We describe the efforts of international agencies to promote urban climate awareness in the later decades of the last century, and offer examples of city governments that responded to the challenge. These precedents deserve to be remembered: cities which are able understand and manage their local ciimates have a head start in responding to global climate change.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This study unearths a history that was largely forgotten and which turns out to be highly pertinent today.

Perspectives