Issue link: https://takingitglobal.uberflip.com/i/1055360
particularly acute for urban residents. Temperatures in cities can be several degrees higher than the surrounding rural areas due to the concentration of cement and buildings that absorb heat. This can be exacerbated even further by limited green space, and poor housing. Another important risk is flooding, particularly for cities along coastlines, which are threatened by sea level rise and storm surges. Flooding is exacerbated in cities; while steel and cement absorb heat particularly well, they do not absorb water! Urban drainage systems can be quickly overwhelmed during periods of high intensity rainfalls. Several social, political and economic characteristics of cities can make serve to increase sensitivity to climate hazards, making those hazards even more consequential. Rapid population growth in cities, for example, places pressure on infrastructure, as well as water and energy supplies. Urban expansion contributes to deforestation, and loss of farmland and other green space. The influx of newcomers may at times be uneven, and the incapacity of cities to accommodate new residents may lead to the expansion of informal settlements, often located in those areas of cities that are most exposed to extreme weather, such as steep hillsides. These neighborhoods may also lack basic infrastructure and services, and the residents tend to have limited political influence, further increasing their vulnerability. Still other social, political and economic characteristics can either enhance or constrain a city's adaptive capacity. High education and literacy rates, inclusive democratic decision-making mechanisms, and respect for local traditional ecological knowledge, can all contribute to more innovative and equitable outcomes. Other factors can do the opposite, such as high levels of poverty, and political corruption. The prioritization of climate in city planning varies, and is expressed through such means as municipal adaptation plans, local climate- oriented public events, and the hosting of international meetings related to climate change. 14 | I N T R O D U C T I O N