More than two million people currently live in cities around the world. UN-Habitat report: Cities are steadily losing green space Climate and Environment
The average share of green space in urban areas worldwide has fallen from 19.5 percent in 1990 to 13.9 percent today, according to UN-Habitat’s Cities of the World 2024 report, released Tuesday.
Declining Green Space
A new report focuses on the looming crisis of climate change and rapid urbanization. Poorly managed urban infrastructure growth, it says, has led to a steady decline in green space in many densely populated areas. The more than two billion people currently living in cities could be exposed to an additional 0.5 degrees Celsius of temperature rise by 2040. At the same time, climate action has not yet matched the scale and intensity of the challenges cities face.
Funding Gap
A key theme of the report is the significant funding gap for resilient urban infrastructure. Cities are estimated to need $4.5-5.4 trillion a year to build and maintain climate-resilient systems, but current funding is only $831 billion.
“Green gentrification”
The authors of the report are even more alarmed by evidence that climate measures currently being implemented in cities are either unable to protect the most vulnerable sections of the urban population or are making their situation even worse. In particular, this concerns “green gentrification,” when such useful measures as the creation of parks lead to the direct displacement of low-income families or increase the cost of real estate, effectively forcing them out.
World Urban Forum
The publication of the report is timed to coincide with the 12th session of the World Urban Forum, the main global conference on the sustainable development of large settlements. The forum, co-organized by UN-Habitat and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, is taking place in Cairo from 4 to 8 November.
Developing effective policies
“Knowledge is the cornerstone of effective climate action, and the evidence we gather is critical to shaping future frameworks, such as the upcoming IPCC Special Report on Urban Climate Change,” said Anaclaudia Rossbach, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat. – As we prepare for the next UN Climate Conference, we intend to use this knowledge to develop strategies that will resonate at both the local and global levels.”
Recommendations from the report’s authors
The report calls for a stronger focus on cities to advance ambitious national climate commitments. It also highlights the importance of aligning climate action with other Sustainable Development Goals, such as improving services, upgrading urban infrastructure, reducing poverty and protecting public health.