World Cities Report – serie

The World Cities Report 2024 will advance a people-centred approach to climate action, that promotes effective and inclusive climate action as a framework for building climate resilience in urban areas. The WCR 2024 advocates that people must be at the centre of any meaningful climate action. In this regard, climate action should not only contribute to mitigating GHG emissions, adapting and reversing the effects as of climate change, but should ensure that people have sustainable livelihoods and stable incomes, have food security, access to clean water and other basic services including affordable healthcare— all of which will reduce the vulnerability to climate change. The impacts of climate change are quite significant to the extent that adaptation and risk management can be powerful contributors to poverty eradication and sustainable development.

In a rapidly urbanizing and globalized world, cities have been the epicentres of COVID-19 (coronavirus). The virus has spread to virtually all parts of the world; first, among globally connected cities, then through community transmission and from the city to the countryside. This report shows that the intrinsic value of sustainable urbanization can and should be harnessed for the wellbeing of all. It provides evidence and policy analysis of the value of urbanization from an economic, social and environmental perspective. It also explores the role of innovation and technology, local governments, targeted investments and the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda in fostering the value of sustainable urbanization.