THE CLIMATE CRISIS FOR CITIES IS CODE RED
Global temperature records continue to be shattered. The summer of 2024 was the hottest ever recorded. This spring (2024), atmospheric CO2 levels surpassed 427 ppm, a new record, and the rate of increase is accelerating.
Hotter temperatures, rising sea levels, economic turmoil, mass migrations, food scarcities, disrupted ecosystems, ocean acidification, strained infrastructure, increased health risks, heightened energy demands, and escalating insurance costs. Projected annual costs will range between $1.7 and $3.1 trillion by 2050 (World Economic Forum).
Expectations for COP29 are low. Globally, nations and industries are responding at just 10% of what's required to mitigate serious climate crisis impacts.
There are no silver bullets. What's needed is the ability to deploy multiple solutions to various intractable problems on a massive scale, repeatedly.
ATMOSPHERIC CO2
Atmospheric CO2 levels are at record highs (Mauna Loa, NASA), driving rising temperatures, poor air quality, and increased health risks for residents.
RISING AIR TEMPERATURES
Above the 1.5°C threshold (Columbia University), leading to heatwaves, straining city infrastructure, increasing energy demands for cooling, and exacerbating the urban heat island effect.
SEA LEVEL RISE (SINCE 1994)
Rising seas damage infrastructure, disrupt transportation, and cause economic losses. Saltwater intrusion compromises drinking water, and coastal erosion increases vulnerability to storms (Sources: NASA, NOAA).