Climate change is reshaping the way we think about urban sustainability, health, and resilience in cities. Urban areas cover just 3% of Earth's surface but house over half the population. By 2050, 68% of people will live in cities, with 90% of urban growth in Africa and Asia.
As cities expand, they take land from agriculture and other ecosystems, intensifying pressure on natural resources, agricultural production, and contributing to unsustainable food systems that drive 21-37% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
At the same time the urban population depend on farmers for their food security. Cities also face severe impacts from climate change, such as extreme heat, disproportionately affecting the urban poor.
These were the key messages of a ministerial event at COP29 on Nature, Health and Agriculture in Cities.
"The world will not only be more crowded, it will also be hotter and exposed to more extreme weather conditions. Of that, we are certain," WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett told the COP29 Presidency event.
"We need to prepare for the future now," she said.
WMO is committed to ensuring that climate and weather data are accessible, reliable, and actionable for decision-makers at all levels and for all purposes. This includes food production, infrastructure construction, water management and, of course, health protection, she said.
Local governments who are armed with climate forecasts and impact models, can make more informed choices that safeguard communities and minimize weather-related impacts, Ko Barrett told delegates.
Accurate weather and climate information from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services can support urban health and food systems by:
- Enabling early warnings which lead to life-saving early action
- Supporting risk assessments of heat, drought, air quality, and coastal risks to cities
- Informing the design of green and blue space in cities to reduce urban heat and manage water resources
- Driving research on how increasing temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns and sea level rise will impact future food security
"We must unite and coordinate our actions to confront the climate crisis," said Ko Barrett.
In Health, the joint WMO-WHO office on Climate and Health exemplifies the power of this integration. We help national meteorological services join with health authorities, and cities' networks to develop practical tools like urban heat island maps and integrated disease surveillance.
In agriculture, WMO works closely with organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to build resilience to hazards like drought through improved agrometeorological services.
Finally, urban air quality and climate change go hand-in-hand and must be tackled together. Ambient air pollution causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths annually. Particulate matter has a major impact not just on health, but also on agriculture. Joint action is a win-win.
"The challenge before us is immense, but so is the opportunity. By harnessing the power of climate and weather data, we can drive policies and nature-based solutions that make cities safer and healthier. The WMO is committed to turn science into action for a more sustainable future," said Ko Barrett.
