Four Pakistani Cities Ranked Among Global Climate Vulnerable Areas as Chicago Emerges as Best Prepared
ISLAMABAD: A new global study that measures the resilience of 72 key cities to climate change has identified four major cities in Pakistan that are at the greatest risk and have the lowest adaptive capacity.
The ranking was compiled after researchers from Alpha Geo did the research, and was highlighted by the New York Times; the rankings weren’t just based on exposure to environmental hazards such as inland and coastal flooding, extreme heatwaves, prolonged droughts, wildfires and tropical storm-force winds, but also on institutional preparedness, early warning systems, policy responses and structural infrastructure including drainage networks and flood embankments.
High Vulnerability Rankings and South Asian Regional Impact
India’s Ahmedabad was at the top of the list of cities with the lowest resilience and highest remaining climate risks with a score of 41, followed by second-ranked Hyderabad. Multan came third in the world with a risk score of 38, Dhaka of Bangladesh was fourth with a score of 36 and Lahore was fifth with a score of 35.
Kolkata in India was sixth, Faisalabad in Pakistan, eighth with the score of 32, and Chattogram in Bangladesh came last, with a score of 34. Higher scores represent higher residual climate vulnerability and low levels of adaptation.
The need for infrastructure and policy intervention.
The study highlights the growing threat of compound climate shocks on urban infrastructure, in South Asia, due to increased monsoon rainfall, urban heat, and frequent urban floods.
Although the full effects of climate change could not be prevented, the report highlights that solid infrastructure, anticipatory urban planning, and innovative governmental initiatives can significantly reduce disaster risks and the vulnerability of vulnerable groups.