Climate Change and Cities

The 20th century saw the average temperature in the New York metropolitan region increase by 2oF, and the Arctic ice cap shrink at a rate that alarms most experts in the field. Scientific models indicate that this warming trend will continue in the 21st century. Even small changes in climate can alter the environmental baseline under which cities plan and operate. Cities are radical human alterations of the natural landscape, and with 50% of the world population now living in urban areas like New York City, the global urban community must analyze and adapt to the very climate change they are creating. The Climate Change and Cities Project, sponsored by the CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities will examine natural climate conditions, current conditions as influenced by urban living and prospects for the future. Climate change research generally focuses on one of two principles; adaptation (introducing coping systems and strategies in a city impacted by climate change), and mitigation (stopping the climate from changing). Recognizing that overall change in the urban community can come slowly, the goal of this project is to analyze current adaptation strategies, such as green roofing and urban cooling centers, and introduce them to the urban community. With effective and proactive adaptation strategies in place, cities can stave off the potentially catastrophic economic and health impacts of global warming, while buying much needed time for successful mitigation strategies to be identified, tested, and implemented.

Read about related research and projects below:

• Dr. Peter Marcotullio Lead Author of Second State of the Carbon Cycle Report Chapter on Energy Systems Institute for Sustainable Cities Director Dr. Peter Marcotullio Lead Author of Second State of the Carbon Cycle Report Chapter on Energy Systems On November 23, 2018, the U.S. Global Change Research Program released the Second State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR-2).  SOCCR-2 serves to evaluate the major factors in the global carbon cycle across North America, ...
• Dr. Peter Marcotullio Awarded ASRC Seed Grant for Study of Heat Vulnerability in NYC Dr. Peter Marcotullio, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Cities at Hunter College, and Professor of Geography, was awarded a seed grant from the CUNY Advanced Science and Research Center for a study of the role of urban forests in mitigating heat vulnerability in New York City. The project, titled “Estimating the potential role of trees ...
• Dr. William Solecki Contributing Author of Fourth National Climate Assessment Chapter on the US Northeast Institute for Sustainable Cities Founding Director Dr. William Solecki Contributing Author of Fourth National Climate Assessment Chapter on the US Northeast On November 23, 2018 the US Global Change Research Program released the second volume of the Fourth National Climate Assessment. NCA4 Volume II, Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States will assist decision makers ...
• Dr. William Solecki Coauthors “Landmark” UN Report on Climate Change Institute for Sustainable Cities Founding Director Dr. William Solecki Coauthors “Landmark” UN Report on Climate Change A new report released by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sounds a sobering alarm about the risks of climate change, but Institute for Sustainable Cities Founding Director Dr. William Solecki remains hopeful: “The window of opportunity ...
• Precipitation & Storm Recurrence Trends in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountain Regions in NY State Precipitation & Storm Recurrence Trends in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountain Regions in NY State Summary and data compilation by Simon Gruber, April 5, 2018 This fact sheet summarizes information about precipitation trends and the changing size and frequency of rain and snow storms and flood events in the southern Hudson Valley and Catskill mountain regions, ...
• Yale Alumni Public Health Initiative Presents: Health and Climate Change Interested in environmental health and climate change? In this seminar featuring Institute of Sustainable Cities Fellow and City Atlas Co-Founder Richard Reiss we will explore the interplay of global health and the environment, in particular the significant impact of climate change on health outcomes. Further, we will take on questions of what can and should be ...
• William Solecki coauthors Nature article on growth and resilience of small and mid-sized cities Small and mid-size, not mega cities, are growing quickest and need protection against extreme events – says a new study Stuttgart, New York, Kampala, 28th September 2016 – 18 days before the UN conference on Cities (UN-Habitat III) a new study and an article in NATURE by an international team of researchers shows that fast-growing small ...
• UCCRN Empowers Cities on the Frontline of Climate Change COP21, PARIS – The Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN) released the Summary for City Leaders of the upcoming Second UCCRN Assessment Report on Climate Change and Cities (ARC3.2) at the COP21 Climate Summit for Local Leaders. UCCRN is dedicated to providing the information that city leaders–from government, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and the ...
• Hydrology, Vulnerability and Adaptation Implications of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee: Case Study of the Mid-Hudson Valley and Greater Catskills Regions CISC Director Bill Solecki is the project leader on an initiative by researchers at the City University of New York, Rutgers and Penn State Universities to investigate the hydrological, vulnerability, and adaptation implications of recent climate extremes (particularly Hurricane Irene – August 2011 and Tropical Storm Lee – September 2011) on an exurban area of ...
• Climate Change and Cities The 20th century saw the average temperature in the New York metropolitan region increase by 2oF, and the Arctic ice cap shrink at a rate that alarms most experts in the field. Scientific models indicate that this warming trend will continue in the 21st century. Even small changes in climate can alter the environmental baseline ...
• New York City Panel on Climate Change Convened by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the NPCC advises the Mayor on issues related to climate change and adaptation. Made up of climate change and impacts scientists, legal, and insurance and risk management experts, the NPCC is modeled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Among its ongoing activities, the NPCC is working to ...
• New York City Water Resources Project Director: Dr. Allan Frei New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), which controls New York City’s water supply, started a project several years ago, the goal of which is to evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on New York City’s water supply in the twenty first century. Under contracts between NYCDEP and ...
• Urban Forests in Our Midst Did you know that there are 108 acres of open spaces hidden behind rowhouses on the Upper West Side alone? That is 13% the size of Central Park! These backyard open spaces convey a range of environmental benefits to the entire City—and yet these benefits are overlooked by the architects of public ...
• Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Sustainable Water Use in the Hudson River Valley Project Directors: Dr. Allan Frei, Simon Gruber CISC has ongoing research projects associated with climate variations and water resources in the Hudson River Valley, just north of New York City. CISC Deputy Director Frei collaborates with CISC Fellow Simon Gruber looking at the potential impacts of climate change on water resources in the Hudson River Valley, ...