Climate Change and Urban Environment Sustainability: Issues and Challenges

Urban population have been intensifying in a very rapid manner and is projected to touch 70% of the total population of the globe by 2050. Several cities around the world have developed sustainable urban development plans to proceed their urbanization method toward a desired status of urban sustainability in terms of comfort living, public health, traffic control, transportation, air quality maintenance, water resources utilization, overall ecological sustainability, waste management, drainage, electricity, reducing carbon intensity, etc. Green infrastructure is a cost-effective strategy and may result in reduction in energy costs, ground-level ozone, urban flooding, and better stormwater management, and consequently, promote citizens’ well-being. But various challenges imposed by climate change such as fluctuations in temperature and precipitation disturb the green infrastructure itself. Climate extremes are the biggest threat to sustainable urban development worldwide. Underdeveloped and developing countries will be among the most negatively affected countries and least able to cope with the expected collapse to their social, economic, and natural systems. Therefore, for sustainable development of urban ecosystem and climate change mitigation, integrated technological, nature-based, and social solutions are required. Urban ecosystems should be considered as a vital part of local climate action practices and policies should be customized according to the city’s requirement to create more resilient and sustainable urban environment.