Climate Interactions

Climate Resilience and the Ecological Crisis

According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) the challenges posed by climate change and the ecological crisis are among the most pressing issues of our time, impacting ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide. Rising global temperatures, more frequent and severe weather events, and shifting climate patterns are transforming landscapes and threatening livelihoods, particularly within urban areas. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we are already witnessing an increase of approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius in global mean temperature since the late 19th century, with projections suggesting that temperatures could rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius as early as 2030 if significant mitigation efforts are not implemented. Furthermore, widespread habitat loss, accelerating species extinction, and the disruption of ecosystems are reshaping natural environments and undermining the balance that sustains life on Earth. This then impacts availability and access to essential resources (e.g. potable water, energy, food), current trade and economic systems. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), one million species are currently at risk of extinction due to human activities, with projections indicating that biodiversity loss will accelerate unless transformative changes are made across economic, social, and environmental systems.

Globally, the economic impact of climate-related disasters is estimated to reach $1.5 trillion annually by 2030, according to a report by the Global Commission on Adaptation. This escalates the urgency for urban centers, which house over 56% of the world's population and are responsible for approximately 80% of greenhouse gas emissions, to adopt resilient strategies that can withstand future climate threats. The economic cost, globally, of biodiversity loss is projected to reach $2.7 trillion annually by 2030, according to the OECD. This intensifies the need for urban centers to integrate nature-based solutions and blue and green infrastructure, as the loss and fragmentation of habitats and the decline of biodiversity threatens essential urban services such as air quality, climate regulation, and flood management.

Cities are at the forefront of this challenge, as they face unique vulnerabilities due to their high population densities, extensive infrastructure systems, and role as economic hubs and engines. From rising sea levels that threaten coastal cities to extreme heat events that strain public health systems, and from the loss of urban biodiversity to the degradation of green spaces and ecological cycles that provide critical ecosystem services, urban areas must navigate complex interdependencies that require innovative, multifaceted solutions. As we move further into the 21st century, the need for effective urban resilience strategies has never been more critical—ensuring that cities can not only survive but thrive amid the escalating impacts of climate change and the ecological crisis. Indeed, there has already been some progress on this, with more ‘radical’ legislation paving the way for more resilient cityscapes, yet more research is needed on the topic.

To this end, the editors of the Climate Interactions journal are inviting contributions for their inaugural special issue  which focuses on Urban Resilience to Climate Change and the Ecological Crisis, aiming to explore innovative strategies, policies, and practices that cities are implementing to enhance their resilience to a wide range of interconnected challenges, including heatwaves, flooding, sea-level rise, habitat degradation, and the loss of urban biodiversity. As urban areas face unprecedented challenges due to climate change and the ecological crisis, it is imperative that we investigate how cities can adapt, mitigate risks, and thrive in the face of such adversity.

This special issue seeks to address the urgent need for comprehensive and equitable approaches that not only tackle immediate climate and ecology-related threats but also consider intertwined issues such as food security, access to clean water, and air pollution. We encourage contributors to examine how these factors influence and are influenced by urban resilience efforts, creating a multidimensional understanding of sustainability in both urban and rural contexts and across different spatial scales from neighbourhood and city, to regional, national and international.

Broad Themes for Submission:

1. Innovative Adaptation Strategies

2. Policy Frameworks and Cross-scalar Governance

3. Community Engagement, Shared Power and Responsibilities, and Social Equity

4. Technological Innovations

5. Integrated Sustainable Infrastructure Development

6. Interconnections between Climate Change, Biodiversity and Food Security

7. Water Management Solutions

8. Air Quality and Urban Health

9. Multi-functional Blue and Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions

10. Other creative and radical interventions, particularly those which can be replicated on a global level (e.g. urban agriculture)