Role of Cities in Climate Change Mitigation

Role of Cities in Climate Change Mitigation

Governments continue to involve their cities in the identification, analysis, and risks evaluation that originate from climate change. A city is an urban set-up with lots of social amenities and business. Climate change has become a worldwide concern in both developing and developed nations. The complexities of taking responsibility for the mitigation process include a proper understanding of scientific data on climate change and comprehending the effects of socioeconomic actions that contribute to environmental degradation. The lack of an appropriate framework of governance for climate hazards has jeopardized the resolution of this problem. The traditional approach to the vindication process continues to be replaced with the involvement of the cities in the resolution process. Cities are home for more than half the world’s populace. This implies that the cities are too vulnerable to the climatic problem (Bulkeley & Schroeder, 2012, pp.766). Although the city’s involvement in environmental conservation had been ignored, cities have turned out to be the “first responders” in the mitigation process (Fünfgeld, 2010, pp.160). The occurrence of cases of global warming, hurricanes, and other disasters among the various cities in Europe indicate the vulnerability of the cities to climate change. It is evident from the recent studies that the main contributors to climate risk are the cities (Bloomberg, 2015, pg.106). The rise in the city temperatures has forced the management of these cities to take action to mitigate the situation. Most governments have shown concerns about mitigating their towns, but their efforts have not been successful. According to Broto & Bulkeley (2013, pg. 102), lack of proper implementation strategies have limited the process of mitigation. C40 Cities have shown positive responses in adjusting to climate change. The organization of the municipalities puts cities at an advantageous position in managing this mitigation process. This paper examines the argument by C40 Cities that mitigating climate change begins in the cities.

Possession of economic and innovative power

Cities are the centre of commerce globally; most of the highly developed organizations are located in urban areas. Urban centres have the latest designs of buildings, technologies, facilities, and vehicles. These advancements have increased the production capacities of the companies that are located in the cities. Cities like London, Dubai have the tallest buildings in the world housing millions of people and projects worth billions. The towns in most developing countries have proved to be the hubs of all the social amenities and even the government facilities, including the financial cores (Kovats & Akhtar, 2008, pg. 175). Despite these advancements in the cities and towns, there are occasional incidences of temperature rise, rising levels of seas, and dangerous storms. However, it must be noted that cities are not the same, but they experience similar conditions of climate change.

Subsequently, climate change has caused the occurrence of high temperatures and unpredictable weather conditions in most cities. Although the cities are the wealthiest centres in the world, climate change has influenced their vulnerability by causing the loss of lives and the destruction of property. Research has shown that the municipality is in a better position to understand the problems faced by the inhabitants of the cities and provide urgent solutions.

Additionally, the municipalities can effectively manage the collection and control of the socioeconomic forces by encouraging green living in the cities, thus helping to resolve the problem of climate change. Earlier literature on the involvement of the city municipals has identified the mobilization of the private sector, for instance, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group has united forty cities globally to address the challenge of climate change. Such efforts have worked in European cities, where private companies like Microsoft have encouraged conservation of the green environment (Bulkeley & Schroeder, 2012, pp. 766). The municipal government of the cities has the power to direct the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility by industries and organizations in these cities, thus promoting mitigation measures. Therefore, the involvement of the corporates in the mitigation process by the municipals is a useful practice that would enhance the mitigation of climate change. Most governments fail to incorporate the private sector’s effort in environmental conservation practice due to inadequate implementation plans. However, partnerships between the different cities have proved to facilitate the implementation of the mitigation measures though benchmarking and information sharing practice. These have been witnessed through the introduction of new structural designs and the city planning system (Jabareen, 2015, pg. 43).

Municipal networking has promoted the realization of better mechanisms in the moderation course. The networks have strengthened the implementation of easing policies internationally. The influence of most cities is through the efforts of pioneer cities like London, to promote a green environment (Kovats & Akhtar, 2008, pg. 175). The use of new technologies in vindication practice is one of the copied forms of municipal networking mechanisms from developed countries. Projections indicate that communal networking is likely to promote modification programs among cities by 60%. This is due to the involvement of both the private and public sectors in the alleviation procedure.

Political economies of city climate control

Shifting responsibility on climate change has limited progress in realizing a greener environment in the world.  Agencies and parties in the world are not willing to take up the blame over the changing climatic condition. Institutions have failed to take responsibility for conserving the environment due to the lack of enforcement in several countries. This inefficiency can be resolved through generating more information, provision of adequate resources, the creation of stronger institutions that encourage good governance and creating more autonomous municipalities (Broto, & Bulkeley, 2013, pg. 102). These conditions would motivate the realization of the moderation measures by improving the understanding of the green environment.

Most scholars have depicted that the inability of the institutions to conserve the environment is politically driven (Jabareen, 2015, pg. 43). The urban political economies in most cities have paralyzed the process of environmental mitigation. These economies have shown their unwillingness to promote the extenuation course by failing to balance moderation development and development. The most political economies channel their resources to the development, construction of more structures without examining the compliance with the environmental conservation measures. According to the modernists, the vindication procedure is seen as “no growth,” implying that strategies to promote green environment are mean to limit their growth. According to Bulkeley & Schroeder (2012, pp.766), the prioritization of development at the expense of climate change modification within the cities of North America is likely to hinder the mitigation process. The mismatch in the provision of reliable mechanisms for implementing the mitigation measure has contributed to the lack of uniform construction design in most cities leading to the weak drainage system.

Researchers have demonstrated that municipalities have provided opportunities to show leadership in the mitigation process (Jabareen, 2015, pg. 43). The command exists in both the political and business avenues. The ability of the towns has made the cities to remain accountable for the mitigation efforts of the environment. The opportunity is seen in developing transnational networks that provide “soft” presents to the parties that initiate events or actions of hosting global conferences and sports. Although the program is not directly related to climate change extenuation, the city municipalities have shown concerns in leading the provision of services to the community (Bulkeley & Schroeder, 2012, pp.766). The emergence of responses has witnessed leadership after the occurrence of dangerous accidents and crises like hurricanes and fire outbreaks. The administration often directs the provision of service to the victims and gets lasting solutions to such problems. Research has shown that the involvement of such leadership in the modification would promote efficiency and faster realization of the goals of the program (Fenton, 2017, pg. 270).

Cities need to reframe the climate change hazard to be a local problem that would have additional opportunities when solved. Such efforts can be seen in Canada the objective of mitigating the environment is tied to the goals of the organizations with some benefits like health improvements (Rosenzweig, Solecki, Hammer & Mehrotra, 2010, pg. 909). The idea of framing the situation to make it local will attract massive support from the citizens and other agencies in promoting a green environment. Cities need to influence local companies to participate in the process of mitigation by enacting relevant policies. However, cities should be willing and able to protect their inhabitants by securing a clean and healthy environment through climate change.

Creation of awareness

The failure to effectively comply with the environmental conservation measures often is a weakness that contributed to the weak legal frameworks. Most governments fail to implement the extenuation programs due to the lack of awareness among its citizens. According to Rosenzweig, Solecki, Hammer & Mehrotra, (2010, pg. 909), the role of the cities is to provide awareness’ on environmentally conscious lifestyles. Some products that are harmful to the environment must be banned by the municipalities and introduce greener products. The inhabitants must be informed on the selection and use of products from the market, which are environmentally friendly. Additionally, the leadership must enact laws that control the production of some products from the industries that are not compliant with the policies on environmental conservation.

Secondly, the capitals must control the construction of the buildings by enforcing policies on planning. This awareness should aim at directing the city development agencies to adopt environmental conservation measures. The planning system of the buildings, responsive governments, and the closer monitoring of the resources present the cities to be well placed on the bid to control the environmental hazard (Broto & Bulkeley, 2013, pg.102). The forms of pollution that are emitted from the cities have more significant impacts on the environment. The characterization of cities congestion is through poor planning interfering with the drainage system, which contributes to environmental pollution.

Metropolises must create awareness of the best disposal method and lead the process of garbage collection and treatment. The practice shall enhance the commitment of private owners to comply with laws, thus aiding to achieve the environmental preservation process (Bulkeley & Schroeder, 2012, pp. 766). The action must begin with the construction of the underground sewage system to collect waste matter. The city management must then create disposal sites that do not expose the contaminants into the atmosphere. The burning of waste matter should be controlled to prevent environment pollution. Besides, the municipalities must encourage the inhabitants to recycle some products rather than just dumping them.

According to Jabareen (2015), the introduction of renewable sources of energy in the cities would reduce pollution by 40%. Companies located in the cities often use electricity, coal that emits harmful gases like carbon into the environment. These gases interfere with the process of the condensation process leading to acid rains. Most cities that experience these forms of rains have corroded iron materials. Consequently, the cities inhabitants are exposed to health defects from such corrosions. Therefore, the management of the cities ought to promote the use of renewable sources of energy like solar and wind.

Moreover, excessive use of energy is often wasteful; the practice is evident in households that have large electric appliances. Inhabitants need to be informed on using power sparingly by limiting the use of electricity and other energy sources (Bulkeley & Schroeder, 2012 pp. 766). Reusing water is another lifestyle that would promote green living. Thus, city management should discourage wasting resources such as water.

Affordable housing

Conurbations in both developing and developed nations experience the problem of housing. Bloomberg (2015) states that cities have more inhabitants than the required capacities they can hold. The high population growth rates cause congestion that affects the house constructions. As a result, cities have continued to experience high rent-rates that transform the living standards of the natives. The inhabitants chose to occupy the low-cost houses that have unhealthy hygienic conditions (Gouldson et al., 2016, pg. 47). Overcrowding in the cities has contributed to the exhaustion of resources to cater for economic needs.

Alternative housing plan for the cities is needed in resolving the problem of congestion in the towns (Araos et al., 2016, pp.375). The government, in coordination with the municipalities, must work to construct houses that cater to the economic needs of the citizens. These houses must be located outside the cities to reduce the housing capacities of the cities. This will minimize the number of vehicles and individuals that operate in the towns. Decongestion programs must be enacted by the city administrations to promote to encourage green lifestyles among inhabitants. Healthy living is a primary step in promoting environmental conservation, that is transformed into fair use of economic resources (Gouldson et al., 2016, pg. 47). Municipalities must involve the public in maintaining a clean city environment by setting up cleaning programs; such schedules encourage the citizens to be part of the cleaning activities. The practice would create positive attitudes among the natives who would take up the method of mitigating the environment. Wamsler states that municipality governance is expected to promote citizen cooperation, thus capitalizing on specific adaptations to climate variation.

Global sustenance for the local actions

Wamsler (2016) identifies that international cities have access to countless worldwide funding and programs; these platforms include, United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN-HABITAT). These bodies have programs that manage and Network that modifies climate change. Networks such as Climate Neutral Network (CN- Net), the Sustainable Urban Development Network (SUD- Net) are both managed by the united United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), which works to promote environmental conservation ((Bulkeley & Schroeder, 2012, pp. 766).). The United Nations has supported international programs that encourage global partnerships that have similar objectives. According to Haskins, the united nations, through the Cities and Climate Change Initiative (CCCI) has supported cities and towns in developing nations in stimulating climate change adaptation and qualification by policy dialogues, capacity building, experimental initiatives and global networking (Bulkeley & Schroeder, 2012, pp. 766). These initiatives have promoted the interaction of global leaders who often borrow ideas on the extenuation process (Fenton, 2017, pg. 105). However, UNEP and UN-HABITAT engage in joint corporation frameworks in which urban and environmental concepts are incorporated in the organizations’ actions at local and international levels.

The organizations have developed tools and strategies like Poverty Reduction, City Development Strategies, and National Adaptation Plans that have aided cities in intergrading issues on climate change into policies (Network, 2018, pg. 45). Other organizations like the IMF and World Bank have jointly helped in funding the adjustment measures in several cities. However, these institutions have enacted some policies that organizations in the cities must comply with; thus, loyal cities often receive maximum aid to fund the development program (Gouldson et al., 2016, pg. 47). The advantage of such an institution is its support and consciousness on environmental conservation.

Therefore, C40 Cities managers need to utilize the avenues of these big institutions in networking over the programs of environmental conservation (Network, 2018, pg. 45). The municipalities have to show a positive response in dealing with climate change, thus attracting these global organizations. Cities must organize international conferences that would create platforms to engage the possible donors for the vindication process. Such forums probably promote the exchange of ideas and concepts on climate change mitigation (Araos et al., pp.375). The program expectations are towards gaining momentum by winning massive support from both the citizens and the governments. It must be noted that the goal of climate change easing should be incorporated into the agendas of the global institutions working in most cities to facilitate the process of environmental conservation (Bulkeley & Schroeder, 2012, pp. 766).

Research and innovation

According to Network (2018), cities form the centre for the idea, technology, and scholars in the world. Most cities in the world have access to a reliable source of power and the internet. All the best universities have advanced cities next to them. The possession of these amenities gives the cities the potential to host great minds and resources that encourage research and innovation. The cities have to utilize the existing internet to find more information concerning climate change and alleviation. Information gathering would inspire actions that would make drive the city towards a positive response to climate change (Network, 2018, pg. 45).

Cities must use the technologies available to create positive impacts on the environmental alleviation process. Jabareen (2015) insists that city technologies can effectively be used to develop green living in the world. The possession of this technological power by the city must be channelled towards the use of modern means of modifying climate change. The mechanism is possible due to the faster transports system, faster flow of information, and accessibility to the required social institutions, unlike the vast rural areas.

Conclusion and recommendation

Burden of implementation

Though the C40 Cities have proved to spear-head the process of justifying the environmental change, the process is tedious and full of various challenges. Fünfgeld (2010) affirms that institutional challenges often affect the implementation process of such programs. Cities, just like any other organization in the world, have the problem of fully coordinating their events and plans due to lack of adequate support either locally or internationally. Governments in the respective cities have turned down their support to the municipalities in fighting for adaptation and qualification of the environment. These governments are only on the revenue collection that directly promotes the economy of the country. However, municipalities have been affected by the lack of independence in their regulations and management by the political economies. Such under-performers have contributed to unfruitful efforts in the extenuation process.

Bulkeley &Newell (2015) have depicted that government support is key to the achievement of the vindication objective. The support to C40 Cities should be realized in the enactment of policies and the implementation process. This would boost the leadership structure of the municipalities by promoting openness and reliability of the system to lessen the environment. Nevertheless, cities are in a better position to lead the alleviation process as cited above and should, therefore, receive the necessary support in the mitigation process.