Cities cover just 3% of the planet. But they emit 78% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, absorb 80% of final global energy and consume 60% of clean drinking water.
Droughts, indirectly linked to extreme heat, are also one of the highest causes of mortality worldwide. They may cause 3.2 million deaths by 2050. What have African cities done to adapt to the changing climate? In our book on cities and climate change, we call for policies that compel people living in cities to minimise the amount of resources they consume. This would reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. For example, the city administration in Nairobi, Kenya has created incentives for the installation of solar panels on buildings and public facilities. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels.
Some west African cities in the Sahel region are upgrading infrastructure to make it more resilient to climate shocks. They are turning to climate-health datasets, which provide regular updates on the warming climate, to set up early warning systems that forecast heatwaves and anticipate their health effects. Cities like Accra in Ghana have set up floodplain management strategies to minimise flood damage.