Guterres: By 2050, rising sea levels could put more than 800 million people along the coast at direct risk

According to UN News, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on the 30th that by 2050, sea level rise may put more than 800 million people in coastal cities at direct risk.

Cities around the world are increasingly affected by climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts, rising sea levels, heat waves, landslides and storms. At least 130 port cities with more than 1 million inhabitants are expected to be affected by coastal flooding, while the 1 billion people living in urban informal settlements are particularly at risk.

World Cities Day is celebrated on 31 October, and this year's theme is "Building Urban Resilience and Building Climate Resilience". Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement on the same day, calling on all parties to address urban challenges, mitigate risks and create lasting solutions.

"Cities are hubs of innovation that embody the ingenuity of humanity and may also be the center of transformative action to implement the Sustainable Development Goals and build a zero-carbon, climate-resilient and socially just world," Guterres said. ”

However, more than 1 billion people live in informal settlements worldwide, 70% of whom are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. He said only 9 percent of climate finance cities receive to build resilience and resilience, with cities in developing countries receiving far less funding than cities in developed countries.

Guterres pointed out that this situation must be changed. Half of all climate funds should be earmarked for building adaptive capacity. "We need an inclusive, people-centred approach to planning, building and managing cities," he said. At a time when cities seek to adapt and protect the lives and livelihoods of their inhabitants, resilient infrastructure, early warning systems and financial instruments aimed at mitigating risks are crucial tools. ”

Guterres said cities can take the lead in better recovering from the pandemic, reducing emissions at the scale and pace the world needs and ensuring a resilient future for billions of people.