MADRID – The extent to which they can withstand the consequences of climate change was examined in 23 cities worldwide. Moreover, the positive outcome is that almost all the cities surveyed are aware of the risks they face.
In addition, they all have plans to mitigate those risks as well. Among those cities is also a Spanish one that comes out very well. Madrid is the fourth most climate resilient city in the world. This is evident from the report of the British real estate company Savills. Only Berlin, Toronto and Paris score higher on this list. Cities from Cairo to Dubai and Miami to Sidney were examined to see how sensitive they are to the threats of climate change.
Climate location and city planning
The report, called ‘Index of Cities Resilient to Climate Change’, measures the climate stability and preparedness of major urban centres. Climate location and urban planning are taken into consideration in this measurement.
Extreme weather events are becoming more common. Over the past fifty years, the number of such events has increased fivefold, according to data from the consultancy. This makes it critical to understand how the world’s 23 largest, richest and most populous cities have adapted to these phenomena.
The report also looks ahead to the future, projecting what climate-related events are expected in 2050. Therefore, it is essential to understand the resilience of real estate and the vulnerability of buildings to climate-related hazards.
Green building standards
Per capita, New York, Berlin and Beijing rank highest in green building standards. Toronto, Shanghai, Los Angeles and Madrid were also among the top performers on these standards, which are becoming increasingly important as real estate investors seek to protect their assets and promote sustainable practices.
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With this information, the real estate sector can anticipate the future challenges of cities. For example, if a city is predicted to become warmer or more humid in the next 20 years, policy measures that have been applied in similar situations by other cities may be considered to limit damage.
Most cities are aware of the risk
The real estate consultancy notes that nearly all of the cities surveyed are aware of the risks they face. And, as such, have plans to mitigate them.
“In a city where climate stability risk is high and real estate resilience is low, this could erode the attractiveness of its markets, as large institutional investors already consider climate risk as part of their ESG (environmental, social and security) strategies. ,” said Robert Godfrey, Director of Strategic Investment Advisory at Savills.
“Investors may increasingly look for more resilient and greener real estate in climate-resilient cities. At the moment, however, they are still competing for relatively few buildings that already meet those current and future needs.”
A lot of work is still needed, even in good cities
Savills said the research highlights that even in “good” cities, much work remains to be done to reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability standards.
Threats to cities continue to increase
Despite this awareness, threats to cities continue to mount. This forces many cities to adapt to challenges such as extreme heat as temperatures rise. They also have to take into account problems such as rising sea levels, forest fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and access to drinking water. For some cities, these are future challenges to adapt to, while for others these challenges are already a reality, with risks becoming more prevalent.
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