Climate Change and Cities; Third Assessment Report of the Urban Climate Change Research Network: Justice for resilient development in climate-stressed cities

Climate impacts, within and across cities, are distributed unequally. Cities located in low latitudes are more vulnerable than in high latitudes due to the often-larger proportion of informal settlements relative to the housing stock. Human vulnerability intersects with underserved communities within cities; frequently affected groups include women, single parents, and low-income elders. Responses to climatic events are conditioned by informality of the social fabric and institutions, and by inequitable distribution of impacts, decision-making, and outcomes. This Element discusses climate-resilient development and the need for adaptation and mitigation actions to account for the broader urban considerations of informality, equity, and justice principles.