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Urban Systems Sectors and Prospects for Action: NCA Regional Input Reports

Ken Follett

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Published in Climate Change And U S Cities: Urban Systems Sectors And Prospects For Action (NCA Regional Input Reports)

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Overview

The National Climate Assessment (NCA) is a congressionally mandated report that assesses the impacts of climate change on the United States. The NCA is produced by the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP),which is a consortium of 13 federal agencies. The NCA is released every four years, and the most recent report was released in 2018.

Climate Change and U.S. Cities: Urban Systems, Sectors, and Prospects for Action (NCA Regional Input Reports)

by Cynthia Rosenzweig

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4460 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	328 pages

The NCA is divided into 10 chapters, each of which focuses on a different aspect of climate change. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the NCA and its findings. Chapter 2 discusses the physical science of climate change. Chapters 3-9 discuss the impacts of climate change on different sectors of the economy, including human health, water resources, agriculture, ecosystems, and coastal communities. Chapter 10 provides recommendations for policymakers and other stakeholders.

The NCA is a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and the general public. It provides a comprehensive overview of the impacts of climate change on the United States, and it identifies the prospects for action to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Urban Systems Sectors

Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change. This is due to several factors, including the high density of people and infrastructure in urban areas, the urban heat island effect, and the reliance of urban areas on imported resources.

The NCA identifies several urban systems sectors that are most vulnerable to climate change. These sectors include:

Water resources
Energy
Transportation
Public health
Infrastructure
Coastal communities

Climate change is already having a significant impact on these sectors. For example, climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires. These events can damage infrastructure, disrupt transportation, and cause power outages.

Climate change is also increasing the risk of sea level rise. Sea level rise can inundate coastal communities, erode beaches, and damage infrastructure. In addition, climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of hurricanes and other coastal storms.

Prospects for Action

There are a number of things that can be done to mitigate and adapt to climate change in urban areas. These include:

Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency
Improving public transportation and reducing reliance on cars
Investing in green infrastructure, such as parks and green roofs
Implementing heat island mitigation strategies
Improving the resilience of infrastructure to extreme weather events

Taking these actions will help to reduce the risks of climate change to urban areas and improve the quality of life for urban residents.

Recommendations

The NCA provides a number of recommendations for policymakers and other stakeholders. These recommendations include:

Invest in research and development to improve our understanding of climate change and its impacts
Develop and implement policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Invest in adaptation measures to reduce the risks of climate change to human health, the economy, and the environment
Educate the public about climate change and its impacts

By taking these actions, we can help to mitigate and adapt to climate change and protect the health and well-being of future generations.

Climate change is a serious threat to urban areas. However, there is a lot that can be done to mitigate and adapt to climate change and improve the quality of life for urban residents. The recommendations in the NCA provide a roadmap for action. By working together, we can create a more sustainable and resilient future for urban areas.

Climate Change and U.S. Cities: Urban Systems, Sectors, and Prospects for Action (NCA Regional Input Reports)

by Cynthia Rosenzweig

5 out of 5