The nexus of climate change and urbanization

This chapter discusses the nexus of climate change and urbanization in three parts. Part one explains how urbanization can affect climate change. The contributing factors discussed are transportation and buildings’ energy demand. Part two discusses the consequences of climate change on urban life and explaines how climate change and global warming, increase buildings’ energy demand for cooling, aggravate air pollution, reduce water quality, affect humans’ health and productivity, contribute to acid rains, damage the economy, increase the chance and intensity of wildfires, decrease the quality of life, and are detrimental to buildings’ structure. Part three provides climate change mitigation strategies in cities in two sections of corrective and preventive measures. Corrective measures focus on controlling the factors that directly lead to emissions such as transportation, and burning fossil fuels for heating, as well as controlling indirect causes of emissions or energy and material consumption. Preventive measures provided by the chapter are: (1) emission control through transportation management, (2) preservation and restoration of green space and open space in cities, (3) smart growth and compact development, (4) building and neighborhood renovations, (5) maximized collaboration and holistic approaches, and (6) worldwide commitment to sustainable development in action.