IPCC Special Report on Climate Change & Cities
The roadmap aheadWinston CHOW
Professor of Urban Climate, Singapore Management University
Co-Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group II

Photo by Sergio Sala

Quote from “Japan swelters through hottest summer while parts of China log warmest August on record”, The Guardian, 3Sep 2024

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Process timeline of the Special ReportSE VEN TH AS SES SMENT CYCLE

The scoped outline of the Cities reporthttps://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2024/08/PR-IPCC-61.pdf

Chapter 1 – establishing that there’s aproblem

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Cities in the context of climate change: framing of the report• Main report narrative• Definition of cities and characteristics that makethem climate hotspots• Diversity of cities, including their risks,vulnerabilities, impacts, development state, etc
Connection between cities and surroundings•• Assessment methodologies

Chapter 2 – diagnosing the ‘patient’s’
problem

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Cities in a changing climate: trends, challenges and opportunities• Past, present and future trends (climate and socioeconomic)• Urban emission trends• City-specific risks and drivers• Current mitigation and adaptation

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Chapter 3 – prescribing the ‘medicine’Actions and solutions to reduce urban risks and emissions• Common and context specific urban mitigation andadaptation options• Evaluation of city risks and actions (mitigation,adaptation, losses and damages, adopted targets)• Urban observation and modelling tools• Metrics for assessing options

Chapter 4 – ensures the patient takes themedicine long-term

SE VEN TH AS SES SMENT CYCLEActions and solutions to reduce urban risks and emissions• Innovations in governance, urban planning, finance,energy access, facilitation of societal trends• Institutional capacities and multi-level governance• Indigenous knowledge, local knowledge, diverse
valuesFinance and legal frameworks•• Political will, conflicting goals, trade-offs

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Chapter 5 – variety of treatments to avariety of problems
Solutions by city types and regions• Synthesis guided by solution-oriented
information and case studies• Acknowledging multi-dimensional characteristics
includingoGeography
Development stageo

Climate & scenarios

oAdaptation & mitigation options

oLosses & damages, risks, vulnerabilities

oSectoral contributions to economyo…

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Ways you can get involved
Authors can help
with writing – calls
for authors Cities
report Q3 2024;
Assessment
reports Q2 2025

Experts can help
with scoping –pre-scoping
webinars

Scientists can write papers
and compile journal special
issues – including topics
emphasized in the outline
Professionals
can help withreviews –various versions
will circulate

Stakeholder
networks can help
with outreach(e.g. factsheets)

SE VEN TH AS SES SMENT CYCLE

Ways you can get involved
Authors can help
with writing – calls
for authors Cities
report Q3 2024;
Assessment
reports Q2 2025

Experts can help
with scoping –pre-scoping
webinars

Scientists can write papers
and compile journal special
issues – including topics
emphasized in the outline
Professionals
can help withreviews –various versions
will circulate

Stakeholder
networks can help
with outreach(e.g. factsheets)

SE VEN TH AS SES SMENT CYCLE

Ways you can get involved
Authors can help
with writing – calls
for authors Cities
report Q3 2024;
Assessment
reports Q2 2025

Experts can help
with scoping –pre-scoping
webinars

Scientists can write papers
and compile journal special
issues – including topics
emphasized in the outline
Professionals
can help withreviews –various versions
will circulate

Stakeholder
networks can help
with outreach(e.g. factsheets)

SE VEN TH AS SES SMENT CYCLE

Ways you can get involved
Authors can help
with writing – calls
for authors Cities
report Q3 2024;
Assessment
reports Q2 2025

Experts can help
with scoping –pre-scoping
webinars

Scientists can write papers
and compile journal special
issues – including topics
emphasized in the outline
Professionals
can help withreviews –various versions
will circulate

Stakeholder
networks can help
with outreach(e.g. factsheets)

SE VEN TH AS SES SMENT CYCLE

Ways you can get involved
Authors can help
with writing – calls
for authors Cities
report Q3 2024;
Assessment
reports Q2 2025

Experts can help
with scoping –pre-scopingwebinars

Scientists can write papers
and compile journal special
issues – including topics
emphasized in the outline
Professionals
can help withreviews –various versions
will circulate

Stakeholder
networks can help
with outreach(e.g. factsheets)

SE VEN TH AS SES SMENT CYCLE

The scoped outline of the Cities reportSE VEN TH AS SES SMENT CYCLE

We need moreconcise andlight reports!

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Follow our journey online!

@prof.bartvdhurk@prof.winstonchow

Bart van den Hurk

Winston Chow