Coastal areas will be particularly hard hit by an increase in tropical storms and a rise in sea level. One of our member cities did an interesting thing. They projected on a map of their coastal areas what it would look like 50 years from now if global warming were to continue unchecked, and huge amounts of coastal property, prime residential areas as well as revenue rich commercial properties were submerged. Sea level rise will deal an economic blow to cities. As you heard, one of the speakers yesterday touched on a variety of new health problems that are going to threaten cities.
Urban areas suffer from elevated temperatures due to the darkness of paved streets and roofs.
Already elevated temperatures due to global warming will be felt higher in city centers, and there will also be aggregations of respiratory ailments. These health problems will tax already overburdened municipal health care systems. The impact of global warming on cities is clearly going to be significant. Now, the impact of cities on global warming. Local governments have a special role and an undeniable responsibility to take initiatives to protect the climate.