Page 60 - Çevre Şehir İklim İngilizce - Sayı 1

Climate Change Crisis And Cities

due to waste and greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and regional
climatic factors also contribute to the formation of a heat island (McCarthy
vd., 2010: 1; WEF, 2022b: 9, 10).

Figure 4: The distribution of temperatures in tha afternoon
in urban and rural areas (Karakuyu, 2002: 100)
Constructions utilizing impermeable floor materials and construction
materials with high albedo (like asphalt and concrete) creates an immense
termal effect, which also affects the water cycle. While these materials have
a low evaporation capacity, they have a high capacity of absorbing, storing
and spreading termal heat. In addition, the waste heat due to industry,
constructions and vehicles in the cities also contribute to the formation of
heat islands and has consequences for the climatic systems (Kumar, 2021;
Stone vd., 2012: 264).

The Effects of Climate Change on Cities

According to UN figures, around 55% of the World population today live in
the cities. Without doubt, climate change affects not only cities, but also rural
areas. However, economic acitivities and population are largely concentrated
in the cities, which are affected by the negative consequences of climate
change. Thus, the issue should be discussed in terms of encironmental,
economic and social aspects. This is because cities are the engines of
development. Although varying according to each country, 80% of the GDP
is generated as a result of the activities in the cities. Thus, cities are places
which determine economic development, future societies, and the capacity of

Year 1 / Issue 1 / Jan 2022 45