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Climate Change Crisis And Cities

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Climate change is a serious issue that defines our age, and thus, human
activities taking place in cities play an important role in the emerfece of climate
change. For this reason, in many scientific studies, particularly IPCC Reports,
the climate change experienced in our age is defined as anthropogenic
climate change.
In cities, greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil-based fuels used
in particularly construction, transportation, industry, and energy production
lead to climate change. Other factors contributing to climate change area
deforestation due to urbanization, and the expansion of the city to natural
areas and the changes it causes on the functions of these areas. Urbanization
also has negative effects on natural cycles, especially water cycles. The main
reason for that is the use of impermeable and heat-sealing materials. For this
reason, higher average temperatures are observed and many heat islands
appear in the cities.
Causing climate change is not the only role that cities play. At the same
time, cities are the places that are effected most by disasters and extreme
weather conditions caused by climate change. The population and
investments are largely concentrated in cities, which means this effect is not
just environmental, but also economic and social. Globally, floods are most
commonly seen in the cities and cause serious losses of life and property.
The most important strategies towards providing resilience to climate
change include mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to
the effects of climate change. Thus, particularly against the effects of climate
change in cities, there is need for effect, affectability and risk analyses.
In addition, LCCAPs should be prepared in such a way to cover all urban
sectors, and there is need for transition to compact urbanization and green
modes of transport as well as the use of renewable energy sources. Other
important methods towards a solution include creating green supply chain
systems, providing green transformation, developing funding and investment
opportunities for climate actions, adopting a sponge city approach for
effective water management, transitioning to nature-based solutions and
green infrastructure, and developing research and development activities as
well as innovations.
It is essential that the relevant solutions towards greenhouse gas mitigation
and climate change adaptation in cities globally be utilized in the cities of
Türkiye as well. In fact, Türkiye is located in the Mediterranean Basin, a region
sensitive to climate change, which makes it essential to provide climate
resilience in the cities of Türkiye. There are already many important projects
carried out in the fields of environment, urbanization and climate change. The

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