Understanding hydrometeorological climate change impact assessment on urban and biodiversity regions

Abstract

Urban regions are home to more than half (54%) of the world’s population in 2018 with 4.2 billion people. Further, by 2050, the global urban population is expected to rise by an additional 2.5 billion people. In India alone, more than 416 million people are projected to migrate to urban centers during the same period. As cities continue to grow, they will have a key role in adaptation to a changing climate and enhancing mitigation plans. Understanding and improving the resilience of these urban environments against extreme hydrometeorological events such as floods, heatwaves, and storms is therefore critical. Similarly, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Ramsar wetlands are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic disturbances, resulting in habitat degradation, water scarcity, and ecological instability. Despite their importance in climate regulation, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem services, these regions remain inadequately assessed, hindering evidence-based adaptation planning.