Cities are at the forefront of the climate crisis. Climate risks are escalating, and climate hazards are becoming more frequent and costly. The impacts of climate change are often felt disproportionally in urban communities due to high population density, a concentration of key infrastructure in cities, and their role as economic hubs among other factors. Yet, investment in urban climate finance adaptation is far from what is needed.
This policy brief focuses on the role of national governments in enabling and scaling finance for urban adaptation. It identifies key action areas national policymakers can target to increase urban adaptation. This includes urgency, vertical integration, preparation, collaboration, mobilization, measurement and investment to avoid.