Developing cities face perfect storm of environmental risks

A major report, Future Proofing Cities , published today by Atkins in a unique partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID) and UCL, warns that cities in the developing world must act now against a perfect storm of environmental risks. The report assesses the risks to cities from climate hazards, resource scarcities and damage to ecosystems - and advises how they can act now to future proof themselves. Covering 129 cities totalling 350 million people in 20 countries, this report identifies practical measures that cities can take to manage these future risks. Around 75% of the world's population will live in cities within 40 years. Almost all of this population growth will happen in the developing world, with 4.6 billion people projected to live in already rapidly growing cities. How will these cities in the developing world cope socially, environmentally and economically with such accelerated urbanisation? Future Proofing Cities assesses the risks from megacities like Bangkok to smaller cities such as Zaria in Africa. It looks at their risk profile from climate hazards, resource scarcities and damage to ecosystems and urges action now to future proof against these risks.