ADAPTING CITIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE ■ 195authors as separate documents (Aggarwal 2009; Barton 2009; Bharucha and
others 2009; Fragkias 2009; Heinrichs, Krellenberg, and Vogel 2009; Johnston
2009; Lampis 2009; Ooi 2009).
Background of the Case Studies
As mentioned, eight cities and regions are included in this case study: Bogota,
Cape Town, Delhi, Pearl River Delta, Pune, Santiago, São Paulo, and Singapore.
All the cities are representative of large urban agglomerates (table 8.1). Th eir
populations range from three to fi ve million (Cape Town and Pune) to 19 mil-
lion (São Paulo). Pearl River Delta, and the nine prefectures of its Guangdong
province, are estimated to have a population of about 48 million people, includ-
ing 12–14 million migrants from remote provinces. Th e population changes in
the eight cities refl ect various stages of urbanization. Th e Latin American cities
have already passed their urbanization peak and show a rather consolidated
status of urbanization. Annual increase in population has slowed to less than
2 percent and takes place mainly in the suburban and periurban areas. How-
ever, intense inner-city restructuring is still taking place. Asian cities are at a
much earlier stage of urbanization and show an impressive annual increase in
population of about 3 to 5 percent (UN 2008).
All eight cases bundle important political and administrative functions as
national, regional, or provincial capitals or secondary centers. Th is generally
creates more favorable conditions in terms of access and control over politi-
cal, fi nancial, and administrative resources. However, the internal political-
administrative structures and distribution of power and capacity between local
and regional bodies vary signifi cantly from case to case.
Because of their diff erent geographical locations and climatic zones, the
average annual temperatures and precipitation levels in the case cities range
from tropical climates in Singapore and Pune with seasonal monsoons; to sub-
tropical climates in São Paulo, Bogota, and Pearl River Delta; to a mild Mediter-
ranean climate in Santiago de Chile.
Cape Town, Singapore, and Pearl River Delta are the only three coastal city
regions explored in this study. Th ese cities are therefore the only three cities
here at risk from the eff ects of sea-level changes. Because the other fi ve cases
are located in noncoastal areas, the study provides an opportunity to study
anticipated changes and eff ects that go beyond the threat of sea-level rise.
For example, other expected climate change–related challenges include tem-
perature increases and changing precipitation rates and seasonality as well as
extreme events such as storms and fl oods. Th eir impacts will increase over time
and will contribute to severe risks (IPCC 2007). An increase in annual median