EPILOGUE ■ 259anthropogenic heat release are included in model simulations, when compared
with rural areas.
A holistic framework that integrates climate impacts with associated cli-
mate hazards in cities, resulting vulnerabilities, and society’s adaptive capac-
ity is off ered in the commissioned paper by Mehrotra and others, “Framework
for City Climate Risk Assessment.” Th e paper presents a detailed review of the
body of literature on hazards, risks and vulnerabilities, and adaptive capacity,
woven together in a comprehensive framework for climate adaptation in cities.
Th e three-component framework is developed and tested in four case study
cities—Buenos Aires, Delhi, Lagos, and New York City—and covers a range of
hazards, including sea-level rise for coastal cities and extreme heat events for
landlocked tropical cities such as Delhi. Th e authors note that the vulnerabili-
ties identifi ed in each city suggest diff erential impacts on poor and nonpoor
urban residents as well as sectorally disaggregated implications for infrastruc-
ture and social well-being. In response, they highlight successful policies and
programs at the city level that aim to reduce systemic climate risks, especially
for the most vulnerable populations. A four-track approach to risk assessment
and craft ing of adaptation mechanisms is proposed (including assessment of
hazards, vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and emerging issues) so that city gov-
ernments can respond to climate change eff ectively and effi ciently.
Although the papers in this thematic area represent recent developments
in the fi eld, research is progressing fast. Knowledge sharing among research-
ers and between researchers and practitioners is needed as new knowledge,
measurement tools, and appropriate indicators are developed. Currently, there
is no single place where city-scale climate change indicators and metrics are
located. A fi rst attempt at putting such information together in one database
is discussed by McCarney in the last commissioned paper in this thematic
area, “City Indicators on Climate Change.” McCarney describes the process of
developing a standardized set of city indicators, which includes a full range
of city-scale climate-related metrics, addressing GHG emissions, mitigation,
adaptation, vulnerability, and resilience, while also measuring city services
and quality of life. Th e outputs of the Global City Indicators Program can be
expected to respond continuously to new and improved methods of measuring
city-scale GHG emissions, sectoral energy use, climate impact projections, and
climate adaptation capacity.
Infrastructure, the Built Environment, and Energy Effi ciency
Sebastian Carney and Cynthia Skelhorn
Cities are both large energy consumers and large GHG emitters. Th e energy
consumption of a city is due, in part, to its infrastructure, building stock,