Leader and EnvironmentBy 2050, 70 per cent of the world's population will live in urban centres - that's just one reason why mayors will be essential to addressing the climate crisis, making vital adaptations to cities to make them more bearable in a warming world 20 November 2024 Guy Corbishley/AlamyIt hasnt been a good year for people who care about climate change. A hoped-for peak in carbon emissions has failed to emerge, meaning we continue to warm the planet at an accelerating rate (see Humanity has warmed the planet by 1.5C since 1700). Meanwhile, the election of Donald Trump for a second term as US president is likely to see the country retreat on climate action, with his pledge to drill, baby, drill for new oil and gas supplies.Similar sentiments towards fossil fuels come from Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, who has called the natural resources of his oil-rich nation a gift from God. Aliyev made the comments at the COP29 climate summit, hosted in Azerbaijans capital, Baku. Ironically, this gift will become increasingly inaccessible as the Caspian Sea dries up in a warming world, stranding billions of dollars of fossil fuel infrastructure (see COP29 host Azerbaijan faces climate disaster as Caspian Sea dries up).In light of this failure by politicians on the international stage to get to grips with the reality of climate change, other leaders need to step up and, surprisingly, city mayors may be best placed to do so.AdvertisementAdapting cities to cope with the specific effects of urban heat will be essentialWhile mayors cant be expected to influence the global climate, they oversee the well-being of the more than 50 per cent of the worlds population who live in urban centres a figure expected to grow to 70 per cent by 2050, at which point temperatures will have risen by 2.5C under current projections. Adapting cities to cope with the specific effects of urban heat will be essential, from promoting green spaces to investing in buildings that can be cooled without air conditioning (see Extreme heat is now making cities unlivable. How can we survive it?).The good news is many mayors are already aware of their responsibilities. Londons mayor, Sadiq Khan, is aiming for the city to reach net zero by 2030. Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, France, has planted trees and banned cars in certain areas. And Karen Bass, mayor of Los Angeles, has promised a green transformation ahead of the city hosting the Olympics in 2028. Organisations like C40 and Climate Mayors are helping unite local politicians across the world in action. This wont solve climate change, but it will make living in a warming world more bearable for many.Topics: