Climate Change: Impacts and Urban Adaptation Strategies

This lecture discusses the impacts of climate change, particularly focusing on urban areas and their adaptation strategies. It begins with an overview of the Energy and Resources Forum, emphasizing the urgency of addressing climate change through energy transition. The instructor highlights the significant warming in the Arctic and its effects on ecosystems, including the expansion of shrubs in the tundra, which alters the albedo and contributes to further warming. The lecture then shifts to urban heat islands, illustrating how cities experience higher temperatures compared to rural areas. Various nature-based solutions are presented, such as green roofs and urban vegetation, which can mitigate heat and improve resilience. The discussion includes the importance of integrating ecological infrastructure in urban planning to enhance biodiversity and connectivity. The lecture concludes with examples of adaptive strategies in agriculture and forestry, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to ensure sustainability in the face of climate change.