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This executive summary introduces a World Resources Report framework for creating more equal, productive, and sustainable cities, focusing specifically on 'struggling' and 'emerging' cities in the Global South. It identifies critical challenges in urban population growth and service delivery, proposing that equitable access to core services—housing, water, energy, and transportation—can serve as a catalyst for broader urban transformation.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of financing mechanisms available to local governments to implement low-carbon and climate-resilient urban development. It categorizes funding into internal revenue sources, external revenue sources, alternative models, and international climate finance, emphasizing the need for a blend of instruments to overcome budget constraints and fiduciary barriers.

A briefing by the World Resources Institute outlining four strategic opportunities for the United States and India to collaborate on clean energy and climate action during a meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Modi in January 2015.

This technical report analyzes the impact of climate change on extreme rainfall and flood risk in Da Nang, Vietnam, where rapid urbanization and population growth (11% annually) are compounding risks from sea-level rise and storm surges.

This policy brief examines the impact of rapid urbanization and climate change on flood frequency and severity in Da Nang, Vietnam, warning that historical construction standards are insufficient for projected increases in rainfall intensity.

This technical report analyzes the impact of urbanization and climate change on flooding and waterlogging in Gorakhpur, India, projecting increases in rainfall intensity by the 2050s.

This report explores the economic impact of temperature on shelter in Pakistan's rapidly growing cities, focusing on the need for adaptive, resilient designs to mitigate the effects of temperature increases and other natural hazards.

This report, prepared by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), distils the findings of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report specifically for African decision-makers. It details the observed and projected climate changes across the continent, the resulting risks to food security, health, and economic growth, and the opportunities for adaptation and low-carbon development.

This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) distils the findings of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) specifically for South Asia. It outlines how climate change is already impacting the region through temperature extremes and sea-level rise, and projects future risks including food and water shortages, flood damage, and heat-related mortality. The document emphasizes the necessity of integrating adaptation and mitigation into long-term development planning to avoid 'maladaptation' and leverage co-benefits across sectors such as agriculture, energy, transport, and urban planning.

This research paper presents a long-term scenario for deep greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement in Seattle, Washington, focusing on a 'core' emissions framework and bottom-up scenario analysis to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the critical water scarcity challenges facing El Alto and La Paz, Bolivia, driven by rapid population growth and climate change. It details the vulnerability of existing water systems to glacial melt and proposes a combination of new infrastructure, leak reduction, and integrated land-use planning to ensure water security through 2050.

This research paper by Energy Innovation and the Paulson Institute argues that the scale and speed of urbanization in China will be a primary determinant of future global climate change. The authors propose six critical 'ingredients for success'—permeable urban form, transit-centered transportation, effective building codes, municipal finance reform, sustainability metrics for mayors, and a strengthened planning process—to prevent the proliferation of unlivable, auto-centric 'superblocks' and instead create sustainable, world-class cities.

This seminar report details a presentation by Dr. Emma Archer and a response by Dr. Jakkie Cilliers on climate risk impacts and adaptation in Southern Africa. The event, hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria on 22 June 2009, examined the vulnerability of sectors such as agriculture, water, and health, and discussed the role of governance and urbanization in mitigating climate-induced risks.

This report, produced by the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative—a partnership between UNDP, UNEP, and OSCE—analyzes the intersection of environmental degradation and human security in the South Caucasus. It identifies priority risk areas in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, focusing on how resource scarcity, industrial legacy, and urban growth can exacerbate social tensions or, conversely, serve as catalysts for regional cooperation.

This report by CREA, for the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GHCA), analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 national lockdown on air pollution levels in Bengaluru. Using a network of 26 localized monitors, satellite data, and Google mobility data, the study finds a significant reduction in PM2.5 and NO2 levels, primarily attributed to the sharp decline in motorized transportation and industrial activities.

This guide by Energy Innovation outlines eight quantifiable urban planning principles designed to help China develop prosperous, low-carbon cities. It argues that high-density cities cannot be designed around the car and must instead prioritize public transport, walking, and bicycling to avoid gridlock, pollution, and economic stagnation.

This fact sheet provides an overview of Mongolia's transition toward a green economy, highlighting its current progress, environmental challenges, and the roles of government, private sector, and international partners in implementing sustainable development.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the service delivery crisis in South Africa's low-income communities and proposes Alternative Service Delivery (ASD) as a sustainable, community-led paradigm shift to bridge gaps in water, sanitation, energy, and waste management.

This case study by GreenCape examines Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) as a sustainable solution to food insecurity, water scarcity, and climate vulnerability in South Africa. It defines CEA as the production of plants and food within indoor facilities, growth chambers, or climate-regulated systems to maximize yield, highlighting its potential to reduce food mileage and increase crop density through vertical farming.

This fact sheet by GreenCape, produced in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, defines non-sewered sanitation systems (NSSS) and outlines their benefits, drivers, and the market potential for their implementation in South Africa and globally.