The researchers discovered that 90% of climatic catastrophes are due to accessing or lack of water. All over the world, about 13% of the cities are going to a more damp climate more extreme, while the remaining 7% is changing in a more extreme dry climate.
A new report reveals that the 100 most populated cities in the world are increasingly exposed to floods and droughts. The studydirected by Waterid with academics of the University of Bristol and the University of Cardiff, Exhibition generalized drying in all European cities. Among these are the Spanish capital, Madrid, which occupies the second place between 49 City that are “drying”And the capital of the United Kingdom, London, which occupies the number 44.
The results also indicate that almost one in five city is suffering from a “whisk by climate”, defined as Intensification of floods And drought. In a similar proportion (20%) There has been an important change from one end to the otherWhat is known as “investment of climatic risks”.
Katerina Michaelides, professor of hydrology in the arid areas of the University of Bristol and Co -Author of the study, says: “The conclusions of our study Illustrates how much different and dramatic climate change all over the world. There is no unique solution for everyone.
European cities experience dangerous climate changes
According to the report, all the European cities analyzed show trends in the following in the last 42 years. London, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm and Istanbul could suffer more frequent droughts and durable. Therefore, some European city They face “dangerous climate change”. Barcelona and Madrid are experiencing a particularly abrupt change with a dry wet climate.
All over the world, about 13% of the cities are going to a more damp climate more extreme, while the remaining 7% is changing in a more extreme dry climate. “Historically humid places are becoming dry and vice versa. Other areas suffer more and more Floods and extreme droughts“Says Michaelides.”
European cities suffer from water deficiency
The study also compares the vulnerability of the social and water infrastructures of each city, together with new data on the climatic risks that cover 40 years, To determine which are the most vulnerable to extreme climate change And the least prepared to face them.
The vulnerabilities examined range from poverty to poor water systems and waste. Serious urban floods can damage the toilet -Sanitarian services and Distribute diseases such as cholera and typhoid feverwhile the scarcity of water during drought You can leave millions of families without essential access to drinking water.
“As the nature and intensity of the natural dangers change, their impact on urban communities will depend to large extent, Social and infrastructure vulnerability“Says Sean Fox, a associate professor of global development at the University of Bristol, who also participated in the research.
“In other words, the risk does not refer only to the possibility that There is a flood or an drought, but also for the degree of preparation of the communities to face these dangers. In a situation of greater risk than those of North America and AustraliaDue to the aging of the water infrastructure and the waste of the continent, which can leave the urban populations most exposed to danger.
90% of climatic catastrophes are due to the access or lack of water
From the recent droughts in the city such as Madrid and Cabo Cape to floods of width in the cities of Bangladé and Pakistan, says Waterid 90% of climatic catastrophes are due to the access or lack of water. So, he warns that the climate related catastrophes, as floods And drought, have multiplied by four in the last 50 years.
This is exerting great pressure on the vital systems for access to water and toilet -SANITARY and making communities and economies difficult to prepare, recovery and adaptation to climate change. In light of the cuts to world aid, Waterid appeals to the United Kingdom, international governments, multilateral banks and the private sector for work together to unlock investments and apply solutions To deal with climate change and water crises.
“Now we have to go from commitments to action, in which leaders build and invest systems all over the world capable of resisting extreme weather conditions and keep the Clean water flow All over the world, “says Tim Wainwright, executive director of the United Kingdom of Waterid.
