Asia accounts for 99 out of 100 top cities facing the biggest environmental risks

Asian cities are facing the greatest risks from environmental hazards including extreme heat, climate change and natural disasters, according to a new report from Verisk Maplecroft. Among the 100 cities most at risk, 99 of them are in Asia — with 37 in China and 43 in India.

Globally, the report found 414 cities across the world, with a population of more than 1 million each, are vulnerable to pollution, dwindling water supplies, extreme heat, natural hazards and climate change. Collectively, those cities are home to 1.4 billion people.

Indonesia
Indonesian capital Jakarta was named the riskiest city globally due to severe air pollution, the report said. It also faces perennial threats from flooding and seismic activities.

India
India’s urban cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Jaipur, Lucknow, Bengaluru and financial hub Mumbai are among the top 30 places most at risk, according to the report.

Africa
Climate change is worsening the environmental risks and the African continent is most vulnerable. Cities there are exposed to climate extremities and are least-equipped to mitigate the physical impacts, according to the report.

Last month, leaders from countries such as Brazil, Canada and Japan committed to curb domestic greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change during the climate summit hosted by President Joe Biden. The United States, for its part, has vowed to cut emissions by at least 50% by 2030.

Asia accounts for 99 out of 100 top cities facing the biggest environmental risks, CNBC, May 14