Urban Climate Resilient Development: Analysis of the Potential to Build Low-Carbon-Resilient City in China

The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights that Climate Resilient Development (CRD) can support sustainable development for all by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offering adaptation options, while also contributing to innovation and transformation in urban areas. Based on China’s national pilot projects for low-carbon cities, sponge cities, and climate-resilient cities, this paper analyzes the potential and feasibility of Chinese cities in exploring the construction of “low-carbon-resilient cities”. First, referring to the relevant studies, the “Climate-Resilient Index” and “Low-Carbon Development Index” are constructed for 178 cities at or above the prefecture level in China. Second, by comparing the climate resilience index and the level of low-carbon development, this paper categorizes 178 Chinese cities into four groups with the potential to the co-benefits of synergy actions in mitigation and adaptation. Third, this paper showcases the potential and progress from some pilot model cities of the “climate-adaptive cities” in achieving the goal of “climate resilient development”. This paper will help advance China’s synergistic implementation of climate adaptation and mitigation policies, and provide examples and insights for cities in other developing countries to promote climate resilient development.