UN-HABITAT’s Global Report on Human Settlements 2011 - Cities and Climate Change says urban centres have become "the real battle-ground" in the fight against climate change and cities will "neglect their role in responding to this crisis at their peril. Not just their own peril but that of the world."

The report says that cities are responsible for up to 70 per cent of greenhouse gases while occupying just two per cent of the world's land.

It says climate change adaptation measures must be built into development planning for cities if any genuine progress is to be made in counteracting the risks of climate change and says there are "unprecedented opportunities for cities to act and change their future".

UN-HABITAT executive director Joan Clos said: "Cities are responsible for the majority of our harmful greenhouse gases. But they are also places where the greatest efficiencies can be made. This makes it imperative that we understand the form and content of urbanisation so that we can reduce our footprint.

"The lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of urban residents will be affected by what is done, or not done, in terms of adapting to climate change over the next decade. Yet climate change still does not even make the priority list of many urban planners in developing countries".

"Local responses must be worked into long-term development plans if any real progress is to be made."

By 2030, the UN estimates that 59 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas, with developed countries as the most urbanised at 81 per cent. Meanwhile, in developing countries the average is projected to be around 55 per cent by 2030. 

Read the report: Global Report on Human Settlements 2011 - Cities and Climate Change