Cities around the world are considered underprepared for climate risks, according to a Zurich and Economist Impact report that includes Sydney as a case study.

The report, released in collaboration with The Economist, surveys residents in Amsterdam, Cairo, Cape Town, Dubai, Jakarta, Madrid, Mumbai, New York, Sao Paulo and Tokyo, and interviews climate experts.

Four in five people believe their city is underprepared for climate-related risks, with major concerns about heatwaves, air pollution, water shortages and flooding.

“As a global insurer, addressing the causes of climate change and building resilience against its effects are of paramount importance to us,” Zurich Insurance Group CEO of commercial insurance Sierra Signorelli says. “Immediate action is required to meet the critical need for investment in resilient infrastructure, integrated mitigation and adaptation strategies, and inclusive urban planning that addresses the diverse needs of all communities.”

The case study draws on a Committee For Sydney report and climate research that predicts that by 2070, communities in the city’s west will experience 20 additional days a year with temperatures reaching 35 degrees or higher.

“Extreme heat will increasingly strain Sydney’s power systems and transport networks, forcing agencies and utilities to invest in more climate-resilient infrastructure and solutions to mitigate heat-related disruptions,” the report says.

Committee for Sydney resilience program director Sam Kernaghan says in the report that the city is not prepared for a major heatwave in terms of emergency response, “which is ironic, given Australia’s generally hot climate”.

Most respondents in the 10 cities expect national and local governments to lead on climate adaptation, highlighting the need for co-ordinated action.

Nearly one-third feel personally responsible for climate adaptation, with 95% taking or planning steps to increase resilience, but high costs, insufficient knowledge and lack of trust in government policies are significant barriers.

About 28% of respondents believe businesses should lead on climate adaptation and 58% feel companies are not doing enough.

The report warns on political disconnects between various levels of government, while pointing to New Zealand as an example of positive action.

“Since 2022, local governments in New Zealand, for instance, have been required to consider national adaptation and mitigation plans when creating their own local ones, to ensure multi-level co-ordination,” it says.

The report – Resilience From The Ground Up: Assessing City-Level Approaches to Climate Risk and Adaptation – calls for investment in resilient infrastructure, the integration of mitigation and adaptation efforts, collaboration across government levels and departments, harnessing of public-private partnerships and inclusive urban planning.

Transparent communication and meaningful engagement and collaboration with communities are needed to build trust and ensure policies reflect people’s needs, while businesses must go beyond rhetoric, offering verifiable evidence of climate commitments and actions, it says.

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