COMMENT | Rising cost of living, relentless traffic congestion, unreliable public transport, choking air, recurring floods, overcrowded homes, water disruptions and vanishing green spaces are frustrations familiar to city dwellers everywhere.

It is easy to view cities as both drivers and victims of climate change, weighted down by these struggles. Yet participating in the expert review of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Cities (SRCC) revealed a far deeper perspective.

Being part of this review gave me a rare glimpse into how cities can confront the climate crisis head-on, proving that even amid growing challenges, there are real opportunities to act.

For those unfamiliar, the SRCC is the only special report to be prepared under the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Cycle (AR7). It represents a major effort to synthesise scientific knowledge on