Climate change adaptation and mitigation in cities of the Gulf of Mexico

Urbanization is a complex socio-economic process that transforms formerly natural areas into urban settlements. As of 2018, 55% of the world’s population reside in urban areas. Urban expansion contributes to climate change by increasing the rate of greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time reducing carbon sinks. However, cities can be part of the solution to this global crisis, through adaptation and mitigation actions. The effects of climate change can be differentiated between coastal zones and inland. The impacts of it on coastal plains, such as exists in the Gulf of Mexico (GMx), might be especially harsh. Although coastal plains represent only 2% of the total land area in the world, approximately 13% of the world’s urban population lives in these areas. Finally, there are various taxonomies of climate hazards for cities; among them hydrological. This work is focused on identifying what adaptation and mitigation strategies urban planners are using in the Gulf of Mexico cities in the face of climate change, specifically hydrological threats. A literature review on the relationship between climate change and coastal cities in the GMx is presented as part of the current doctoral project.