Climate Risk Mitigation and Adaptation Concerns in Urban Areas: A Systematic Review of the Impact of IPCC Assessment Reports
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Just a few minor remarks:
Please consider proofreading by the authors to eliminate minor language issues.
It might be beneficial to briefly describe the abbreviation used in Figure 2. Maybe a short paragraph intruducing FAR, SAR, etc. in the first chapter might help wider audience to better understant your study.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Point 1: Please consider proofreading by the authors to eliminate minor language issues.
Response 1: We thank the reviewer for pointing out this issue.
The manuscript has been proofread and the minor language issues corrected.
Point 2: It might be beneficial to briefly describe the abbreviation used in Figure 2. Maybe a short paragraph introducing FAR, SAR, etc. in the first chapter might help wider audience to better understand your study.
Response 2: We again thank the reviewer for highlighting this useful point.
The abbreviations FAR, SAR, TAR, AR4, AR5, and AR6 as presented in Figure 2 have been described. The following statements confirm the description of these abbreviations in the manuscript.
FAR as shown in Figure 2a refers to the First Assessment Report of the IPCC which was released in 1990. The FAR stressed the essence of climate change as a challenge with global effects and the need for world collaboration. SAR is Second Assessment Report released in 1995. Here, the IPCC delivered essential materials for policymakers close to the approval of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The Third Assessment Report (TAR) was launched in 2001 and in this report, the IPCC underlined the impacts of climate change and the need for adaptation. The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) which was released in 2007 emphasized the approval from the Kyoto Protocol and aimed at limiting warming at 2°C. Between 2013 and 2014, the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) was also released and presented scientific contributions to the Paris Agreement. The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which is the current IPCC report which is expected to be completed by the second half of 2022 and seek to provide three special reports: Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR1.5), Special Report on Climate Change and Land (SRCCL), and Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC) (https://www.ipcc.ch/about/history/).
The change can be found in lines 255-269 in the manuscript.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
See attachment
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Major concerns
Point 1: Authors presume that IPCC reports have dominant effect on climate research activity. The true relation is more complex, and in fact the dominant relation is that IPCC reports are based on research papers published in peer reviewed scientific journals. Of course, IPCC reports have feedback on research activity. ---- In the abstract, Authors state that regarding urban climate problems “significant studies appeared after the launch of the Fifth [IPCC report]”, while the fact is that the sharp increase of studies started much earlier. --- Due to the presumed relation between IPCC reports and urban climate analysis, Authors exclude studies in which IPCC is not mentioned. Regarding the
relation between urban climate research and IPCC activity, the correct way would be to
mention (with reference) that climate related problems of urbanization were known and discussed in scientific papers well before the formation of IPCC.
Response 1: We agree with you on this issue, and we thank you for the useful suggestion. The study focused on the relation between IPCC and urban climate and the exclusion of documents that did not mention IPCC. To clarify this issue, we have included a statement in lines 654-661 of the manuscript and in lines 27-30 in the abstract section.
The statement in lines 654-661 is presented below.
There is a possibility of bias in the present results, especially on the statement that significant research studies appeared after the release of the IPCC AR5. The study placed emphasis on the relation between IPCC reports and academic research on climate risk mitigation and adaptation in urban areas and excluded studies that did not mention IPCC. Here, we must state that climate related problems of urbanization were known and discussed in scientific papers well before the formation of IPCC. For instance, the studies of Clarke [116] on urban structure and heat mortality and Oke [117] on climatic impacts of urbanization.
In the abstract the following statement were made:
Here, we must state that climate-related problems of urbanization were known and discussed in scientific papers well before the formation of the IPCC. For instance, the works of Clarke on urban structure and heat mortality and Oke on climatic impacts of urbanization (in lines 27-30).
Point 2: A methodological issue is stated in Results section, at line 234: “studies are normalized in terms of academic population”. --- In Methods nothing is written about this. The shown figures suggest that no normalization was performed (the sum of studies is 370 in all figures), but if yes, please clarify it with a detailed description.
Response 2: Yes, you are right, and we agree with you on this point. In fact, we provided no normalization formula in the methods section. By the statement “studies are normalized in terms of academic population” we meant that the studies are restricted to academic concerns and not public since we did not include reports from the public/governmental or from international agencies. However, this does not affect the study results, we retract this statement. The deleted statement can be found in lines 276-277.
Point 3: Division to regions: a) Some continents seem to be excluded (Australia, South and Central Africa). Their production was zero? b) Why Sub-Sahara is a distinct geographical region when in other parts of the world the regions are much larger (e.g. Europe is merged with Central Asia, which is another strange feature of the regional division).
Response 3: Yes, you are right, and we agree that there may be other ways that we should have grouped the regions. However, our study adapted the regional groupings of the World Bank (https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit). Here, they group the regions as Africa (Sub-Saharan), East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia. Australia, thus, form part of the East Asia and Pacific region while South and Central Africa are grouped under Africa (Sub-Sharan African) region. So, the productions of the regions you mentioned are captured under the respective regional groupings of our study. To make it easier for readers to understand the regional groupings, we have included a statement to that effect in the manuscript and can be found in lines 277-278.
Point 4: Greenhouse gas concentration and its mitigation do not belong to air quality issues (erroneously included examples of that occur in Sect. 4.2).
Response 4: We are grateful to you for pointing out this huge error. We have revisited and reviewed the section. The review which can be found in lines 433-462 in the manuscript is also shown below.
The studies on air quality reflecting the impacts of IPCC ARs on the concerns of risk mitigation and adaptation in urban areas focused on pollution from both outdoor and indoor sources in cities. For instance, Garg et al. [71] found the electric power generation division of India to be the highest contributor of Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, while the power and transport divisions likewise lead in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Garg et al. [71] suggested mitigation elasticity to officials for efficient mitigation in India. Sthel et al. [72] in their laboratory experiment found that, ethanol production in Brazil generates pollutant gases like N2O, SO2, and NOx and advised better mitigation measures in that regard. Again, Campbell et al. [73] in their analysis on the impacts of transport sector emissions on future U.S. air quality under climate change reported widespread decreases in future concentrations of NOX, SO2, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), and particulate matter with a diameter of microns (μm) less than or equal to 2.5 (PM2.5) due to decreasing on-road vehicle emissions in urban areas. Notwithstanding, Campbell et al. [73] indicated an increase in 8-hr ozone (O3) in the U.S.A. and advised on the appropriate mitigation measures. Also, at the European level, San José et al. [74] found that by the year 2100, O3 concentrations will decrease over most parts of Europe due to changes in temperature and precipitation, except Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania, and in the city of Milan, Italy, and advised on the need for the right mitigation measures. Additionally, Xie et al. [75] established that biogenic VOC and soil NOX emissions over the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) area of China in 2008 were 657 Gigagrams (Gg) of carbon and 19.1 Gg of nitrogen, correspondingly. Xie et al. [75] indicated a potential increase in these emissions by 25% and 11.5% in 2050, in that order. In the same study, the researchers found an increase in surface O3 of 5 to 15 parts per billion (ppb) in the northern areas and a decrease of -5 to -15 ppb in the southern areas of the YRD. Similarly, Lam [76] highlighted the potential increase in P.M2.5 and O3 in the Pearl River Delta region of China in 2050 under the representative concentration pathway (RCP 8.5). In their analysis on the impact of urban growth on air quality in Indian cities, Misra et al. [77] found that above the central portion of a city, concentrations of PM2.5 emissions are mostly contributed by residential areas, brick kilns, and industries.
Further issues
Point 5: line 73-74: “no doubt that urbanization is a greater driver of global change” --- this statement is potentially misleading, since under the concept “global change” readers may think on global warming. This statement could be approved in the sense that population growth is a factor of global warming, and also in the sense that the frequency and magnitude of urban climate problems manifest in global level. However, Authors’ idea should be redacted in a way to exclude possible false relating between distribution of settlement sizes and global warming.
Response 5: We agree with you on this issue. The revised statement which can be found in lines 79-80 in the manuscript is also shown below.
Recent climate change is highly attributed to anthropogenic actions, and this makes population growth in urban areas a factor of global warming [14,33].
Point 6: line 112: “reducing warming by 2℃” ---- No, the aim is to limit warming at 2°C above the late 19th century temperatures.
Response 6: We agree with you on this point. We have made the need changes and can be found in lines 125-126 in the manuscript.
Point 7: Distribution of studies according to countries and regions: Regarding international studies, the most correct way would be to assign such studies to each participating countries / regions (in spite of the sum would not remain 370).
Response 7: We thank you for this useful suggestion. We revisited this point and assigned the multi-country (international) studies to the respective countries and regions as suggested. New graphs have been inserted in the manuscript in lines 296-297 and is also shown below.
Point 8: Sect. 4.1, three densely written pages are dedicated to the socio-economic relations of urban climate problems. Socio-economic relations may mean socio-economic impacts of climate issues, and/or socio-economic conditions of mitigation / adaptation. (The actual section title does not clarify which kinds of relations are in focus). The content may cause deception: the major part of the section is about technical problems and not about socio economic impacts or conditions. Authors mention that certain overlapping between sections of their review is unavoidable, but, in my opinion, it is a weakness of the manuscript, at least at the present grade. For instance, the word “migration” occurs in Sect. 4.6 (Water supply/drought), but not in Sect. 4.1 (Socio-economic).
Response 8: We agree with you on these issues, and we thank you for pointing them out. Following your suggestion, we have revised the Section 4.1 and focused only on the socio-economic impacts of climate issues. We believe the new review may not cause deception to readers. The change which can be found in lines 383-432 of the manuscript is also presented below.
4.1. Socio-economic
The studies revealing the socio-economic impacts of climate issues in urban areas showed varied outcomes. Most studies raised problems relating to climate impacts on agriculture, food security, poverty, and the adaptive capacity of urban areas. For instance, Salleh [58] stressed the impacts climate change on agriculture and urban commerce in Malaysia and the developing countries of Southeast Asia, and its effects on poverty and food security. Salleh [58] suggested the need for better adaptation plans to prevent national and international conflicts in the region. Similarly, Ruiz-Alvarez et al. [59] underlined the variations in monthly and annual precipitation and their negative effects on agriculture in Aguascalientes, Mexico. To better adapt to this situation, Ruiz-Alvarez et al. [59] advocated the need to store water during high humid precipitation months for use in the dry season. Likewise, Singh et al. [60] state that decreased freshwater access will have a surging effect on worldwide food security, livelihood, and widespread migration. Singh et al. [60] recommended increased measures for water preservation and wastewater recycling for improved adaptation. On the contrary, Ye et al. [61] projected an increase in food crop yield from 2030−2050 in China and indicated an increase in food supply in China. Nonetheless, Ye et al. [61] warned of the growing Chinese population as a counter-element to the projected increase in food supply and called for significant policy alternatives to address this issue. Again, Zhao et al. [62] found low and high adaptive capacity to climate problems in the inland and eastern coastal urban agglomerations, respectively, in China. Zhao et al. [62] proposed both adaptation and mitigation measures such as the expansion of infrastructure and funding for improved adaptive capacity in the underdeveloped regions and the regular monitoring of climate change impacts in the developed areas of China. Also, Wilder et al. [63] noted that climate change adaptation at international (U.S.A.-Mexico) borders is conservatively seen as difficult, despite the possible improved resilience in regionalization of adaptive responses. The researchers suggested specific adaptation plans such as improved social learning and co-creation of climate knowledge [63]. Additionally, Khan et al. [64] reported the vulnerable conditions of farmers in urban Punjab, Pakistan. To adapt to this situation, Khan et al. [64] suggested the enabling of climate-smart adaptation initiatives for urban farmers through the execution of useful policies and investment strategies.
Other studies emphasized the concerns about the impact of urbanization, urban housing, and city planning. Norman [65] saw the challenges associated with urbanization in Australia and proposed seven principles (see Norman [65] for more details), that should support intergovernmental accord on urban coastal planning. Besides, Xie et al. [66] emphasized that the Shanghai metropolitan areas in China have the highest rates of increase in annual and seasonal average surface air temperature, ranging from 0.23℃ to 0.50℃ per decade due to urbanization. Likewise, Marelle et al. [67] stressed that urbanization increased the frequency and intensity of extreme urban precipitation in the megacities of Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, and New York. To mitigate this, Marelle et al. [67] advocated the recognition of urbanization effects in urban planning assessments to make cities more resilient to extreme precipitation. In furtherance to this, Wilkinson [68] found changes in environmental building elements in Melbourne, Australia and emphasized the need for policymakers to monitor building owners’ integration of environmental elements into their stock to enhance sustainability. Moreover, Rosatto et al. [69] informed us about the usefulness of green roofs in regulating the thermal change of buildings in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and specifically advocated for their use in controlling thermal change of buildings. Equally, Kousis et al. [70] established the potency of resin-based pavement binder made with waste bio-oils in urban noise reduction and explicitly suggested its global exploration in the urban pavement market.
On the issue of the word “migration” occurs in Sect. 4.6 (Water supply/drought), but not in Sect. 4.1 (Socio-economic), we revisited the document of Singh et al. [60] and we realized that you are right. Although the document focused on water conservation, the researchers strongly related the climate impacts to socio-economic issues such as food security, livelihood, and widespread migration. We have included this study in the new review on Section 4.1 (socio-economic).
We must state that the new review in sections 4.1 and 4.2 has affected the references and we have updated both in text citations and references.
Point 9: Wording: The manuscript includes a large number of small grammatical errors, but the text is mostly understandable. In a few cases it is difficult to understand Authors’ ideas, e.g. at lines 152-156 a long and complicated sentence; in line 496: “ambitious emission strength influences”; in line 743: “socio-economic issues against extreme temperature”.
Response 9: We are grateful to you for pointing out these grammatical errors. We have corrected the errors and the long and complicated sentences. For example, in lines 152-156, we have revised the sentence. The new sentence which is included in the manuscript in lines 171-174 is also shown below.
The PRISMA procedure guides systematic reviews of scientific literature to ensure that a clear research question and inclusion and exclusion criteria for studies are clearly defined [53].
Due to the new review in Section 4.2 (Air quality), the grammatical error in line 496: “ambitious emission strength influences” has been removed. In fact, that study in which the error occurred was not included because it tackled greenhouse gas and not air quality.
The error in line 743: “socio-economic issues against extreme temperature” has also been rectified and can be found in lines 689-686. This is also shown below.
The concerns of most research studies were expressed in relation to socioeconomic issues rather than extreme temperatures, which have received the most attention in the IPCC ARs, particularly the attempts to limit global warming at 1.5°C (see https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/faq/faq-chapter-1). Even though this raises doubt, we believe that these studies are moving in the right direction because increasing extreme temperatures are demonstrated by socio-economic and ecological impacts and the associated susceptibilities.
Also, we have corrected all the minor grammatical errors.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The topic of this research is interesting, and I certainly believe that the research question formulated here could make a constructive contribution to the current body of literature. However, my main concern is that the question asked by the study e.g., “What has been the impact of IPCC ARs to the concern of risk mitigation and adaptation in urban areas?” is quite broad and cannot be possibly addressed by only investigating scientific literature. The authors should note that the scope of their research is limited to scholarly materials, and it will miss out on several important databases/materials/sources that are not being indexed in Web of Science and Scopus databases. Hence, my suggestion is that this question should be polished up a bit to reflect on the scope of the research.
2.2. Eligibility and exclusion criteria
I have a doubt about the eligibility criteria of this study. Why were conferences and conference proceedings included and reviews excluded? Many of the conference proceedings are not peer-reviewed. How did you make sure that those materials selected were peer-reviewed?
Also, it would be good if the authors clarify on what databases of WoS the search was conducted through? Have you used the filtering functions of the WoS? There could be many articles selected in the initial search, but they could be irrelevant to your scope as they are classified in some irrelevant research domains such as medicine or agriculture.
3.1. Publication trends, study locations, regional groupings, and spatial dimension
Lines 226-228: so, what is your conclusion in Figure 2a? how do you justify the fluctuations between periods AR4, AR5, and AR6? What would be the possible reason for a drop in publications in 2020 and 2021?
3.2. Number of studies 5 years before and 5 years after the release of each IPCC Ars
First, I seem to have missed on the determination of 5 years-interval! What 5 years? Would you please clarify? And again, how do you justify the fluctuations? What would be the reasons behind such?
Also, I feel like figure 3 is a repetition of figure 2a! perhaps, you may exclude that portion in figure 2-a and give more detailed explanations only for figure 3? Just a suggestion.
3.3. Data sources, approaches to data, and methods
Please, clarify your definitions of primary and secondary sources. Also, I see no justification/explanations for the results obtained.
Sections 4.1 until 4.6
I think these sections would benefit from a summarisation tabulated in tables, briefing on the key findings/recommendations discovered in each of these sub-sections. This would help your readers to readily get a grasp on the findings of this research, whilst authors can also utilize these tables for better developing the discussion sections.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3 Comments
Point 1: Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The topic of this research is interesting, and I certainly believe that the research question formulated here could make a constructive contribution to the current body of literature. However, my main concern is that the question asked by the study e.g., “What has been the impact of IPCC ARs to the concern of risk mitigation and adaptation in urban areas?” is quite broad and cannot be possibly addressed by only investigating scientific literature. The authors should note that the scope of their research is limited to scholarly materials, and it will miss out on several important databases/materials/sources that are not being indexed in Web of Science and Scopus databases. Hence, my suggestion is that this question should be polished up a bit to reflect on the scope of the research.
Response 1: Yes, we agree with you on this point. The study focused on the relation between IPCC ARs and urban climate and excluded studies that did not mention IPCC. Also, the study considered academic papers as you rightly indicated and not materials for the public or international reports. Again, the climate-related problems of urbanization were known and discussed in scientific papers well before the formation of IPCC. For instance, the studies of Clarke [116] on urban structure and heat mortality and Oke [117] on climatic impacts of urbanization.
We have refined the research question as suggested. The new research is: What impacts have IPCC ARs had on academic research on risk mitigation and adaptation concerns in urban areas? This can be found in lines 164-166 in the manuscript. The change has been applied to all sections in the manuscript where the research question was raised. For example, in the abstract in lines 17-18, in the methods lines 168-170, in the systematic review lines 378-381, in the discussion in lines 591-592, and in the conclusions in lines 663-664.
We have observed that the climate-related urbanization problems were known even before the formation of the IPCC. So, to eliminate unfairness, we have included a statement in the manuscript to that effect. For instance, in lines 27-29 we have included the following statements:
Here, we must state that climate-related problems of urbanization were well known and discussed in scientific papers well before the formation of the IPCC. For instance, the works of Clarke on urban structure and heat mortality and Oke on climatic impacts of urbanization.
A similar statement is included in lines 652-658 in the discussion section.
Point 2: 2.2. Eligibility and exclusion criteria
I have a doubt about the eligibility criteria of this study. Why were conferences and conference proceedings included and reviews excluded? Many of the conference proceedings are not peer-reviewed. How did you make sure that those materials selected were peer-reviewed?
Also, it would be good if the authors clarify on what databases of WoS the search was conducted through? Have you used the filtering functions of the WoS? There could be many articles selected in the initial search, but they could be irrelevant to your scope as they are classified in some irrelevant research domains such as medicine or agriculture.
Response 2: Yes, you are right, and we thank you for pointing out these questions. We believe that conferences and conference proceedings published in Web of Science and Scopus are of merit since they undergo rigorous selection and evaluation criteria. For instances, Web of Science has developed 26 criteria for evaluating conferences and conference proceedings. conferences and conference proceedings papers are only accepted and published in the Web of Science Core Collection only after passing these criteria. We selected conferences and conference proceeding papers only from the Web of Science Core Collection where the Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI) is applied. Yes, review papers undergo thorough peer-review process before publication. We excluded these papers because our study wanted evidence of risk mitigation and adaptation measures in urban areas, which we believe are more apparent in original research articles either capture in books, book chapters, or in conferences. We do not disregard the merit of review papers, but we believed that their inclusion would have resulted in duplicate studies because most review papers chart data from the already existing scientific literature.
We must state that in Web of Science, the documents were searched from the Web of Science Core Collection with all editions including the Social Sciences Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Arts & Humanities Citation Index, among others.
We have included a statement to this effect in the manuscript and can be found in lines 217-218.
Point 3: 3.1. Publication trends, study locations, regional groupings, and spatial dimension
Lines 226-228: so, what is your conclusion in Figure 2a? how do you justify the fluctuations between periods AR4, AR5, and AR6? What would be the possible reason for a drop in publications in 2020 and 2021?
Response 3: We thank you for raising these questions. Clearly, form Figure 2a, it can be said that the IPCC paid little or no attention to climate-related urbanization problems in the earlier ARs, even though these issues were well known and discussed in scientific papers. The variations in studies between periodsAR4, AR5, and AR6 could be attributed to introduction and recognition of climate-related urbanization problems in AR5. For instance, the AR4 did not cover urban areas, and we believe this could be a reason for the low studies as compared to the AR5 and AR6.
A statement has been included in the manuscript in lines 250-255.
Point 4: 3.2. Number of studies 5 years before and 5 years after the release of each IPCC Ars
First, I seem to have missed on the determination of 5 years-interval! What 5 years? Would you please clarify? And again, how do you justify the fluctuations? What would be the reasons behind such?
Also, I feel like figure 3 is a repetition of figure 2a! perhaps, you may exclude that portion in figure 2-a and give more detailed explanations only for figure 3? Just a suggestion.
Response 4: Thank you very much for the questions and suggestions.
Under the 5 years before and 5 years after analyses, the idea was to see the number of research studies that emerge before and after the launch of each IPCC AR. Since the first AR was released in 1990, the 5 years before would be 1985-1989 and the 5 years after the release , which includes the year of actual release (1990) would be 1990-1994 and continues in that order. For example, here no study was found in the 5 years before and only (1) in the 5 years after the release of the first ARs.
A statement to this effect has been inserted in the manuscript in lines 306-309.
This analysis gives an idea of the research behavior of the studies that follow the IPCC ARs. It thus helps to reflect on why the IPCC paid little attention to climate-related urbanization problems, despite the fact the issues were known and discussed in scientific papers.
We have included a statement indicating this and can be found in lines 319-322.
Point 5: 3.3. Data sources, approaches to data, and methods
Please, clarify your definitions of primary and secondary sources. Also, I see no justification/explanations for the results obtained.
Response 5: We are grateful to you for pointing out this issue. By primary sources we meant studies where researchers generated data themselves either through field surveys, experiments, or interviews, among others while in secondary sources researchers employ data that had already been collected. For example, form government departments and nongovernmental organizations, etc.
A statement to this effect has been included in the manuscript and can be found in lines 331-335.
Statements justifying the results which can be found in lines 342-346 in the manuscript is also presented below.
The results presented here reflect the complex nature of climate-related problems of urbanization. For improved risk mitigation and adaptation plans to these problems, researchers employ diverse data sources and techniques in their analyses to understand the present and potential climate dynamics in urban areas.
Point 6: Sections 4.1 until 4.6
I think these sections would benefit from a summarisation tabulated in tables, briefing on the key findings/recommendations discovered in each of these sub-sections. This would help your readers to readily get a grasp on the findings of this research, whilst authors can also utilize these tables for better developing the discussion sections.
Response 6: Yes, we agree with you this point. We have summarized the key findings/recommendations of the main concerns in a table form in lines 387-589 in the manuscript. This is also shown below.
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Table 2. Summary of the key findings, recommendation and specific evidence of main concerns. Note: - shows no recommendation or specific evidence |
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|
Author |
Key Findings |
Recommendations |
Specific evidence |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Socio-economic concerns |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salleh [58] |
The impacts of climate change on agriculture and urban commerce in Malaysia and the developing countries of Southeast Asia, and its effects on poverty and food security |
The need for better adaptation plans to prevent national and international conflicts in the region |
- |
|
Ruiz-Alvarez et al. [59] |
The variations in monthly and annual precipitation and their negative effects on agriculture in Aguascalientes, Mexico |
Advocated the need to store water during high humid precipitation months for use in the dry season |
- |
|
Singh et al. [60] |
Decreased freshwater access will have a surging effect on worldwide food security, livelihood, and widespread migration |
Increased measures for water preservation and wastewater recycling for improved adaptation |
- |
|
Ye et al. [61] |
projected an increase in food crop yield from 2030−2050 in China and indicated an increase in food supply in China |
Called for significant policy alternatives to address the growing Chinese population |
- |
|
Zhao et al. [62] |
Low and high adaptive capacity to climate problems in the inland and eastern coastal urban agglomerations, respectively, in China |
Expansion of infrastructure and funding for improved adaptive capacity in the underdeveloped regions and the regular monitoring of climate change impacts in the developed areas of China |
- |
|
Wilder et al. [63] |
Climate change adaptation at international (U.S.A.-Mexico) borders is conservatively seen as difficult, despite the possible improved resilience in regionalization of adaptive responses |
- |
Improved social learning and co-creation of climate knowledge |
|
Khan et al. [64] |
Vulnerable conditions of farmers in urban Punjab, Pakistan |
The enabling of climate-smart adaptation initiatives for urban farmers through the execution of useful policies and investment strategies |
|
|
Norman [65] saw the challenges associated with urbanization in Australia |
Challenges of urbanization in Australia |
Declaration of a buffer zone, capacity building for local communities, the recognition of the unique natural and cultural heritage and local interest in coastal planning, among others |
|
|
Xie et al. [66] |
Shanghai metropolitan areas in China have the highest rates of increase in annual and seasonal average surface air temperature, ranging from 0.23℃ to 0.50℃ per decade due to urbanization |
Adaptation plan should be given the needed attention by policymakers |
|
|
Marelle et al. [67] |
Urbanization increased the frequency and intensity of extreme urban precipitation in the megacities of Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, and New York |
Advocated the recognition of urbanization effects in urban planning assessments |
|
|
Wilkinson [68] |
Changes in environmental building elements in Melbourne, Australia |
The need for policymakers to monitor building owners’ integration of environmental elements into their stock to enhance sustainability |
|
|
Rosatto et al. [69] |
The usefulness of green roofs in regulating the thermal change of buildings in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, Argentina |
|
Green roofs |
|
Kousis et al. [70] |
Resin-based pavement binder made with waste bio-oils reduce urban noise
|
|
The global exploration of bio-oils in the urban pavement market |
|
Air quality concerns |
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|
|
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Garg et al. [71] |
Electric power generation division of India is the highest contributor of Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, while the power and transport divisions likewise lead in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions |
Mitigation elasticity to officials for efficient mitigation in India |
|
|
Sthel et al. [72] |
Ethanol production in Brazil generates pollutant gases like N2O, SO2, and NOx |
The need for better mitigation measures |
|
|
Campbell et al. [73] |
Decrease in future concentrations of NOX, SO2, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), and PM2.5) due to decreasing on-road vehicle emissions in urban areas and increase in 8-hr ozone (O3) in the U.S.A. |
The need for appropriate mitigation measures |
|
|
San José et al. [74] |
By the year 2100, O3 concentrations will decrease over most parts of Europe due to changes in temperature and precipitation, except Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania, and in the city of Milan, Italy |
Advised on the need for the right mitigation measures |
|
|
Xie et al. [75] |
Biogenic VOC and soil NOX emissions over the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) area of China in 2008 were 657 Gg of carbon and 19.1 Gg of nitrogen, correspondingly |
The need for appropriate mitigation measures |
|
|
Lam [76] |
The potential increase in P.M2.5 and O3 in the Pearl River Delta region of China in 2050 under the RCP 8.5 |
The need for appropriate mitigation measures |
|
|
Misra et al. [77] |
Concentrations of PM2.5 emissions are mostly contributed by residential areas, brick kilns, and industries in Indian cities
|
Right mitigation measures |
|
|
Sea level rise/flooding |
|||
|
|
|||
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Bhuiyan and Dutta [78] |
Increased salinity intrusion into the Gorai River in Bangladesh |
Advocated for the appropriate adaptation plans |
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Wong et al. [79] |
Regionally, megacities in Africa, South, Southeast, and East Asia, and the Small Islands States have the highest vulnerabilities to sea level rise |
The need for adaptation plan |
|
|
Wang et al. [80] |
The potential impacts of rising tides on residential buildings in Australia |
The need for adaptation |
|
|
Abadie [81] |
potential greater damage for Guangzhou, China and New Orleans, U.S.A. due to sea level rise risk |
The need for potential huge adaptation assets in these countries |
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Mycoo et al. [82] |
Vulnerable state of Greater Bridgetown, Barbados due to sea level rise |
The significance of human adaptation and the safety of precious coastal assets |
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Moeslund et al. [83] |
Potential flooding in Aarhus, Denmark in the event of extreme weather phenomena |
The incorporation of appropriate flood models in potential city planning |
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Mortsch [84] |
Flooding challenges in downtown London, Ontario, Canada |
Increase adaptation |
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Le Cozannet et al. [85] |
Probabilistic marine flooding in the urban Mediterranean basin in Lion, France |
The consideration of a change-centered global sensitivity analysis of potential marine flooding |
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Cheng et al. [86] |
the effectiveness of detention in decreasing flood hazards in the Charles River watershed in Boston, U.S.A. |
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The use of detention in controlling flood hazards |
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Samu and Kentel [87] |
Greater part of Zimbabwe has low to medium (2.3% likelihood) flood incidence |
The need for the execution of proper mitigation measures |
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Martínez-Gomariz et al. [88] |
The effects of pluvial flood risk in Badalona, Spain |
The need for a comprehensive adaptation plan |
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Abadie et al. [89] |
Potential coastal flood damage in Guangzhou, China; Mumbai, India; and New Orleans, U.S.A. |
The need to encompass the likelihood of high-end scenarios into coastal urban adaptation development |
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Extreme temperatures |
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Lee and Levermore [90] |
An increase in mean surface temperature and its effect on heat and cold in the cities of Seoul and Ulsan, South Korea |
The need for improved mitigation |
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O'Neill et al. [91] |
Excessive heat events in 285 communities in the U.S.A |
The need for more collaboration and economic resources to assist widespread mitigation actions |
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Adachi et al. [92] |
Present and potential increased urban heat island (UHI) in Tokyo, Japan |
Increase mitigation measures against UHI for the city |
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Tromeur et al. [93] |
The energy needs for residential buildings and comfort (heat) in 10 French cities. |
The need for city managers to think about green space spots, push polluting actions beyond the city, and lower car traffic for riders |
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McPhee et al. [94] |
Potential heat events in Santiago, Chile due to increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitation |
The need for effective adaptation plans |
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Shevchenko et al. [95] |
Heat wave episodes in Lugansk and Henichesk, Ukraine |
The need for adaptation |
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Cinar [96] |
Increased UHI in Fethiye, Turkey due to a rise in night-time temperatures. |
The need to consider street alignment of buildings and the dimensions of public and green areas in city management and design |
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Hamdi et al. [97] |
Potential neutral and increased warming in annual mean UHI intensity and nocturnal UHI, respectively, in the cities of Brussels (Belgium) and Paris (France) |
Appropriate adaptation plans |
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Alves et al. [98] |
Residential thermal discomfort situation in São Paulo, Brazil |
Improve adaptation plan |
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Invidiata and Ghisi [99] |
Potential increase in residential energy demand of buildings in the cities of Curitiba, Florianópolis, and Belém, Brazil |
The utilization of passive design plans in buildings |
|
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Li et al. [100] |
Potential for higher temperatures and severe heat waves in Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
The effectiveness of their research in helping policymakers realize potential temperature changes in Ontario |
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Lassandro et al. [101] |
The effectiveness of green roofs, water jects, and cooling resources increasing temperatures |
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The use of green roofs, water jects, and cooling resources |
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Kotharkar et al. [102] |
Significant variation in temperature regime and heat stress within Nagpur, India |
Their research can provide heat response planning and mitigation plans to the area |
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Health |
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Knol et al. [25] |
14 European technocrats ranked a medium-to-high association between increased short-term ultrafine particle exposure and mortality and morbidity for cardiac and lung diseases |
The need to consider ultrafine particles in potential health risk assessment |
|
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Baccini et al. [26] |
Heat related mortality for summer went from zero (0) in Dublin, Ireland to 423 in Paris, France |
The need for improved mitigation |
|
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Petkova et al. [27] |
showed that heat-associated mortality per thousand population increased in Philadelphia, New York city and Boston, respectively, from 1985 to 2006 |
The effectiveness of their study in developing measures that can reduce potential heat effects |
|
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Muthers et al. [103] |
Potential rise in heat-associated mortality of about 129% in the city of Vienna, Austria |
The need for adaptation |
|
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Ostro et al. [104] |
Increased premature deaths in California, U.S.A. |
The increased use of air conditioners as a mitigation measure for heat risk |
|
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Kim et al. [105] |
Projected increased mortalities in Seoul, Daegu, Gwangju, Busan, Incheon, and Daejeon, South Korea |
The need for effective measures that can cause significant health improvement and decrease heat-associated mortality |
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Rasmussen et al. [106] |
Increased ragweed species in the European countries of Denmark, France, Germany, and Russia by the year 2100 |
The need for preventive measures to limit ragweed seed spread and the application of inter-country management measures for increased mitigation of potential health risk |
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Chen et al. [107] |
Potential increase in surface O3 and associated mortality in China |
The need for mitigation measures |
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Estoque et al. [108] |
High heat health risk in the Manila metropolitan area, Philippines |
The strength of their research can assist in risk reporting and improve knowledge of city-scale health risks |
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Water supply/drought |
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Gober et al. [109] |
Current per capita water use in Phoenix, Arizona, can be maintained in the absence of unmanageable groundwater use |
The need to monitor groundwater for improved adaptive plan |
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Galvão et al. [110] |
Rainwater catchment structures are used in the urban areas in Brazil and Japan to increase water source and use |
The need for improved mitigation |
|
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Wilson and Weng [111] |
Water quality issues in the Des Plaines River watershed in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. during late winter and early spring |
The effectiveness of their study in contributing to the reduction of negative effect on surface water quality and improved mitigation |
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Jacinto et al. [112] |
Potential reduction in water use in Portugal until 2100 |
The need for proper adaptation plan |
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Huang et al. [113] |
Variations in water resources and potential drying trends and their effects on water resources in Chinese cities |
The need to address water resource challenges and adapt to the impacts of climate change |
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Ougougdal et al. [114] |
Increased water demand and related water scarcity problems in Ourika, Morocco, |
Appropriate adaptation plan |
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Alkhawaga et al. [115] |
Potential water security condition in Kafr El Sheikh city, Egypt |
the need for frequent evaluation of water security features for Egyptian cities |
|
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Before publication, I Suggest some minor corrections in the wording. I believe that these minor issues do not need further review-rounds.
line 79: anthropogenic actions → anthropogenic activities
line 254: AR4 did not cover urban areas → AR4 did not cover [or did not highlight] the urbanization problems
line 255: low studies → low number of studies
line 320: follow → follows
line 320: It thus helps to reflect on → It also helps to understand
line 359: gase → gas
line 378: problematizing → presenting
line 484: of detention in decreasing flood hazards → of the detention of increasing flood hazards
line 517: potential neutral → no significant change
line 611: increased studies → increased number of studies
line 710: adaptation → adaptation policies
line 723: and the interest in → in facilitating
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Before publication, I Suggest some minor corrections in the wording. I believe that these minor issues do not need further review-rounds.
Point 1: line 79: anthropogenic actions → anthropogenic activities
Response 1: We thank you for pointing out this error. The error has been corrected in line 79 in the manuscript.
Point 2: line 254: AR4 did not cover urban areas → AR4 did not cover [or did not highlight] the urbanization problems
Response 2: We are grateful to you for highlighting this error. We have rectified the error and can be found in lines 254-255.
Point 3: line 255: low studies → low number of studies
Response 3: We thank you for pointing out this error. We have rectified the error in line 255.
Point 4: line 320: follow → follows
Response 4: We thank you for this. We have corrected the error in line 321.
Point 5: line 320: It thus helps to reflect on → It also helps to understand
Response 5: We thank you for pointing out this error. We have corrected this error in line 321.
Point 6: line 359: gase → gas
Response 6: We are grateful to you. We have corrected this error in line 360.
Point 7: line 378: problematizing → presenting
Response 7: We thank you on this point. The word presenting has been inserted in line 379.
Point 8: line 484: of detention in decreasing flood hazards → of the detention of increasing flood hazards
Response 8: Thank you very much for pointing this error. We have rectified the error and can be found in lines 484-485.
Point 9: line 517: potential neutral → no significant change
Response 9: We are grateful to you. We have made the needed change in line 517.
Point 10: line 611: increased studies → increased number of studies
Response 10: We thank you for this point. We have made the needed inclusion in 611.
Point 11: line 710: adaptation → adaptation policies
Response 11: We are grateful to you. We have included the word policies as suggested in line 710.
Point 12: line 723: and the interest in → in facilitating
Response 12: We are grateful. We have included the suggested change in line 724.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Very well done to the authors, they have managed to comprehensively address my comments. This paper can be considered for publication.
Author Response
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Point 1: Very well done to the authors, they have managed to comprehensively address my comments. This paper can be considered for publication.
Response 1: We are grateful to you.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
