Urban Responses to Climate Change in Latin America: Reasons, Challenges and Opportunities

Cities in Latin America have a crucial role to play in climate change. Urban areas are the main emitters of greenhouse gases, while being vulnerable to severe weather conditions such as floods, heat waves and tropical storms that environmental shifts are expected to trigger. Patricia Romero-Lankao outlines the background to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, while highlighting how development in Latin America presents unique opportunities for mitigating potential damage to the environment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.