Cities and Climate Change Initiative: Asia-Pacific Region
Asia is known to be the region most affected by disasters, experiencing 90% of the world’s weather-related deaths since 1990. Rapid urbanization has left more than 70% of the urban population in Asia and Small Island Developing States in the Pacific (SIDS) located in areas prone to flooding. This has contributed to the region’s vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters which will be further exacerbated by climate change.
It is in particular the urban poor who live in hazardous areas, with the most vulnerable being women, children and the elderly.