Vulnerability of large cities to climate hazards Monterrey Guadalajara Mexico City Caracas

Bogota Medellin

Fortaleza Recife

Hazard risk very low low

medium high

Santiago very high Buenos Aires

Notes: Hazard risk represents a cumulative score based on risk of cyclones, floodings, landslides and drought; an agglomeration contains the population within the contours of contiguous territory inhabited at urban levels of residential density without regard to administrative boundaries.

Sources: A. de Sherbinin et al, The vulnerability of global cities to climate hazards, 2007; UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects, the 2007 Revision, 2008.

Figure 2.3

Climate change has effects on the health of the population, not only through heat waves and waterborne diseases, but also as a result of the expansion of geographical areas conducive to the transmission of vector-borne diseases such as yellow fever, dengue and malaria. Species of mosquitoes, such as the group Anopheles gambiae, A. funestus, A. darlingi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti,

18

are responsible for propagation of the majority of vector-borne diseases and are sensitive to changes in temperature (Githeko et al., 2009). The resulting effects on health can already be detected. While in 1970 the only areas in the region infected by Aedes aegypti – the mosquito responsible for transmitting yellow fever and dengue – were Venezuela, Suriname, the Guyanas and the Caribbean countries, in

Lima Brasilia Salvador

Río de Janeiro Belo Horizonte

Urban agglomerations Population in millions, 2007

19

3 8

(population greater than 3 million)

Sao Paulo Curitiba

Porto Alegre