United Nations Report: Countries Most Susceptible to Climate Change Look to Make Changes Now

The countries and cities who are at the front lines of climate change are looking to adapt in the immediate future, and the United Nations believe that those at risk hold the answers for others, especially developing countries across the world.

To be released on Sunday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) third and final report on climate change documents the most efficient measures in urban planning and investment in public transportation, which is expected to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Those who are not facing imminent danger could use the report's findings to take preventive measures.

Half of the world's population lives in cities, and these population numbers are expected to increase by two-thirds by 2050; this will be around the time when the effects of climate change are expected to worsen. Therefore, the IPCC's report focuses primarily on urban centers - particularly places like New York, Miami, Shanghai, Vancouver, and others - because they among the more developed cities in the world and face pressing issues with climate change.

"I think there is a growing focus on climate change," said Christina DeConcini, the director of government affairs for the World Resources Institute. "A lot of cities have sustainability departments and people focusing on it, and more and more of the work they are doing is focused on climate and climate impacts," she added in this Guardian news article.

On a national level, the Obama Administration seeks to reach greenhouse gas emission goals by 2020. In the President's Climate Action Plan, Obama says the U.S. will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 17% below the 2005 levels by the time 2020 rolls around. The Administration also is working to increase the use of wind, solar, and geothermal energy to lessen the reliance on current fuel sources that are believed to damage the environment.

The United States' northern neighbor, Canada, is also establishing measures to help the environment. Vancouver's goal is to halve the solid waste going to landfills and to guarantee 50% of people in the city to travel by foot, bicycle, or public transportation by 2020.

The IPCC's report will be released on Sunday in Berlin and there will be many more solutions to help other countries across the world. To read more about the IPCC report, visit this BBC News article.