Comments and contributions by City Mayors readers



SiteSearch
About us
Mayor Monitor
Directories
Events
Debate


Use
Mayor Monitor to rate the performance of mayors from across the world More


City Mayors reports news from towns and cities around the world. Worldwide | Elections | North America | Latin America | Europe | Asia | Africa |


In your opinion: Praise Criticise Write


City Mayors profiles city leaders from around the world and questions them about their achievements, policies and aims. More


Mayors from The Americas, Europe. Asia, Australia and Africa are competing for the annual World Mayor Award. More


City Mayors ranks the world’s largest as well as richest cities and urban areas. It also ranks the cities in individual countries, and provides a list of the capital cities of some 200 sovereign countries. More


City Mayors reports political events, analyses the issues and depicts the main players. More


City Mayors describes and explains the structures and workings of local government in Europe, The Americas, Asia, Australia and Africa. More


City Mayors deals with economic and investment issues affecting towns and cities. More


City Mayors reports on how business developments impact on cities and examines cooperation between cities and the private sector. More


City Mayors describes and explains financial issues affecting local government. More


City Mayors lists and features urban events, conferences and conventions aimed at urban decision makers and those with an interst in cities worldwide. More


City Mayors reports urban environmental developments and examines the challenges faced by cities worldwide. More


City Mayors reports on and discusses urban development issues in developed and developing countries. More


City Mayors reports on developments in urban society and behaviour and reviews relevant research. More


City Mayors deals with urban transport issues in developed and developing countries and features the world’s greatest metro systems. More


City Mayors examines education issues and policies affecting children and adults in urban areas. More


City Mayors investigates health issues affecting urban areas with an emphasis on health in cities in developing countries. More


City Mayors examines the contributions history and culture make to urban society and environment. More


City Mayors examines the importance of urban tourism to city economies. More


City Mayors describes the history, architecture and politics of the greatest city halls in the world. More


City Mayors invites readers to write short stories about people in cities around the world. More


City Mayors questions those who govern the world’s cities and talks to men and women who contribute to urban society and environment. More


City Mayors profiles national and international organisations representing cities as well as those dealing with urban issues. More


City Mayors reports on major national and international sporting events and their impact on cities. More


City Mayors lists cities and city organisations, profiles individual mayors and provides information on hundreds of urban events. More

In your opinion:
Cities at risk from coast flooding

We invite our readers to debate the issues and personalities discussed in articles published by City Mayors. We also welcome suggestions on how our coverage of cities and their people could be improved and extended. Praise us. Criticise us. Write for us.

Below we publish a cross-sections of recent comments by City Mayors readers. If you wish to join our worldwide dialogue on urban affairs, then please post your views, comments or suggestions using the form at the bottom of this page.

Topics debated on other pages: Richest cities | Most expensive cities | Best cities in the world | Urban poor and crime | Illegal immigrants in the US | Homelessness in the US | Great Lakes | Wasteful urban development | India’s urban development | Coastal flooding | Cycling in US cities | Mayor of Chacao | Mayor of Denver | Mayor of Detroit | Mayor of Porto Alegre | NEW TOPIC |


Calcutta and Miami most at risk
from coastal flooding by 2070

F From Roberto S., Tijuana, Mexico:
Attention to this type of problems needs to encourage more detailed studies in coastal urban areas. Detailed studies of social and urban vulnerability are needed to reduce the social, economic and environmental negative consequences of climate change. They are also an important instrument in the design of policies and programs to adapt to climate change in urban areas. Adaptation to climate change should be considered a priority for urban areas. Investments made in urban programs and infrastructure should be made in light of current local needs but also considering the potential impacts of climate change.

From Pradeep M., Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India:
The very heartening thing is that the impact of climate change is so serious that it does not have any boundaries. Now is the time for everybody to act locally  and we should change our attitude towards reducing global warming, starting from the individual.

Climate change modelling and India
One of the most accepted climate change models is that if global warming will continue USA will be drier, India will be wetter, and Europe will be warmer. Regarding Indian subcontinent, the forecast is that there will be more destructive sea storms, sea surges, coastal erosion and coastal inundation. Even if serious efforts are now made to reduce green house gases, the effect of such gases already released to atmosphere will continue be felt for decades to come, because of long residence time of these gases in atmosphere. Another apprehension is that global temperature   may not rise in a linear manner; there may be sudden and stiff rise in temperature. That is to say that the temperature curves instead of being linear it can be kinked

Climate change Orissa context
A poor state like Orissa unfortunately is in the path way of depressions and cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal during south west monsoon. With advance in global warming if sea storms acquire greater destructive power as is being forecast, the state will be required to bear the brunt of such storms which means all the gains of development will be washed away in flood/storms waters.

Natural calamities have become a serious problem for the poor people of Orissa. It has increased vulnerability and has caused serious fiscal imbalances through a heavy demand on revenue on expenditure, expenditure on restoring assets and reduction of revenue in terms of taxes and duties because of crop and property loss‰. We are witnessing coastal inundation in many places.

The two important emergent issues are: accelerated degradation of environmental and natural base consequent and marginalization process continuing unabated. Resilience of and adaptation to vulnerability of livelihoods have been threatened in coastal, rural and urban areas too. The Environmental costs are increasing manifold and mitigation response is also challenging. Poverty, hunger, trafficking, foeticides, drinking water, slum growth, sanitation, health-hygiene are very acute.

From Mike S:
My own calculations point to US$8 billion to relocate 500,000 across 500 km to safe ground for least-developed-cities. That means US$ 2.4 trillion for 150 million people in Least-Developed-Cities on the coast, close to your USD 3.5 billion in 2008 dollar terms. I am starting a public-private-partnership on financing the displacement of communities. (Posted 19 August 2008)



Praise. Criticise. Write.
We invite our readers to comment on the issues and personalities discussed in articles published by City Mayors. But we welcome even more suggestions on how our coverage of cities and their people could be improved and extended. Praise us. Criticise us. Write for us. Please post your text below. While we endeavour to publish all relevant comments, we reserve the right to edit them and to reject unsuitable contributions.

Please add your contribution
Topic of your contribution
Your comment relates to:


Your name
Please provide your name as you wish it to be published. It can be your full name, first name, initials or a nickname. (Impersonating someone else is unacceptable.)


Your city and country
Please provide the city and country you live in. (Example: Paris, France)


Your email address
Please provide your email address. (Your email address will NOT be published)


Your contribution
If possible, please provide your contribution in English, using upper and lower cases. Please mention if you refer to an article published by City Mayor of to a comment by another reader.







You may also introduce a new topic for debate
World Mayor 2023