80% of Residents Say New York City Is Unprepared for Climate Risks

A recent survey reveals that a 80% of New York City residents feel their city is unprepared for climate-related risks. The survey, conducted as part of new Economist Impact research supported by global multiline insurer Zurich Insurance Group, highlights significant concerns about the cities’ readiness to handle climate change impacts.

Of the 500 New Yorkers surveyed, only 6% believe that the city is prepared for climate-related risks. In contrast, 80% feel the city is unprepared, with 11% stating it is not prepared at all and 3% unsure about the city’s readiness.

The findings are part of a broader report titled “Resilience from the Ground Up: Assessing City-Level Approaches to Climate Risk and Adaptation.” The report is based on comprehensive research into 10 major cities around the world: Amsterdam, Cairo, Cape Town (South Africa), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Jakarta (Indonesia), Madrid, Mumbai (India), New York City, São Paulo and Tokyo.

The study delves into how urban residents perceive climate change, the necessary adaptations for their cities and their sense of personal accountability toward climate issues. The insights aim to provide actionable strategies for building resilient urban environments capable of withstanding the adverse effects of climate change.

Key findings:

• Only 6% of New York City residents believe the city is prepared for climate-related risks.
• 80% feel the city is unprepared for the impacts of climate change.
• 11% of respondents believe the city is not prepared at all.
• 3% of residents are uncertain about the city’s preparedness.

The global report concludes that with city residents feeling that governments are falling short in their efforts to build readiness, private businesses have an “opportunity to step up to mitigate and adapt to extreme weather, and to support individuals in making more meaningful changes.”

“Cities are on the frontline of the climate crisis, but they also have the power to lead the charge in building community resilience. To effectively navigate their climate-related challenges, cities must take decisive and collaborative action. Insurers with their natural hazard expertise and capabilities can play a critical role in supporting urban areas, businesses and communities in developing robust strategies to enhance their resilience and secure a sustainable future,” said Dirk De Nil, global head of Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS).

ZRS uses Zurich’s proprietary climate data to conduct portfolio analyses and risk assessments that enable customers to identify potential risks, strengthen their locations and operations, and minimize costly damage.

Other key findings from the global study:

• Only 16 percent of respondents across the 10 cities believe their city is very prepared for climate-related risks such as heatwaves, air pollution, water shortages and flooding, while 8 percent feel not at all prepared.

• Perceptions of climate preparedness vary. Among the 10 cities surveyed, São Paulo, Tokyo and New York City are seen as the least prepared for climate-related risks, with only 3 percent of respondents considering São Paulo and Tokyo “very prepared” and just 6 percent sharing this view about New York City. In contrast, Cairo is perceived as the most equipped to handle climate risks, with 37 percent of respondents rating it as “very prepared.”

• Over 41 percent of respondents feel their city’s water management infrastructure is at risk. More than a third (38 percent) worry about potential water shortages or drought, while 37 percent are concerned about flooding.

• Over half (54 percent) of survey respondents cite heatwaves as the most pressing physical risk of climate change.

• All levels of government need to work together to build resilience. Half of respondents believe that national governments should be the stakeholders primarily responsible for improving adaptation in their cities, while 46 percent point to local governments.

• More than half (58 percent) of respondents believe the private sector is not doing enough to support climate adaptation in cities, while 57 percent cited a lack of collaboration between public and private sectors as a major barrier to adaptation in their cities.

• Nearly all (95 percent) respondents are either taking steps to increase their resilience or plan to do so within the next year, from conserving water to modifying their diet to improving their energy efficiency. Barriers include high costs, insufficient knowledge and lack of trust in government policies.