The fourth day of COP31 in Antalya focuses on Resilient Cities and the Built Environment, coinciding with the second day of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit.

As political leaders, including the UK Prime Minister, gather to discuss international climate action, today’s theme brings the negotiations much closer to people’s everyday lives. Our homes, schools, hospitals, roads, railways and energy networks are all exposed to the impacts of a changing climate. How we design, build and adapt these systems will determine how well communities cope with increasingly frequent and severe climate hazards.

What does the science tell us?

The latest scientific evidence reinforces the need to address both emissions from the built environment and its vulnerability to climate change.

Buildings are a major source of global emissions. UNEP’s Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2025–2026 estimates that the sector accounts for approximately 37% of global emissions and nearly half of global material extraction.

This highlights the importance of improving energy efficiency, using lower-carbon materials and designing buildings that remain comfortable and safe as temperatures rise.

Climate risks are increasing.

The WMO’s State of the Climate Update 2026, published at the start of COP31, confirms that 2026 is set to be among the four warmest years on record. Global sea levels and ocean heat have reached record highs, while a strengthening El Niño is expected to increase the risks of extreme weather in many parts of the world.
For cities, these changes mean greater exposure to extreme heat, intense rainfall, flooding and coastal hazards.

Early warnings can save lives.

A new WMO and UNDRR report, published yesterday, finds that 70% of countries now report some multi-hazard early warning capability.

Importantly, countries with more comprehensive systems recorded disaster-related mortality 6.1 times lower than those with less developed systems.
However, significant gaps remain, particularly in the world’s most vulnerable countries.

Early warning systems must be supported by effective communication, local preparedness and practical action to protect people before extreme weather strikes.

What does this mean for the UK?

The UK’s Climate Change Committee has warned that the country is not adapting quickly enough to the changing climate.

Its latest statutory adaptation assessment estimates that 6.3 million properties in England are currently in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water. This could rise to around 8 million by 2050. It also identifies increasing risks from overheating in homes, schools and hospitals, alongside disruption to transport, energy and water infrastructure.

These risks are not confined to the future. The UK’s changing climate is already increasing the likelihood of extreme heat and heavy rainfall.

Many of our buildings and infrastructure systems were designed for historical weather conditions. They must now be adapted to cope with the climate of the coming decades.
This requires climate projections to be embedded in planning decisions, building standards, infrastructure investment and emergency preparedness.

From science to practical resilience

Climate-resilient cities require more than flood defences and stronger buildings.
Nature-based solutions, including urban trees, green spaces, sustainable drainage and restoring natural floodplains, can help manage heat and rainfall while delivering benefits for biodiversity, health and wellbeing.

But these solutions must be designed around local conditions, supported by scientific evidence and maintained over time.

Weather and climate information is fundamental to making the right decisions, from identifying flood risks and projecting future temperatures to understanding how extreme weather could affect interconnected infrastructure systems.

The discussions at COP31 demonstrate why meteorology and climate science matter far beyond the scientific community.

We cannot build tomorrow’s climate resilience using yesterday’s weather.

As leaders meet in Antalya, the challenge is to ensure that international commitments translate into investment, better planning and practical measures that protect people and communities.

Throughout COP31, RMetS will share insights from the conference and highlight the role of weather and climate science in supporting a more resilient future.

View more RMetS updates from COP31.