In 2021, residents along the Gujjar nullah in Karachi saw their houses unceremoniously destroyed as “encroachments” to the city’s drainage. Now, a grassroots movement is fighting for climate solutions that will help everyone in the city by the sea – not just the wealthy.

With homes swallowed by floodwaters and river erosion, migrants from different parts of Bangladesh have opted to move to the cities of Dhaka and Chittagong for ‘safer ground.’ But these options for ‘safer’ ground are also sinking.

Their stories are meant to help break the illusion of gradual, natural change and uncloak what is happening to coastal cities for what it is: a deeply social, cultural and political phenomenon that is inextricably linked with actions humans take now.

Thanks to the city’s efforts toward climate adaptation and decades-old engineering works, Rotterdam does not have to worry about climate change until the end of the century. Yet, as the city develops, any mistake in flood defence planning becomes more costly.

The challenges faced in Clontarf in Dublin are likely to be mirrored across Ireland in the coming years, as coastal communities and the state grapple with how to protect against flood risk, while also preserving much-loved environments.

For thousands of years, cultural hub Alexandria, Egypt has been at a geographical crossroads that puts it at risk from earthquakes and extreme weather events. Now, with massive real estate ventures underway, researchers say the government should look to the city’s past in preparation for the future.

Lagos, Nigeria is positioned to become West Africa’s economic hub for the 21st century. But boundless economic and physical growth at the expense of protective wetlands puts the entire city at risk of climate disaster.