Rising temperatures, rising tensions: The urban climate-conflict nexus amid the global housing crisis

Our world faces a convergence of crises: accelerating climate change, escalating conflicts, and rapid urbanization with extensive housing and basic service inadequacy. 2024 was the hottest year on record, conflict events have nearly doubled in five years, and 123 million people were forcibly displaced by the end of 2024. These global shocks and stresses intersect in cities, where over half of humanity lives – a share projected to rise to 68 per cent by 2050. Urban areas are increasingly vulnerable as climate impacts and armed violence deepen inequalities, devastate infrastructure and strain housing.