There are warnings that cities across the world are not factoring in the human costs of climate change in their race to reach net zero.

As cities invest billions in tackling climate change, scientists fear they are focusing too much on carbon emissions and not enough on improving people’s lives.

New research co-authored by Professor Subhes Bhattacharyya from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and colleagues from the University of Surrey, argue that cleaner air, healthier communities, more green spaces and lower energy costs should be considered as climate action successes.

The researchers added that recognising and measuring these wider benefits could help cities make better investment decisions, while building stronger public and political support for climate action.

The research has identified a gap between ambition and implementation: while many cities recognise these wider benefits, the systems used to monitor climate action remain largely focused on carbon emissions.

Bhattacharyya said: “Cities around the world are making significant investments to reach net zero, but reducing carbon emissions is only part of the picture. Climate action can also improve public health, create jobs, enhance green spaces and strengthen local economies.

“Our research highlights the importance of measuring these wider benefits so that cities can make better-informed decisions and build long-term support for climate action.”

The paper examined two of the world’s leading urban climate frameworks and concluded that cities need a more joined-up approach to measuring the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate policies, helping decision-makers understand what works and make better long-term investment decisions.

The research comes ahead of the International Conference on Reinventing Urban Futures: Regenerative Cities for a Resilient Planet, taking place at DMU at the beginning of next month.

Organised by DMU’s Institute for Sustainable Futures, the conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, businesses and community organisations to explore how cities can respond to challenges including climate change, resilient infrastructure and changing patterns of urban life.

Discussions will seek to look beyond net zero to consider how cities can become healthier, more resilient and sustainable places to live, and the role that infrastructure, governance, technology and different approaches to economic development can play in achieving that.