550 ITU‐T's Technical Reports and Specifications evidencing the need for them to adapt to both current and future manifestations (UN‐HABITAT, 2012). The following section of the report explores the main climate change risks, vulnerabilities and impacts that cities are facing, and will likely face in the foreseeable future. The analysis also addresses, in general terms, how cities are adapting to these risks and vulnerabilities. This will set the basis to provide an understanding of how cities can apply ICTs as an enabler to better adapt to climate change. Box 1 presents some of the key definitions used as the basis for the analysis. Box 1. Key definitions Climate change refers to a change of climate that is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and that is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. Adaptation refers to adjustments in ecological, social, or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects or impacts. It refers to changes in processes, practices, and structures to moderate potential damages or to benefit from opportunities associated with climate change (IPCC, 2007). Vulnerability to climate change is the degree to which geophysical, biological and socio‐economic systems are susceptible to, and unable to cope with, adverse impacts of climate change. Vulnerability can be described using the following components: exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity (IPCC, 2007). Adaptive capacity (in relation to climate change impacts): The ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences (IPCC, 2014). Sources: UNFCCC (2014) http://unfccc.int/essential_ background/convention/background/items/2536.php IPCC (2007). \"Climate Change 2007: Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability\" http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_ and_ data/ar4/wg2/en/annexessglossary‐a‐d.html IPCC Glossary (2014) http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_ and_ data/ar4/wg2/en/annexessglossary‐a‐d.html 2.1 Climate change risks, vulnerabilities and impacts in cities There is an increasing recognition of the potential impacts of climate change in cities. Cities contribute to a large portion of a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), therefore they are the dominant hubs of economic activities for every nation (Hallegate and Corfee‐Morlot, 2011). Climate change may affect urban economic activities and services, thereby damaging important sectors and services including water supply and sanitation, agriculture, urban planning, mobility, building infrastructure, energy, health, waste management and food security, among others. Cities sectors are interconnected, and therefore, a failure in one sector (e.g., in the case of extreme weather events) could have a 'domino effect' on other cities sectors and lead to an overall economic loss for a country or region (GTZ, 2009). Studies suggest that windstorms and floods that took place in Asia between 1996 and 2005 caused over 70,000 deaths, with an estimated economic loss of around US$ 190 billion. A large part of this loss is due to the lack of resilient and adequate infrastructure, including ICT infrastructure. Similarly, rapid urbanisation and population growth can worsen the impacts of climate change in cities. The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations (UNDESA), has estimated that by 2050, about 70% of the world's population is expected to live in urban areas and over 60% of the land projected to become urban by 2030 is yet to be built. This high concentration