Paper short abstract:

Using GIS the paper analyses urban land and land cover change and air quality index to investigate the effects of climate change on city’s liveability and livelihood options in Ethiopia

Paper long abstract:

About 50 per cent of the world's population lives in cities and majority of the cities are located in the developing countries. Urban expansion and environmental pollution are some of the key factors that state authorities and local agencies have to consider in the decision making process for sustainable development. Urban climatic condition has been changing over the years as a result of population increase, rapid urban expansion and environmental degradation. The effects of climate change manifest in form of increasing temperature (urban heat island) and precipitation (Flood or draught), changing humidity, urban ventilation and air quality. This paper utilises GIS to analyse urban land and land cover change and air quality index in examining the potential effects of climate change on liveability and livelihood options in selected cities in Ethiopia. In view of the physical planning regulations and housing design in Ethiopian cities, the results will highlight specific areas where urban planning intervention would be particularly useful to improve local climates and build resilience to future climate impacts.