GECHS

Paty Romero Lankao is a social scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. She has developed a considerable body of work on the interactions between urban development and global environmental change. Urbanization is both a social and environmental phenomenon; it is one of the most influential, irreversible and evident anthropogenic forces on the Earth system. Many urban centers share characteristics (e.g., location) that will make them more vulnerable to adverse climate change events.

In viewing the multiple interactions between urban development and the environment, Paty has focused on crucial intersections between society and environment, including the carbon cycle, the climate system and the water cycle. In particular, she has studied key issues of a) how urban development impacts the environment (drivers), b) what societal factors explain cities’ vulnerability/resilience to heat waves, atmospheric pollution and other stresses (impacts), and c) how particular cities manage and can better meet the challenges of reducing emissions while improving resilience to environmental impacts (responses). In addition to research supported by academic awards, Paty has participated in endeavors promoted by IPCC, UNDP and UN-HABITAT.