On September 5, EastWest Institute, the Pakistan Forum at the Johns Hopkins SAIS Foreign Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins SAIS International Development Program and American Pakistan Foundation will host a panel discussion on how climate change effects megacities.

Extreme heat, cold, droughts and floods are having both immediate and long-lasting effects on the economic activity of megacities such as Karachi, Chennai and Beijing. At the same time, continued migration and economic activity place increasing pressure on local environmental resources, threatening both human and ecosystem health.

Using the lens of rapid population growth, migration and human economic activity, this panel will explore the following questions:

• What are the economic and environmental impacts of megacity development on the climate?
• What are the local, national, and international dynamics associated with climate change mitigation in Karachi, Chennai and Beijing?
• How can states support economic growth while also responding to the dangers of climate change?