Cincinnati’s environment office says the city was recently ranked in the top 20% of large U.S. cities by a Climate Resilience Index. The index, developed by Motivf and Human Change for the Geography of Prosperity Project, scores metro areas on exposure to climate hazards and their ability to adapt and rebound. The assessment covers extreme heat, flooding, drought, wildfire and severe storms. It also weighs infrastructure, environmental assets, social vulnerability and institutional readiness. Higher scores mean more resilience, according to the source, and Cincinnati ranks in the top five of its peer region group.
The Geography of Prosperity Index, which ranks the 250 largest U.S. cities on growth readiness, includes climate resilience as one of five major components. The city attributes its position to priorities including housing affordability, job growth, reducing energy burden and climate migration. It also points to natural advantages such as fresh water access and lower relative risk from wildfires or tornadoes. Those factors, the city says, provide security and stability compared with many peers.
The source notes that extreme weather events and extreme temperature days are increasing nationwide. It says Cincinnati should keep pursuing forward-looking solutions as it expects population growth and aims to maintain or improve quality of life.