A recent survey reveals that 80 percent of New York City residents feel their city is unprepared for climate-related risks.

Of the 500 New Yorkers surveyed, only 6 percent believe the city is prepared for climate-related risks, while 11 percent said it is not prepared at all and 3 percent are unsure about the city’s readiness.

These findings are part of a broader report titled “Resilience from the Ground Up: Assessing City-Level Approaches to Climate Risk and Adaptation,” conducted as part of new Economist Impact research supported by Zurich Insurance Group. The report is based on comprehensive research including a literature review, interviews with 15 climate experts, and a general population survey involving 5,000 residents from 10 major cities around the world: Amsterdam, Cairo, Cape Town, Dubai, Jakarta, Madrid, Mumbai, New York City, São Paulo and Tokyo.

“Cities are on the frontline of the climate crisis, but they also have the power to lead the charge in building community resilience. To effectively navigate their climate-related challenges, cities must take decisive and collaborative action. Insurers with their natural hazard expertise and capabilities can play a critical role in supporting urban areas, businesses and communities in developing robust strategies to enhance their resilience and secure a sustainable future,” said Dirk De Nil, global head of Zurich Resilience Solutions.

Key findings from the study:

• Only 16 percent of respondents across the 10 cities believe their city is very prepared for climate-related risks such as heatwaves, air pollution, water shortages and flooding, while 8 percent feel not at all prepared.

• Perceptions of climate preparedness vary. Among the 10 cities surveyed, São Paulo, Tokyo and New York City are seen as the least prepared for climate-related risks, with only 3 percent of respondents considering São Paulo and Tokyo “very prepared” and just 6 percent sharing this view about NYC. In contrast, Cairo is perceived as the most equipped to handle climate risks, with 37 percent of respondents rating it as “very prepared.”

• Over 41 percent of respondents feel their city’s water management infrastructure is at risk. More than a third (38 percent) worry about potential water shortages or drought, while 37 percent are concerned about flooding.

• Over half (54 percent) of survey respondents cite heatwaves as the most pressing physical risk of climate change.

• All levels of government need to work together to build resilience. Half of respondents believe that national governments should be the stakeholders primarily responsible for improving adaptation in their cities, while 46 percent point to local governments.

• More than half (58 percent) of respondents believe the private sector is not doing enough to support climate adaptation in cities.

• Nearly all (95 percent) respondents are either taking steps to increase their resilience or plan to do so within the next year, from conserving water to modifying their diet to improving their energy efficiency. Barriers include high costs, insufficient knowledge and lack of trust in government policies.