India, July 27 -- Climate change is affecting cities more and more. This creates major challenges, but it also gives fast-growing cities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, the chance to adapt to global warming in new and better ways.

Cities rely on roads, pipes and flood barriers to work well when a climate disaster strikes. This is physical infrastructure. But they also rely heavily on social infrastructure. This is the public spaces, relationships, and community networks that help people connect, organise and respond collectively to crises.

Read more: We mapped green spaces in South Africa and found a legacy of apartheid

Parks, squares and community gardens are social infrastructure. They're more than just places to relax. They help ...