ABSTRACT
A megacity is a metropolitan area with a total population of more than 10 million people. The definition was expanded by Spanish sociologist Manuel Castells in response to economic and social shifts. Natural and man-made disasters are the cause of loss of life, financial collapse, and migration and public health risks among other issues. The stability of the global economy and political order are critically dependent on two inextricable factors: megacities and public health. Protecting the public health of these urban areas has more far-reaching repercussions than protecting the health of individuals in those densely populated areas. The types of environment most vulnerable to severe climatic events are: effects of sea-level rise in coastal cities; effects of extreme events on built infrastructure; effects on health; effects on energy use; and effects on water availability and resources. Information and communications technology (ICT) is a critical connective infrastructure that supports the global flow of information.
