In this publication, Lorenzo Chelleri, a lecturer at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) for the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), discusses the urgent need for cities to adapt to climate change. The concept of “compound risks” and the interconnected nature of climate risks are highlighted, emphasising the role of resilience thinking in scrutinising adaptation strategies and tying them to mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions effectively. The paper also examines challenges in climate policy and urban planning, emphasising the need for better climate risk assessments, high-quality urban climate adaptation plans, and ethical considerations in prioritising vulnerable groups. The publication proposes resilience as a comprehensive approach that integrates adaptation and mitigation, suggesting that resilience thinking could lead to more effective long-term strategies by overcoming the siloed nature of current climate action with better consideration of synergies and trade-offs.