Climate-related phenomena historically have had an impact on the lives of urbandwellers of Luanda and Maputo. Recently, however, urban expansion and congestionof different sorts, aggravated by climate change impacts, call for renewedresponses on the part of residents. Rising sea levels and harder impacts of floodingare the most disturbing issues in the two coastal capitals, demanding both institutionalresponses and strategies of urban residents, particularly the most vulnerable.Based on qualitative data collected in Luanda and Maputo, this article describes howurban residents aim to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and bydoing so, shape the cities they live in and their environment.