Five ways to make cities more resilient to climate change
Climate breakdown poses immense threats to global economies, societies and ecosystems. Adapting to these impacts is urgent. But many cities and countries remain chronically unprepared in what the UN calls an .
is . Economic barriers limit investment in infrastructure and technology. Social inequities undermine the capacity of vulnerable populations to adapt. And inconsistent policies impede coordinated efforts across sectors and at scale.
looks at how with climate change. I have identified five ways to catalyse more effective - and ultimately more progressive - climate adaptation and resilience.
1. Don't just 'bounce back' after a crisis
When wildfires, storms or floods hit, all too often governments prioritise .
Though understandable, resilience doesn't just entail coping with the effects of climate change. Instead of "bouncing back" to a , those in charge of responding need to encourage "bouncing forward", creating places that are at less risk in the first place.
After the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011, the New Zealand authorities , improving building codes and regulations and relocating vulnerable communities. Critics suggested reconstruction provided too much uncertainty and failed to acknowledge . But the rebuild did encourage better .
2. Informed by risk
It can be difficult to predict what the consequences of a crisis might be. Cities are complex, interconnected places. - the consequences that ripple across a place - must be taken into account.
The best climate adaptation plans recognise that vulnerability varies across places, contexts and over time. The most effective are : tailored to specific locations and every aspect of society.
Assessments must also consider both climatic and non-climatic features of risk. In 2015, in the UK, a flood affected one of Lancaster's electrical substations, causing a city-wide power failure that . In this instance, as with so many others, people had to deal not just with the direct impacts of flooding, but the 'cascading' or knock-on impacts of infrastructure damage.
Many . But others do acknowledge how ageing infrastructures and pressures to develop land to accommodate ever intensifying urban populations exacerbate . Others too, such as the recently published , detail how climate risk intersects with the range of services provided by local government.
- an approach to problem-solving that views problems as part of wider, interconnected systems - can be applied to identify .
Good risk assessments will, for example, take note of demographics, age profiles and the socio-economic circumstances of neighbourhoods, enabling targeted support for particularly vulnerable communities. This can help ensure communities and systems adapt to evolving challenges as climate change intensifies, and as society evolves over time.
Complex though this might be, city leaders can access advice about improving risk assessments, including from the , a global coalition of 100 mayors committed to addressing climate change.
3. Transformative action
There is . The effects of disasters including floods and earthquakes are influenced by pre-existing, often chronic, such as .
looks beyond the immediacy of shocks, attending to the underlying root causes of vulnerability and inequality. This ensures that society is not only better prepared to withstand adverse events in the future, .
Progressive climate resilience therefore demands tailored responses depending on the population and place. In Bangladesh, for instance, communities are . These enhance food security and provide a sustainable livelihood option in flood-prone areas.
4. Collective approaches
Effective climate resilience demands collective action. Sometimes referred to as a response, this entails collaboration and shared responsibility to address the multifaceted challenges posed by a changing climate.
The most effective initiatives avoid self-protection, of people, buildings and cities alike, and consider both broader and longer-term risks. For instance, developments not at significant risk should still incorporate adaptation measures to lower a city's climate risk profile and benefit local communities, neighbouring authorities and surrounding regions.
So, progressive resilience is connected, comprehensive and inclusive. , leveraging resources to address common challenges and fostering a sense of shared purpose and mutual support.
5. Exploiting co-benefits
The most effective resilience projects exploit co-benefits - what the UN calls - to leverage additional benefits across sectors and policies, reducing vulnerability to shocks while addressing other social and environmental challenges.
In northern Europe, for example, to retain water helping alleviate downstream flooding, but also to capture carbon and provide vital habitats for biodiversity.
In south-East Asia generate renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while providing shade to reduce evaporation and conserve water resources during droughts.
In short, adaptation is obviously crucial for tackling climate change across the globe. But the real challenge is to deal with the impacts of climate change while simultaneously creating communities that are .
