chapter 4 - DRK

Strictly under embargo until Wednesday 22 September at 00:01 GMT (02:01 Geneva time)negotiations. However, there are no clear mechanisms through which internationalclimate change adaptation funds can be transferred to local governments (includingcity authorities) and many urban interventions, including financing for large-scaleinfrastructural projects, fail to assess the likely impacts of climate change.Towards urban resilienceThe ultimate objective of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation isto produce resilient cities. Rather than focusing on anticipating specific hazards –whether these are short-term disaster risks or longer-term changes in climate – citystake holders, particularly in low- and middle-income nations, ought to take a broader,integrated approach that addresses both current and future development needs.Resilience therefore takes into account the economic, social, psychological, physicaland environmental factors that are necessary for humans to survive and to thrive.Locally rooted strategies to build resilience need to incorporate a strong focus on bothdisaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and need to be embedded withina city’s institutional and organizational framework.Many aspects of resilience are closely associated with a holistic approach to development.Individuals and households that have access to adequate food, clean water,healthcare and education will inevitably be better prepared to deal with a variety ofshocks and stresses – including those arising due to climate change.Box 6.5 Building resilience as a strategy for climate changeadaptation and disaster risk reductionResilient towns and cities are able to withstanda variety of challenges. As well as helping tomanage the challenge of climate change, increasingresilience generates a wide range ofadditional advantages. The Resilience Allianceand the Asian Cities Climate Change ResilienceNetwork suggest that urban resilience involvesthe following components:Redundancy. When one system is disrupted,another system can provide similarservices. For example, if individuals aretrained in basic health and emergencyresponses, they are able to provide immediatesupport if transportation and communicationsystems are disrupted following anextreme event.Flexibility. The failure of a single systemcauses a minimal impact to other systems.For example, a city with a diversified economicbase will avoid catastrophic failureif a single industry fails due to economicchange or environmental disaster.Capacity to reorganize. Climatechange will result in changing conditions– and resilient cities are able to introducenew structures, organizations and land-usemeasures in response to this.Capacity to learn. This ensures thatfuture decisions are made on the basisof relevant information and appropriateforethought.Source: ISET, 2009World Disasters Report 2010 – Focus on urban risk131