Importance of building resilient urban systems

By implementing actionable strategies, cities can be better equipped to deal with unexpected shocks

Urban resilience is the ability of a city to withstand and recover from unexpected shocks associated with natural disasters, climate change, and other hazards. Building resilience to these risks can be dealt with most effectively through strengthened urban planning and management.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has launched a global partnership called “Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030)” in 2020 to strengthen local resilience.

Why building disaster resilience matters?

It is a question that holds immense importance, especially in today’s world where cities face an increasing array of risks, from natural disasters to the impacts of climate change. Building urban resilience is essential for disaster risk management and disaster risk reduction.

By investing in resilience, cities can protect their citizens and assets, reduce disaster and climate risks, achieve sustainable development, strengthen governance, enhance trust and legitimacy, and strengthen urban systems.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has taken a remarkable step towards helping mayors, governors, councillors, and other local government leaders in building disaster resilience within their communities. They have crafted an invaluable resource – a handbook that offers a generic framework for risk reduction, showcases best practices, and provides essential tools that have already proven their worth in different cities.

The Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient include:

1) Organise for resilience

2) Identify and understand risk

3) Reduce risk

4) Prepare for response

5) Respond to and manage disasters

6) Learn from experience

7) Increase investment for resilience

8) Ensure that governance is comprehensive, informed, and inclusive

9) Provide access to information, education, and training

10) Protect critical infrastructure

The handbook is designed to help mayors, governors, councillors, and other local government leaders understand the importance of building disaster resilience and how to go about the task. It responds to three key questions: WHY building disaster resilience is beneficial; WHAT kind of strategies and actions are required; and HOW to go about the task.

Building a disaster resilient urban system will take concerted effort into making this goal a reality. With the onset of the pandemic, many governments came to the realisation that their efforts to mitigate disaster, cannot withstand overpowering instability. Therefore, it is essential for local governments and policymakers to ensure that their city is built and runs on resilient systems. By implementing actionable strategies, cities can be better equipped to deal with unexpected shocks.