Asian cities are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change—typhoons, storm surges, heat waves, higher sea levels—which have been increasing in intensity and frequency over the past decade. Unfortunately, cities in Asia also suffer from chronic stresses like traffic, pollution, flooding and uncollected waste
To address these challenges, one of the ADB’s responses is through the concept of Urban Climate Change Resilience. UCCR is the capacity of cities to function, so that the people living and working there – particularly the poor and vulnerable – thrive despite daily stresses and survive shocks such as disasters related to climate change. It also involves improving preparedness and adopting recovery measures from all types of disasters.
To help urban areas strengthen resilience to shocks and stresses brought about by climate change, cities and the development agencies working with them have identified seven entry points for action.
1. Good information on urban growth and climate change
2. Tools and approaches used for urban planning
3. Infrastructure services should be robust and designed for redundancy
4. Build institutional capacity of cities to enhance UCCR
5. Utilize community development processes to build resilience of vulnerable groups
6. Governments can work with private sector through partnerships to provide urban lifeline utilities
7. Catalyzing public and private finance for investments in enhancing urban resilience
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