A Primer on Reducing Vulnerabilities to Disasters | | July 2008 - Climate change is no longer a distant possibility but a current reality. Loss from flooding and hurricanes is an all too frequent occurrence in many countries in the Region, particularly in cities where people and assets are concentrated. Urban centers must be prepared with specialized tools to deal with climate change impacts and early warning systems. Moreover, given the potential devastation associated with future climate change-related disasters, it is vital to change the way we build and manage our cities, which account for 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions today. Now is the time for policymakers to take an integrated look at reducing vulnerabilities to
climate change and other natural disasters in a comprehensive disaster management system. This Primer is a tool for city governments in the East Asia Region to better understand how to plan for climate change impacts and impending natural disasters through sound urban planning to reduce vulnerabilities. It gives local governments information to actively engage in training, capacity building, and capital investment programs that are identified as priorities for building sustainable, resilient communities. For more information, please email theClimate Resilient Cities Team at climatecities@worldbank.org |
| SELF-ASSESSMENT - DISCOVERING A "HOT SPOT" |
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This tool engages city officials in an assessment exercise to identify the city’s human and built environment characteristics, potential impacts of climate change, and natural or other hazards. Beyond that, the assessment will also identify local government prerogatives and authorities that would allow it to take action in dealing with potential climate change impacts and natural hazards. The ultimate determination from the assessment is to identify main vulnerable and at-risk areas. This knowledge is then critical for defining priority actions that move (or “cool down”) the city from becoming a “Hot Spot.” The exercise requires completing a City Typology and Risk Characterization Matrix. The assessment is not a quantitative tool for ranking cities nor is it intended to be a scientifically rigorous assessment. back to top |
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Click on the weblinks below to read City Profiles of Sound Practice. The cities were selected for their efforts at addressing climate change impacts, consequences, and disaster risk management issues. The City Profiles on the CD-ROM (available when the Primer is purchased online) offer a detailed presentation of the cities' initiatives, projects, and programs.
 | Albuquerque, USA(2.5mb pdf) | | Dongtan, China (2.0mb pdf) | | Hanoi, Vietnam (2.4mb pdf) | | Jakarta, Indonesia (2.5mb pdf) | | London, UK (4.4mb pdf) | | Makati, Philippines (3.0mb pdf) | | Milan, Italy (2.0mb pdf) | | New York City, USA (3.7mb pdf) | | Rockville, USA (3.4mb pdf) | | Seattle, USA (2.4mb pdf) | | Singapore (2.4mb pdf) | | Tokyo, Japan (2.6mb pdf) | | Venice, Italy (3.2mb pdf) |
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Date Updated: 28 October 2008 |
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