- Cities are increasingly navigating accumulating pressures from extreme events such as the pandemic, ongoing climate change and shifting demographics.
- They must accelerate action on building resilience now to avoid expending more resources recovering from major events when they occur.
- City leaders gathering at the World Urban Forum are to be presented with an updated framework, highlighting crucial actions to take now, based on a decade of best practice from leading cities worldwide.
London, United Kingdom, November 6 — Cities must act now to shift from a reactive stance to proactive planning for climate change and other major shocks, warn the authors of an updated framework on city resilience.
Already cities are facing the impacts of climate change, with 1.8 billion people vulnerable to floods, and the number of cities exposed to extreme weather expected to triple by 2050[i]. City leaders are also grappling with pandemics, shifts in global supply chains, and how best to leverage the rise of AI and digital technology for social and environmental good.
As city leaders, NGOs, and business representatives gather for the World Urban Forum in Egypt, the City Resilience Framework 2024 Edition highlights the actions cities need to take now to navigate future challenges. The framework, from sustainable development consultancy Arup, provides a roadmap for urban planning and investment decisions that will strengthen and protect cities and their citizens in the long term.
The authors of the framework engaged with the Resilient Cities Network’s Chief Resilience Officers and other city leaders worldwide. Their findings illustrate how the challenges cities face have evolved since the launch of Arup’s original City Resilience Framework a decade ago. This updated framework is more action-orientated, offering a proactive, whole-system approach to resilience planning that accelerates action across city infrastructure and government.
Drawing on a methodology tested in cities worldwide over the past decade, it guides city leaders from short-term concerns to taking effective, long-term actions to safeguard their cities in four key areas:
- Health & well-being: systems that guarantee the health and wellbeing of everyone living and working in the city.
- Economy & Society: the social and financial systems that enable urban populations to thrive.
- Infrastructure & Environment: manmade and natural systems that provide critical services, and protect and connect urban citizens.
- Local Governance & Planning: the need for informed, inclusive, and integrated decision making.
Many Chief Resilience Officers are already implementing the framework in their cities. For example, in Broward County, Miami, the framework has driven a holistic approach to resilience planning. In Penang, it has helped identify the necessary actions to build resilience across the entire Malaysian state. The framework has also been used in Milan, Sydney, and Calgary.
Jo da Silva, Global Sustainable Development Leader at Arup, said:
“Cities have been severely tested over the past 10 years – from a global pandemic, major conflicts, deglobalisation, and the ever-intensifying effects of the climate and nature crises.
“Those cities that act now to ensure that resilience is central to their decision making, will be best positioned to thrive in the long term, attracting investment and protecting their people and assets.”
Arup’s recent City Competitiveness Redefined tracker shows there is a growing relationship between cities with strong plans and action on climate change and resilience, and their potential to attract and retain investment, business, and talent. It measures 63 cities against 37 future success indicators – with around a quarter focused on climate action.
Lina Liakou, Global Director at Resilient Cities Network, said: “From Singapore to Cape Town to New York, cities have been shaped by this framework since it was first issued 10 years ago, a time when resilience wasn’t on the agenda. “Today, our members and cities worldwide will benefit from this updated guidance as they face increasingly extreme events – everything from pandemics to climate change.”
[i] Around 200 million city-dwellers in over 350 cities live with summer temperature highs of over 35 degrees Celsius. The number of cities exposed to extreme temperatures will triple by 2050. C40 Cities – Heat Extremes
About Resilient Cities Network
Resilient Cities Network is the world’s leading urban resilience network. It brings together global knowledge, practice, partnerships, and funding to empower its members to build safe and equitable cities for all. Its unique city-led approach ensures cities drive the agenda to benefit the communities they serve. At work in over 100 cities worldwide, the Resilient Cities Network supports on-the-ground projects and solutions to build climate resilient, circular and equitable cities while also facilitating connections and information-sharing between communities and local leaders. For more information, please visit https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/.
About Arup
Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of 18,000 designers, advisors and experts working across 140 countries. Founded to strive for humanity and excellence in everything that we do, we collaborate with our clients and partners, using imagination, technology and rigour to shape a better world.
Press Contacts:
Lynette Lim
Global Director, Communications & Knowledge
