Cities everywhere are facing rising climate stresses, from heatwaves to flooding. These shocks deepen inequities like limited green space, high energy costs and weak social infrastructure. To address these challenges, cities must work hand in hand with communities so that local knowledge and lived experiences drive solutions.
That’s why the Resilience for Communities (R4C) program helps cities co-create solutions with residents, not just for them—centering community priorities in actionable projects.
In our 8th Cities on the Frontline session of 2025, we looked at how this works in practice. In Melaka, Malaysia, Community Action Plans, informed by community groups and local stakeholders, are addressing heat, flooding and creating safer shared spaces. Meanwhile, in Greater Manchester, UK, a new Resilience Hub, urban greening and community-led environmental programs are taking shape to respond to residents’ needs. These stories show how collaboration turns climate plans into action and offer lessons for scaling inclusive resilience in cities around the world.
What does it take to make locally rooted resilience projects successful? Who needs to be at the table? And how can you be a part of it? Listen in to find out.
Sulafa Abushal
Strategic Policy Lead, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Pauline Johnston
People and Place Activation, Civic and Social
Mazrina Khalid
CEO, Urban Scale Studio
Zuhaila Binti Ahmad Zubel
Town Planning Director, Melaka Historic City Council
Karl Astbury (Host)
Climate & Health, R-Cities
