Urban Risk and Resilience Anshu Sharma http://picasaweb.google.com/dukebrac
1 megacity in the world in 1950; 17 in Asia Pacific alone now Upto 80% city dwellers living in sub-standard conditions Migration storms feared due to climate change Megadisasters waiting to happen Stresses affecting millions every day
Urban Risk Chain Housing gap Migration Densities Squatters and slums Pressure on land Vulnerability Disaster = Hazard x Vulnerability
The Nature of Urban Risk Economic opportunities outweigh risk Cost saving shortcuts enhance risk The Risk Barometer Every community has its level of Acceptable Risk. This level is higher in urban communities than rural ones. It is higher in slums than other urban.
The Urban Concern is Increasing Significant Urban Disasters include Floods Cyclones and Storm Surges Earthquakes Tsunamis Heat waves Drought Accidents Climate change related catastrophic events Urban Pressures are increasing: With half of the population living in cities soon
The Urban Concern is Diversifying Urban Risks now include Terror attacks Ethnic violence Epidemics Lack of safe shelter Lack of basic services Climate change is bringing in unpredictability A broader, community based, perception of `RISK is evolving, and Policy needs to be accountable to this
Stress Factors Urban population Urban setting and planning Urban structures Compact urban forms Dependence on rural areas Urban primacy Urban informal settlements Urban economic imbalances Urban services Urban environment Urban management (Surjan, Shaw, 2008)
In the Life of a City Eopolis Polis Metropolis Megalopolis Tyrannopolis Necropolis http://geobytesgcse.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html The City is a living organism. It is born, it grows, it gets sick, it heals, it consumes, it excretes, and it dies.
Transforming Risks Small and Medium Towns Peri Urban Areas Megacities (www.geocases.co.uk)
Sectors of Concern: Physical Densities Controls and Loopholes `Unengineered development Development vs. Maintenance Water Sanitation Hazardous Landuses Transportation
Sectors of Concern: Social Diversity Public Health (and mental health) Women Children Inclusion Conflict
Sectors of Concern: Economic The Rich and the poor Working conditions Financing urban management Welfare state vs. User pays Accountability - polluter pays Culture of risk taking, fatalism and denial
Sectors of Concern: Institutional Web of authorities Participation Last mile Risk Reduction is a development issue
Equal and Opposite Reactions Urban Planning Provisions Master Plan Zoning Regulations Building Codes Welfare Infrastructure Administration Systems Financial Institutions Saving Options (with risk tradeoffs) Suburbs Slums / Squatters Unengineered Buildings Pvt. Service Providers Local Political Leaders Pawn Brokers FORMAL As less as 20 % population INFORMAL Up to 80 % population
Household Resilience Household members use utilise resources to meet basic needs and build assets over time Resources/ services Water, food Health Shelter Education Control of resources by structures and processes, eg of water by authorities Basic needs Water Health Shelter Education Food Participation Resources used to meet basic needs Household Assets Social Physical Human Financial Natural Political Pressure Assets buffer households from shocks and stresses and improve household members access resources Shocks and stresses Barrier to access of position in society: Culture, gender, religion, status Access to resources through productive/exchange activities: selling labour, goods. David Sanderson, 2008
Shocks and Stresses Shocks Earthquakes Storm Surges Tsunamis Flash Floods Riots, Terror Attacks Accidents Fires Secondary Impacts Stresses Drought, Water Stress Sanitation Public Health Slumming Small scale events (like waterlogging) Sea level rise Migration flows Attract Attention Are invisible disasters
Where have all the people gone? Orissa, India (Greenpeace)
ClCh and Household Resilience Household members use utilise resources to meet basic needs and build assets over time Resources/ services Water, food Health Shelter Education Control of resources by structures and processes, eg of water by authorities Basic needs Water Health Shelter Education Food Participation Resources used to meet basic needs Household Assets Social Physical Human Financial Natural Political Pressure Assets buffer households from shocks and stresses and improve household members access resources Shocks and stresses Barrier to access of position in society: Culture, gender, religion, status Access to resources through productive/exchange activities: selling labour, goods. David Sanderson, 2008
Making DRR a priority Dialogues, local capacity building, institutional strengthening, participation
Improving Risk Information and EW assessments, mapping, improving early warning systems
Building a culture of safety and resilience awareness generation, education, training, scenario building, CBDM, research, school safety
Reducing the risk in key sectors environmental, social, physical, structural, economic
Strengthening preparedness assessment based common understanding, public education, planning, training, e-learning, preparedness actions with multiple stakeholders
Thank You!