How can climate-related impacts be managed in urban settings? What are the links between urban governance, climate adaptation, poverty reduction and sustainable development? This paper develops an analytical framework by combining governance literature with climate resilience assessments conducted in ten Asian cities. The climate-resilient urban governance assessment framework involves: (1) decentralisation and autonomy, (2) accountability and transparency, (3) responsiveness and flexibility, (4) participation and inclusion and (5) experience and support. Use of this framework can assist in assessing and building urban resilience to climate change in a way that reduces the vulnerability of the citizens most at risk from climate shocks and stresses.
Climate change adaptation research has largely ignored poor urban populations in favour of rural livelihood-focused activities because the latter depend on natural resources directly affected by climate change. But rapidly expanding urban settlements in the developing world face severe climatic risks. Urban populations will be forced to cope with increased incidents of flooding, air and water pollution, heat stress and vector-borne diseases.
Cities in developing countries are at particular risk due to their high-density populations, lack of adequate drainage, concentration of solid and liquid waste, informal settlements and urban expansion onto risky sites. Increased climate hazards coupled with rapid urbanisation are likely to put increased strain on local governments as they attempt to respond to the vulnerabilities of the urban poor.
There are five key considerations for assessing and building urban resilience to climate change in a way that reduces the vulnerability of the citizens most at risk from climate shocks and stresses. These form the basis of a climate-resilient urban governance assessment framework:
- Decentralisation and autonomy: Cities suited to building climate change resilience avoid cyclical political stalemates and achieve situations where national, state and city ruling parties can work together quickly and effectively to implement policies and programmes.
- Accountability and transparency: Delivery of climate-resilient urban development relies on a municipal system that is accountable to its citizens. Openness in financial management in key ‘climate sensitive’ sectors is needed. Such sectors include waste, water, disaster risk reduction, urban planning and pro-poor service provision.
- Responsiveness and flexibility: Agencies and management systems must be flexible in order to respond to and anticipate climate hazards. An inter-agency, cross-government body dedicated to tackling the potential and actual impacts of climate change is desirable. Finances must be made available to upgrade buildings and infrastructure to withstand future climate extremes.
- Participation and inclusion: The impact of climate change in urban areas is likely to disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable. Their integration in decision-making and policy processes is crucial for building climate resilience.
- Experience and support: Cities possessing experience of developing integrated, people-centred early warning systems for extreme events are better placed to make progress toward climate change resilience. The less event-driven aspects of climate change, associated with slowly increasing stresses on water supplies, waste management, and environmental services, require external agency and civil society experience and assistance.
