| Program & Activities
Capacity Building |
Cities at Risk Much of Asia’s rapid population and economic growth is occurring in large coastal cities that are at high risk from sea level rise and climate change. Asia’s densely populated deltas and mega-deltas and other low-lying coastal urban areas are among those described in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report as “key societal hotspots of coastal vulnerability” with many millions of people potentially affected. With the increase in population in coastal areas, there is an increased potential for loss of life and property. In recent years, there have been many incidences of severe flooding particularly when high tides were combined with storm surges and high river flows. The risks posed by climate change to Asia’s coastal population will persist, despite any greenhouse gas stabilization. Future sea level rise and climate change are unavoidable as a result of existing high atmospheric CO2 levels and projected growth in population and infrastructure. Physical risks and vulnerabilities in these regions are often accompanied by a deficit of adaptive capacity (i.e., the ability to cope with the risk and vulnerabilities posed by climate change) as the cities generally lack necessary resources – financial, human, and institutional - as well as access to relevant scientific information. Despite the urgent threats posed by the combination of sea level rise and climate change, local governments and the international development community have not as yet seriously considered the implications of climate change and sea level rise on rapidly growing coastal populations and infrastructure. This argues for urgent attention to risk and vulnerability assessment, awareness raising, and integration of science into planning and policy for the potentially affected areas. The Cities at Risk workshop, held 26-28 February 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand, brought together scientists, urban planners and officials, and representatives of disaster management and development agencies to review scientific findings and projections regarding climate-related risks (e.g., sea level rise, extreme climate events, intensification of storms and storm surges) for Asia’s coastal megacities. Participants examined potential vulnerabilities and current coping mechanisms, including possible planning and governance mechanisms that better integrate science information, planning, development, and disaster management. Workshop participants also considered means for improving networking and communication among urban planners/officials and the scientific community in order to enhance urban resilience and adaptive capacities. The workshop will target the following cities:
The Cities at Risk workshop is an initial step in what is intended to be a longer-term set of activities for developing urban adaptive capacities and integrating science and policy in managing climate risks in Asia’s coastal megacites. The workshop is intended to help identify next steps and priorities for subsequent research and capacity building. Future activities may include the development of resource materials, hands-on thematic training courses, and advanced workshops and institutes as well as coordinated research programs and networking. The Cities at Risk workshop was organized by:
Collaborators include:
Local workshop host:
The workshop is funded by:
For more information, contact Roland Fuchs, fuchsr@eastwestcenter.org or Clark Seipt, cseipt@agu.org |
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