Urban Resiliency In Sustainable Development May 17th, 2010

Question In your opinion, which of the following goals of public policy is most important to local community’s resilience in the face of a disaster? A. Robust local economic/commercial activity B. Equity of social and physical infrastructures C. Community cohesion and social integration D. Clear plans for disaster response

Disaster Resilient Societies Cities are engines for development, prosperity, innovation and hope, and therefore they will soon be home to two thirds of the global population. Nevertheless, they are also home to one billion poor people living in informal settlements and slums, often at high risk of exposure to natural hazards.

The “Upside” of Urbanization -- for Growth Structural: Massive shift from agriculture to manufacturing and services yields productivity gains

The “Upside” of Urbanization -- Sustainability Achieving urban density is a key policy measure to promote environmental sustainability On average, cities do not perform well; cities are dense and energy consumption is high, but growing with limited public transit options-main problem

Potential Downside: Housing Affordability Share of Rent and Utilities in Total Household Expenditure at high and low income household level

Potential Downside: Congestion Urban transport options have not kept pace with urban growth Meters of High Transit Capacity per capita Source: TRACE Studies and Database, 2012

Potential Downside: Emissions Economic growth and car ownership rates are linked

Potential Downside: Unsustainable Path

Potential Downside: Loss of Green Space Consumption of land is critical problem – planning is key Provisioning for green space: increasing urban land values are placing new pressures on city officials to develop land Many Turkish cities have low Green Space/person ratios. Strengthened land use planning can improve this Many Turkish cities are down here.

Potential Downside: Consumption of Fuel High Petroleum Intensity

How Can Cities Become More Resilient? Essential 1: Put in place organization and coordination to understand and reduce disaster risk, based on the participation of citizen groups and civil society. Build local alliances. Ensure that all departments understand their role in disaster risk reduction and preparedness. Essential 2: Assign a budget for disaster risk reduction and provide incentives for homeowners, low-income families, communities, businesses, and public sector to invest in reducing the risks they face. Essential 3: Maintain up-to-date data on hazards and vulnerabilities, prepare risk assessments, and use these as the basis for urban development plans and decisions. Ensure that this information and the plans for your city’s resilience are readily available to the public and fully discussed with them. Essential 4: Invest in and maintain critical infrastructure that reduces risk, such as flood drainage, adjusted where needed to cope with climate change. Essential 5: Assess the safety of all schools and health facilities and upgrade these as necessary. Essential 6: Apply and enforce realistic risk compliant building regulations and land use planning principles. Identify safe land for low-income citizens and upgrade informal settlements, wherever feasible. Essential 7: Ensure education programmes and training on disaster risk reduction are in place in schools and local communities. Essential 8: Protect ecosystems and natural buffers to mitigate floods, storm surges, and other hazards to which your city may be vulnerable. Adapt to climate change by building on good risk reduction practices. Essential 9: Install early warning systems and emergency management capacities in your city, and hold regular public preparedness drills. Essential 10: After any disaster, ensure that the needs of the survivors are placed at the centre of reconstruction, while supporting them and their community organizations to design and help implement responses, including rebuilding homes and livelihoods.

Key for Success Key issues for sustainable and Resilient Cities Strong city leadership, vision and long term detailed strategies Stable local political environment and support Holistic approach and multi-sectorial in city planning Financing the innovative projects and ideas that are financially affordable Implementation, enforcement and management

Together to Shape Sustainable and Resilient Cities Principles Aim with sustainable development and city/neighborhod based approach 5 year implementation plans along with strategic 20 year plan Individual projects Vs. strategic planning Methods Defining sustainable cities, capacity development for strategic plan Monitoring and evaluation of the planning and implementation Lifecycle cost planning for the prioritized investment.

Three dimensions of Sustainable Development RECOMMENDATIONS Three dimensions of Sustainable Development And Resiliency Financial Social Environment

Environmental Resiliency Potential areas in Iran Energy Productivity and Innovative Energy Methods Water Management and water consumption Resiliency against Natural Disaster Smart city Transportation Solid Waste Management

Financial Resiliency Potential areas of intervention Iran Multi-year investment plans Improvement of financial gap between generations Long term financial planning (IB, IBRD and other international credits) Development of lifecycle costs for investments Improvement of municipal finance Costs savings using efficient and productive energy IRR of investments

Social Resiliency Potential areas for iran Community based activities and involvement especially in city development practices Development of social sustainable needs from elderly and youth perspective Creation of mechanisms for feedback from community Service for people with disability

The Principal Causes of Vulnerability of I.R. Iran Rapid and uncontrolled urbanization, Weak economy and lack of government funds to support mitigation programs in cities, towns and villages Lack of seismic rehabilitation programs for upgrading all highly vulnerable public buildings and multiple family residential buildings, Inexpensive and poorly constructed private dwellings that often fail even in the absence of earthquakes 19

The Principal Causes of Vulnerability of I.R. Iran A tendency in general population to ignore the earthquake hazard due to more immediate and basic needs, Lack of enforcement of existing building codes, The degradation of the region's environment resulting from the mismanagement of natural resources, Lagging and misguided investments in infrastructure. 20

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