City Resilience Program’s Post

Dear Colleagues, please find Dr. Arvind Kumar's Friday blog on "At the threshold of Disaster: Who’s Accountable for Sustainable Habitat?" published in #FocusGlobalReporter. Please feel free to share your comments and suggestions for improvement. Like all developing countries India is urbanizing rapidly. By 2036, its towns and cities will be home to 600 million people, or 40 percent of the population, up from 31 percent in 2011, with urban areas contributing almost 70 percent to GDP. Unplanned urbanization is the new normal for most Indian cities and most Global South countries. It has taken the form of large, dense, unplanned informal settlements and slums. The report on urban competitiveness on a global scale highlighted that many urban regions struggle to access clean water, adequate sanitation, healthcare facilities, and educational opportunities. ........Click on the link ahead to read the complete blog https://lnkd.in/gJvseqa8 #ClimateChange #DevelopmentControlRegulations #Disaster #DisasterManagement #Ecosystems #Environment #FloodZones #GDP #globalwarming #Livelihood #Monsoon #NaturalGrowth #Rapidurbanization #socialsustainability #sustainabledevelopment

🌆 "The future of our cities depends not just on how we build them, but on how we protect and govern them in the face of change." 🌍 I'm happy to share recent the publication of our latest article in Urban Update, where we address the urgent challenges of climate-induced disasters impacting urban areas in India and across the globe. As population density rises, these disasters become more severe. This article explores the #Uniongovernment's new amendment in the #DisasterManagementAct, which seeks to address existing legislative gaps but also raises significant concerns about the shift from democratic governance to a more centralised, executive-led model with the constitution of #UrbanDisasterManagementAuthority (UDMA) in Indian Cities. A special thank you to my co-author Dipender Dhingra for his invaluable insights and collaboration, as well as the Abhishek Pandey, Ayesha Saeed and editorial board of Urban Update for their support. 📝 Read the article to gain insights on the intersection of urban governance and disaster risk reduction. #UrbanResilience #ClimateChange #DisasterManagement #UrbanGovernance #PolicyReforms

Washing your hands is the 1st line of defence. You reading this post might know this, but does every section of our society know? 63% of the households in Bengaluru’s Anjanapura township experience a water crisis multiple times a month. And this is after spending close to 5-13% (₹2000+) of their monthly income on securing water. Our forward-looking partners Sochara (Makkala Jagriti; Prafulla saligram; Shaha Jahan) and Yuva Cafe brought our team in to deliver a research and evidence-based solution for this community. Our goal was to help the community understand and address the interconnections between water💧, health, and climate change 🌿 . We used thorough research, system design processes and design thinking to empower the youth in Anjanapura to help their community. We will be sharing more about this project and you will be surprised. Stick around to find out. BTW it is #GlobalHandwashingDay today, and we hope our message gets out there. #SocialInnovationStudio #ClimateChange #WaterScarcity #Bangalore #SystemsDesigns #DesignThinking #BehaviourChangeDesign

🌟 A Sneak Peek into My Dream Project: A Visionary Smart City 🌟 I am excited to share a sneak peek into the project I have been working on for 15 years – building a Smart City. This project is not about earning profits; it is about contributing to the Government's Naya Bharat, Vikasit Bharat, and Saksham Bharat initiatives. Follow this series of articles to see how this project can change our country and the world, improving health, environment, society, economy, education, agriculture, accessibility, mental health, spirituality, and creating a secure, safe, livable, and corruption-free society. I hope this message reaches the right audience – those willing to invest or bring this project to their lands. Together, we can fight climate change, tackle health and employment issues, address economic instability, ensure income growth, and empower citizens. I would love to be part of the consultation process to help trigger a spark within people to be the change they seek. For any government wishing to implement this, we are ready with blueprints, hoping our country replicates 200 such cities for our nation to thrive. This project is replicable on all terrains and can be customized to meet specific needs of every country. Regards, Mahesh Nawathe #SmartCity #Sustainability #NayaBharat #VikasitBharat #SakshamBharat #InnovativeInfrastructure #SustainableFuture #UrbanDevelopment #GreenTechnology #CircularEconomy #CityPlanning #FutureOfCities #EcoFriendly #SmartInfrastructure #SustainableLiving #TechForGood #UrbanSustainability #Environment #CorruptionFree #SecureAndSafe #LivableCity

Bengaluru, located in South India, is currently facing a dire water crisis. The city has been impacted by unusually high temperatures early this year, coupled with inadequate rainfall. This challenging scenario is anticipated to deteriorate further as freshwater reservoirs diminish and heatwave conditions persist, affecting the city's population of 13 million residents. The upcoming session on Bengaluru Water Crisis is set to be both engaging and enlightening, offering insights into how Bengaluru can tackle its water-related issues and what lessons other cities in South Asia grappling with similar challenges can draw from this experience. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a crucial conversation on Bengaluru water security and management! 🌏💧 #WaterDialogue #SAYWiW #WaterCrisis #Bengaluru #SustainableFuture #WaterManagement #ClimateChange #Urbanization #CommunityEngagement #SouthAsia #YouthLeadership #Water4SharedProsperity #TranscendingBorders

Around 36% of India’s population is living in cities and by 2047 it will be more than 50%. The World Bank estimates that around $840 billion is required to fund the bare minimum urban infrastructure over the next 15 years. Against this backdrop, the AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) scheme was launched in June 2015, with its 2.0 version launched on October 1, 2021.

In the past month alone, India has witnessed extreme weather events: Mumbai was inundated with rains, causing widespread flooding and infrastructure damage. Himachal Pradesh experienced devastating landslides triggered by intense rainfall. Delhi endured an extended heatwave, with temperatures soaring unusually high, stressing the energy grid and posing health risks. Karnataka, particularly around Bengaluru, continued to grapple with drought conditions impacting water supplies for agriculture and domestic use. Wayanad is currently grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic landslides. Climate change is now, it's here, it's happened. It's multiplying faster than we're able to imagine. For the past six years, at YKA, we've been doing tons of work to achieve two core goals: one, encouraging young people to document their opinions and realities of climate change, and two, working towards making climate change conversations accessible and being a bridge between citizens and stakeholders. I am stoked to share that yesterday, on #InternationalYouthDay, we officially launched the Youth ACT framework, a collaborative initiative between Youth Ki Awaaz and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) Affairs. I'm very proud of the work we've done on climate action in the past six years, and this framework boldens it. Imagine a city where youth are not just beneficiaries but active architects of their environment. That's the goal. :) At YKA, all our work stems from the belief that each voice can radically redefine our approach to climate resilience. This framework provides the tools for young people not just to participate but lead. Big props to Mohini Singh, Sapni G K, Berjis Driver, Kirrat Sachdeva, Anshul Tewari and the teams at NIUA x YKA for steering this! :') Here's to our public spaces and cities that not only survive but thrive. Here's to building resilient cities of tomorrow today. Oh, you can access the framework here: https://lnkd.in/gaX4aDdx - //Photo repost from Youth Ki Awaaz #YouthKiAwaaz #YouthACT #ClimateAction #InternationalYouthDay #SustainableCities

In a city as vast and vibrant as Delhi, the stark contrast in living conditions is evident depending on where you stand. I recently captured(with concern) a poignant scene in Chattarpur: a child struggling to fetch water from a pipe in a garbage-strewn area during the rainy season. This isn’t from drought season—it's a snapshot of urban life in the heart of our nation’s capital. Despite the monsoon rains, accessing clean water remains a significant challenge for many. Why are people leaving their villages, where agriculture is viable during this time, to migrate to urban areas where basic needs are so difficult to meet? The complex web of migration provides some answers. Rural areas offer agricultural opportunities even in the off-season, but the allure of better prospects in cities—education, healthcare, and economic opportunities—often remains unfulfilled. Those who leave the countryside find themselves in informal settlements where survival becomes a daily struggle, with limited access to essential resources like clean water. This child's reality reflects a broader issue: the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). This fear isn't just about missing out on social media updates; it's about life choices and their harsh realities. People migrate to cities seeking a better future, only to face new struggles. In our post-pandemic world, FOMO has become a pervasive concern—constantly checking notifications and fearing that while we sleep, the world changes and opportunities slip away. But when will this fear extend beyond social media to something as fundamental as access to clean drinking water? As we push for development and progress, we must question whether we're creating cities where everyone can thrive or inadvertently pushing people into more precarious situations. Delhi’s drinking water crisis illustrates this problem. Despite national progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which reports that over 78% of rural households now have tap water, access remains a challenge in urban areas like Delhi. In Chattarpur, many rely on private water suppliers, turning a fundamental right into a commodity. The JJM figures show that 15.08 crore households (78.07%) have tap water, but the slow pace of progress highlights the need for more inclusive efforts. The real question is: Are we truly ensuring equitable access to water, or are we merely building infrastructure without addressing deeper issues? As we modernize, we risk losing the sustainable practices our ancestors valued, failing to make choices that genuinely improve lives. As we push for development and progress, we must ask ourselves: Are we building cities where everyone can thrive, or are we inadvertently pushing people into even more precarious situations? This isn’t just about water—it’s about the choices people make in the hope of a better life, and the responsibilities we have as a society to ensure those choices. #WaterCrisis #UrbanMigration #Sustainability #CleanWaterForAll #HarGharJal #FOMO

India must scrutinize the over-densification of its cities and develop a national policy that discourages population density beyond sustainable limits, considering economic, environmental, and social factors. Simultaneously, it is crucial to launch a comprehensive program to invest in and develop smaller cities, thereby easing the migration pressure on larger urban centres. This approach would foster the growth of other cities sustainably. Additionally, it is essential to promote disaster risk reduction behaviours among all citizens. Men, women, and children across the nation should be encouraged and supported to incorporate risk reduction measures into their daily lives and work practices. Achieving this will require the state to implement a large-scale education initiative focused on disaster risk mitigation and management. #ClimateChange #ClimateMitigation #FightClimateChange #Flooding #IndianMonsoon

🌍 Building Climate-Resilient Cities in India 🌆 As urban India faces escalating climate challenges, a people-centered approach is crucial. The new Climate Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA) framework by WRI India highlights how differential vulnerabilities—shaped by socioeconomic and infrastructural disparities—must guide climate resilience planning. This document focuses on creating climate-resilient cities in India through a framework called the Climate Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA). This tool addresses the growing climate challenges in urban India, such as extreme heat, floods, and rising sea levels, which are exacerbated by social and economic inequalities. Key highlights of the CHVA include: 📌 Differential Vulnerability: It emphasizes understanding how social factors like income, infrastructure access, and governance contribute to varying levels of vulnerability among urban communities. 📌 Framework Components: The CHVA integrates hazard identification, exposure analysis, and vulnerability assessment, focusing on both people and infrastructure. 📌 Participatory Approach: Encourages community involvement and localized data collection to supplement official datasets. 📌 Recommendations: Calls for improved data accessibility, institutionalized frameworks, and targeted interventions for vulnerable populations. The report underscores the need for spatial, iterative, and flexible planning to address these vulnerabilities effectively, using case studies from cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru as examples. Let’s drive transformative action by integrating hazard analysis with social equity. Together, we can create cities that are not only sustainable but just and inclusive! #ClimateResilience #SustainableCities #UrbanPlanning #ClimateAction #EquityInAction #ResilientCommunities #Sustainability