Urbanisation and Climate Security: Towards Integrated Approaches for Cities

Urban security is important to overall climate security, given exposure and vulnerability to climate impacts is ever more urbanised. Non-war related violence is a significant security concern in urban areas. Homicide rates due to non-conflict violence are particularly pronounced in Latin American and Caribbean cities, although on the rise worldwide. Beyond mortality statistics alone, a broad spectrum of civic, interpersonal and everyday urban violence potentially overlaps with the impacts of climate change to create mutually constituted vulnerabilities at the individual, household and community scales. These interactions have been poorly considered in both policy and research, but potentially undermine urban adaptation, security and development efforts. Solutions are needed which tackle unmet urban development needs and address security and climate risks together, both through programmatic interventions and urban planning initiatives. We recommend military and diplomatic security advisors, as well as those interested in transnational crime networks, liaise not only with governments in countries of concern, but also work with representatives of cities and local governments to address these underlying issues

Invited Perspective: Building sustainable and resilient communities – Recommended actions for natural hazard scientists

Reducing disaster risk is critical to securing the ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and natural hazard scientists make a key contribution to achieving this aim. Understanding Earth processes and dynamics underpins hazard analysis, which (alongside analysis of other disaster risk drivers) informs the actions required to manage and reduce disaster risk. Here we suggest how natural hazard research scientists can better contribute to the planning and development of sustainable and resilient communities through improved engagement in disaster risk reduction (DRR). Building on existing good practice, this perspective piece aims to provoke discussion in the natural hazard science community about how we can strengthen our engagement in DRR. We set out seven recommendations for enhancing the integration of natural hazard science into DRR: (i) characterise multi-hazard environments, (ii) prioritise effective, positive, long-term partnerships, (iii) understand and listen to your stakeholders, (iv) embed cultural understanding into natural hazards research, (v) ensure improved and equitable access to hazards information, (vi) champion people-centred DRR (leaving no one behind), and (vii) improve links between DRR and sustainable development. We then proceed to synthesise key actions that natural hazards scientists and research funders should consider taking to improve education, training, and research design, and to strengthen institutional, financial and policy actions. We suggest that these actions should help to strengthen the effective application of natural hazards science to reduce disaster risk. By recognising and taking steps to address the issues raised in these recommendations, we propose that the natural hazard science community can more effectively contribute to the inter/transdisciplinary, integrated work required to improve DR

Pathways from research to sustainable development: insights from ten research projects in sustainability and resilience

Drawing on collective experience from ten collaborative research projects focused on the Global South, we identify three major challenges that impede the translation of research on sustainability and resilience into better-informed choices by individuals and policy-makers that in turn can support transformation to a sustainable future. The three challenges comprise: (i) converting knowledge produced during research projects into successful knowledge application; (ii) scaling up knowledge in time when research projects are short-term and potential impacts are long-term; and (iii) scaling up knowledge across space, from local research sites to larger-scale or even global impact. Some potential pathways for funding agencies to overcome these challenges include providing targeted prolonged funding for dissemination and outreach, and facilitating collaboration and coordination across different sites, research teams, and partner organizations. By systematically documenting these challenges, we hope to pave the way for further innovations in the research cycle

Activating transformation : Integrating interior dimensions of climate change in adaptation planning

The increasing number and complexity of urban risk and disasters have a significant bearing on the emotional and mental wellbeing of those who are exposed and hamper their responses. Nevertheless, current discourses and approaches to increase resilience tend to focus on broader socio-economic, physical and environmental systems. This reflects a failure by the academic and practitioner communities to consider the potential contribution of human interior dimensions in adaptation planning. Concomitantly, a growing body of knowledge highlights the need to bridge the gap between internal and external (systems) approaches for achieving sustainable transformations. Against this background, this article aims to increase knowledge on the operationalization of such more integrative approaches in marginal settings. Based on a case study of a flood adaptation project in Kibera, Kenya, we assess the need and potential ways to address interior dimensions in the context of project planning, design and implementation. We show how the integration of such dimensions occurs in existing adaptation projects and why this matters. On this basis, we provide methodological and operational recommendations regarding ways to support more integrative approaches that bridge subjective, intersubjective, objective and interobjective perspectives to support transformation

Hybrid infrastructures, hybrid governance: new evidence from Nairobi (Kenya) on green-blue-grey infrastructure in informal settlements

QC 20200915</p

Hybrid infrastructures, hybrid governance: new evidence from Nairobi (Kenya) on green-blue-grey infrastructure in informal settlements

QC 20200915</p

Participatory flood modelling for negotiation and planning in urban informal settlements

Participatory modelling in water resource management–involving diverse actors in what is traditionally a purelyanalytical process–is thought to broaden stakeholder engagement and improve outcomes. Further research andcase studies are required to explore the practicalities of integrating meaningful participation within modellingprocesses in the water sector. Participatory modelling may be of particular interest within the context of urbaninformal areas, where the confluence of climate change, urbanisation and contested land requires new methods forengagement and planning. This paper develops new case-based knowledge to inform the application ofparticipatory modelling and planning for informal urban areas. Aflood-modelling project in the large informalneighbourhood of Kibera in central Nairobi, Kenya, is analysed using a newly established framework for theclassification of participatory modelling approaches developed by Basco-Carreraetal. in 2017. Conclusions suggestthat the further upstream more diverse stakeholders can be involved, the better the chance of co-producing newknowledge and of creating implementable plans and policies. At the same time, delivering‘co-design’of modellingprocesses in areas of limited co-operation requires a strong vision for participation, a tolerance for contention, awillingness to learn between actors and a budget to support additional time inputs.QC 20200917</p

Participatory flood modelling for negotiation and planning in urban informal settlements

Participatory modelling in water resource management–involving diverse actors in what is traditionally a purelyanalytical process–is thought to broaden stakeholder engagement and improve outcomes. Further research andcase studies are required to explore the practicalities of integrating meaningful participation within modellingprocesses in the water sector. Participatory modelling may be of particular interest within the context of urbaninformal areas, where the confluence of climate change, urbanisation and contested land requires new methods forengagement and planning. This paper develops new case-based knowledge to inform the application ofparticipatory modelling and planning for informal urban areas. Aflood-modelling project in the large informalneighbourhood of Kibera in central Nairobi, Kenya, is analysed using a newly established framework for theclassification of participatory modelling approaches developed by Basco-Carreraetal. in 2017. Conclusions suggestthat the further upstream more diverse stakeholders can be involved, the better the chance of co-producing newknowledge and of creating implementable plans and policies. At the same time, delivering‘co-design’of modellingprocesses in areas of limited co-operation requires a strong vision for participation, a tolerance for contention, awillingness to learn between actors and a budget to support additional time inputs.QC 20200917</p

Participatory flood modelling for negotiation and planning in urban informal settlements

Participatory modelling in water resource management–involving diverse actors in what is traditionally a purelyanalytical process–is thought to broaden stakeholder engagement and improve outcomes. Further research andcase studies are required to explore the practicalities of integrating meaningful participation within modellingprocesses in the water sector. Participatory modelling may be of particular interest within the context of urbaninformal areas, where the confluence of climate change, urbanisation and contested land requires new methods forengagement and planning. This paper develops new case-based knowledge to inform the application ofparticipatory modelling and planning for informal urban areas. Aflood-modelling project in the large informalneighbourhood of Kibera in central Nairobi, Kenya, is analysed using a newly established framework for theclassification of participatory modelling approaches developed by Basco-Carreraetal. in 2017. Conclusions suggestthat the further upstream more diverse stakeholders can be involved, the better the chance of co-producing newknowledge and of creating implementable plans and policies. At the same time, delivering‘co-design’of modellingprocesses in areas of limited co-operation requires a strong vision for participation, a tolerance for contention, awillingness to learn between actors and a budget to support additional time inputs.QC 20200917</p