The document discusses urban risks and how ICLEI contributes to building resilient cities. It notes that cities can be both at risk from external threats and pose risks themselves from mismanaged growth. The World Economic Forum now recognizes poorly planned urbanization as a global risk. The document advocates for local risk assessments to be the first step in resilience strategies. ICLEI has worked with communities for 20 years on mitigation and adaptation. It also notes that building resilience requires involvement from all sectors of society and strong urban governance.

1. •
Urban risks and ICLEI’s contribution
towards Resilient Cities
Alice Balbo
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
© ICLEI 2012 www.iclei.org

2. • Cities and risk: Two perspectives
• Cities AT risk
looking at the risks that cities are facing due to
each city’s unique exposure and vulnerability
• Cities AS risk
looking at the risks that poorly managed
urbanization and urban development may pose
to the society and to the national and even
global environment and economy
© ICLEI 2012 www.iclei.org

3. • Urban risks and resilience
World Economic Forum‘s
Global Risks report 2012 included for
the first time
mismanaged urbanization
Poorly planned cities, urban sprawl and
associated infrastructure that amplify drivers of
environmental degradation and cope
ineffectively with rural exodus.
as one of the environmental
man-made risks threatening our
society and economy
Source: EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection
© ICLEI 2012 www.iclei.org

4. • Urban risk and its inclusion
in local resilience strategies
• Local risk assessment needs to be the first step of a local
resilient strategy
With the awareness that if not well planned and implemented this can have
even worse consequences
• ICLEI has been working with local communities in the field of
mitigation and adaptation to build local resilience for the past
20 years
• Resilient City is one of ICLEI’s strategic goals and urban risk
is one of its fundamental components
© ICLEI 2012 www.iclei.org

5. • Resilient Cities
Urban Risk Forum: key observations
• An integrated local resilience approach
involving all sectors and aspects of society is
necessary to effectively reduce risk.
• The private sector can play a key role in
helping local governments to strengthen their
local capacity.
• Risk based, strong urban governance is vital.
Multi-level governance can be the crucial driver
to kick-off local risk assessment and resilience
planning.
© ICLEI 2012 www.iclei.org