Chapter 4 Climate and Disaster Resilience Mapping at National Level
Climate and Disaster Resilience in Cities
ISBN: 978-0-85724-319-5, eISBN: 978-0-85724-320-1
Publication date: 30 March 2011
Abstract
In this chapter, the question posed is how the CDRI, applied at various cities spread across a country like India, can draw implications that are applicable for other cities in this country. The aim is to understand the risks, vulnerabilities, and capacities (resilience) of 12 Indian cities to respond to potential climate-related disasters. Surjan, Sharma, and Shaw (in press) highlight that particularly the Asian region is experiencing rapid urban growth, which is not only leading many cities to become megacities, with a population above 10 million, over the next decades (UN, 2010), but also making many smaller and middle-sized cities experience the phenomenon of urbanization (UNISDR, 2009). As it is perceived that more densely populated areas are at greater risk from potential disasters than the less populated ones, like rural areas/villages, cities require particular attention when it comes to reducing risks (UNISDR, 2009). Unplanned urbanization and poor urban governance are regarded as the two main underlying factors accelerating risk to disasters (UNISDR, 2009). The tool to assess the current condition and resilience of these 12 Indian cities is a contextualized CDRI addressing the Indian characteristics. In an era where climate change–related natural hazards (floods, storms, droughts, etc.) are expected to occur more frequently and with higher intensity (IPCC, 2007), Indian cities are becoming more vulnerable to such events (Revi, 2008).
Citation
Joerin, J., Sharma, A., Dhar Chakrabarti, P. and Shaw, R. (2011), "Chapter 4 Climate and Disaster Resilience Mapping at National Level", Shaw, R. and Sharma, A. (Ed.) Climate and Disaster Resilience in Cities (Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management, Vol. 6), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 63-79. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2040-7262(2011)0000006010
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited