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Currently, potentials of spatial planning in disaster risk mitigation have not yet been fully tapped, especially in the context of managed retreat regarding both inhabitants and infrastructure in hazard prone areas. Retreat as a development opportunity in adjusting spatial patterns, diverging urban growth, reducing risks in pre- and post-disasters, achieving urban resilience and “Build Back Better” is undervalued. Besides little success achieved so far, there is a lack of context-specific lessons learnt, particularly in how to prioritize planned retreat. In this paper we attempt to investigate potential barriers, challenges and opportunities of disaster risk-related retreat in both developing and developed countries. Using several country studies, we review and categorise retreat strategies in different development settings and disaster contexts and highlight comparative discussions of both reactive and proactive retreat strategies. We argue that managed retreat can be an effective spatial resilience strategy in disaster mitigation. We propose to examine success factors of retreat, its indicators and criteria, a balance with on-site upgrading and an application of retreat typologies. We emphasise critical aspects including the enhancement of institutional capacity in risk governance, the adoption of legally binding hazard maps and hazard-controlled land use, especially prior to disasters. We vote for embedding of affordable housing with planned retreat schemes and sustaining resettlement sites with viable livelihood strategies, and finally monitoring and evaluating impacts of retreat schemes along with urban development and livelihood performance. We also emphasise community-driven retreat strategies with participation mechanism to ensure inhabitants’ concerns in retreat planning processes to its local context.

Extreme heat is becoming an increasingly dangerous threat to urban residents. However, unlike hazards such as storm surges which have been well studied by agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Commission in the United States, communities lack basic knowledge of where extreme heat threats are likely to have the most impact, and who is likely to be most affected. Here, we apply a mapping approach to identify areas of New York City where people are likely to be particularly vulnerable to extreme heat-related health effects based on both exposure to biophysical elements that exacerbate heat, and sensitivity to heat-related health impacts. Unlike most studies that develop indicators of heat vulnerability at Census-based aggregations, we disaggregate population data to a fine scale, in order to more precisely identify vulnerable communities. Using a landscape-based indicator that links exposure to properties of the urban built and natural landscape, we develop an approach for informing land-based strategies for mitigating micro-urban heat islands. Our findings indicate that African Americans and households living below the poverty line are disproportionately exposed to high surface temperatures. This study illustrates an approach for identifying multiple dimensions of vulnerability to extreme heat with improved location precision, in a way that informs spatially strategic extreme heat mitigation efforts.

Extreme heat is a growing concern for cities, with both climate change and the urban heat island (UHI) effect increasingly impacting public health, economies, urban infrastructure, and urban ecology. To better understand the current state of planning for extreme heat, we conducted a systematic literature review. We found that most of the research focuses on UHI mapping and modeling, while few studies delve into extreme heat planning and governance processes. An in-depth review of this literature reveals common institutional, policy, and informational barriers and strategies for overcoming them. Identified challenges include siloed heat governance and research that limit cross-governmental and interdisciplinary collaboration; complex, context-specific, and diverse heat resilience strategies; the need to combine extreme heat “risk management” strategies (focused on preparing and responding to extreme heat events) and “design of the built environment” strategies (spatial planning and design interventions that intentionally reduce urban temperatures); and the need for extensive, multidisciplinary data and tools that are often not readily available. These challenges point to several avenues for future heat planning research. Ultimately, we argue that planners have an important role to play in building heat resilience and conclude by identifying areas where scholars and practitioners can work together to advance our understanding of extreme heat planning.

Cities are increasingly incorporating climate resiliency goals into planning, development, and sustainability efforts. Such efforts are often touted as opportunities to promote climate justice that will not only support adaptation and mitigation efforts but also improve local environmental quality and bring higher paying, green jobs to frontline communities. Yet many local community leaders and residents remain skeptical of the promised benefits of climate-resilient development in their neighborhoods, fearing that new investments will attract higher income earners, intensify real estate pressures, and contribute to green gentrification. This study investigates the synergies and tensions that are emerging as cities develop policy responses to address climate change, implement resiliency projects, and meet economic, equity and social justice goals. Through a case study of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, a low-income working waterfront community in New York City, the paper explores community efforts to exert influence over two large-scale, climate resiliency-focused development projects. Data sources for the study include interviews with city officials, private sector representatives, community leaders and residents, participation in community events and workshops, and analysis of planning and policy documents. The study finds that an extensive legacy of community-led planning, the presence of proactive community champions, and grassroots mobilizations were critical factors that strengthened local influence over urban resiliency planning processes. It offers lessons and strategies for empowering local voices in community-based adaptation and resiliency efforts and for achieving climate justice objectives.

Urban resilience is a major indicator of a city’s sustainability. Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, thereby increasing uncertainty and disaster risk. A city’s capacity to cope with climatic risks can be improved by developing resilience. In China, heavy rainfall is the most frequent and costly extreme weather event. We conducted a comparative case study on Beijing’s extraordinary 7.21 rainstorm disaster in 2012 and the 7.20 rainstorm in 2016. Taken generic resilience and specific resilience as the analytical framework, we found that generic resilience is mainly determined by the socio-economic development level and geography of each district; while the combination of engineering and non-engineering adaptive measures after 2012 disaster has improved the specific resilience to rainstorm disaster, which contributed a good performance in the 2016 rainstorm. As a megacity in China, Beijing is a representative case that provides guidance for other cities to improve their urban resilience to rainstorm disasters.

Cities today face significant difficulties and even risks due to the negative effects of climate change, uncontrolled urbanization, and rapid population growth. Many urban scenarios are being developed to mitigate potential risks and threats. One branch of these scenarios is built upon the concept of sustainability, for which the notion of “resilience” is of utmost importance. It is this notion of resilience that was examined in this study, based on the case of socio-ecological system features of Edremit, Van, Turkey. These features were evaluated in terms of changes that will potentially take place, and the analysis for this was performed using the Green Infrastructure Spatial Planning (GISP) method. In this approach, green infrastructure benefit criteria are mapped in the Geographic Information System (GIS) environment and various conclusions are drawn from the evaluation of these maps. The results of the study show that the green infrastructure systems of Edremit play an important role in providing a certain degree of resilience. It was, therefore, revealed as part of this study that measuring and evaluating the resilience properties of different cities is important. Also, urban policies and spatial strategies should be defined considering local characteristics and values as there is no one-size-fits-all solution in this regard.

Regarding the approach of reducing risks of settlements, a system is considered to be resilient if it can address temporary and permanent risks and adapt itself to rapidly changing conditions without losing its functionality. To this end, a dynamic management approach on a local scale is needed for realizing resilience. Due to the importance of local management in improving resilience in cities, this study aims to assess the resilience capacity of the local risk management in terms of exposure to various crises in Tabriz, Iran. The findings in this study show that integrity and coordination in decision- or policy-making, enhancement of organizational and local capacities, and confrontation or rehabilitation approaches in critical conditions and after that are not desirable in Tabriz. Also, the centralized and top-down approaches lead to no proper local planning and management that can facilitate the resilience measures. In light of no spatial equilibrium in Tabriz and the inefficiency of conventional planning and management systems, technocrat-oriented and top-down, changing the management practices and emphasizing the local and bottom-up approach are necessary for the thorough understanding of facilities and limitations and implementation of realistic planning.

Urban resilience has been a research focus, particularly with the pandemic impact on urban infrastructure, service provision and accessibility to core resources. This paper explores the need for interdisciplinary approaches to the built environment that integrate water, energy, and food resources. The study goes through articles on water, energy and food nexus and urban resilience in the past 10 years. It identifies the key research focus, gaps and needs for future research. Recommendations for future studies include the allocation of funds to ensure vulnerable communities have access to resources, sustainable operation of urban agriculture practices, circular economy and reuse, and engagement of experts, local authorities and communities in decision-making and training. The study recommends using quantitative assessment to identify the impact of urban agriculture and urban water management practices on the environment and include socio-economic aspects in assessment models. Finally, participatory approaches and integrating technology are recommended for promoting sustainable resilient communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant economic and social impacts worldwide and revealed the importance and urgency of urban resilience enhancement. To learn the lessons from this pandemic, this study undertook a case study in Wuhan City, which was the first city in China where the outbreak was declared, and analyzed the process of its response to the pandemic. Based on the theory of emergency management, this study identified four stages of the emergency management process and conducted an in-depth analysis of the experience gained at each stage from the perspective of urban resilience. Then, this study evaluated the level of urban resilience of Wuhan City, and put forward suggestions for enhancement of the emergency system of China. The findings provided important revelation for other cities to cope with major disasters in the future.