Asia megacities forum

Note: tentative date

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and the Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative (EMI), in cooperation with the Government of Maharashtra and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, are co-organizing the 2008 Asia Megacities Forum to bring to light sound practices in Urban Disaster Risk Reduction (Urban-DRR) that are being implemented by various cities and local authorities in Asia and elsewhere in the world, and which are making a significant contribution to the undertaking of the global agenda of the Hyogo Framework for Action. The Forum will be the opportunity to take stake in the state of the practice and in reviewing regional and global initiatives on urban disaster risk reduction (DRR). It is a venue for documenting, promoting and sharing the efforts and commitments made by local authorities in engaging in Urban DRR.

The 2008 Asia Megacities Forum will gather together the partners of EMI’s Cluster Cities Project in Asia, partners in the academia and private sector, representatives of local government organizations, and a broad representation of international and regional organizations, consortiums and public and private institutions. From policy to implementation, research to practice, planning to development, the Forum will address today’s issues of urban DRR by bringing multiple experiences and perspectives, with the ultimate goal of motivating more investment in DRR at the local level, and recognizing the critical role of local authorities in pushing forward the global DRR agenda. More than a regional gathering, the Forum intends to serve as a platform for critical evaluation, strategic planning, knowledge sharing, and advocacy. The Forum will also provide a venue for megacities to demonstrate knowledge of sound practices that other cities may validate, adapt, and apply in their own risk context.