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Urban risk & planning

This theme contributes to the understanding of urban risk, which includes urban hazards, exposure and vulnerability. It also covers aspects related to improving awareness, as well as local governance and local capacity to effectively reduce disaster risk.

Latest Urban risk & planning additions in the Knowledge Base

Research briefs

Helping the most vulnerable stay cool in extreme heat

Researchers develops a tool to optimally locate air-conditioned cooling centers in cities facing extreme heat. By leveraging population data and community engagement, it ensures vulnerable communities have access to cooling centers, enhancing resilience.
Eos - AGU
Cover
Documents and publications

From informality to impact: the untapped potential of scaling urban resilience innovation in informality

The study reviews 130 urban resilience solutions in Global South informal contexts, outlining key scaling opportunities and challenges, and offering policy and investment guidance for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations to enhance impact.
Research briefs

How many trees does it take to cool a city?

A new study helps cities scale up data on tree cooling effects, showing a 1% increase in canopy can reduce urban temps significantly. Findings guide city-wide greening to combat heat, equitable tree placement needs local engagement and social input.
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Research briefs

Ordinary policies achieve extraordinary climate adaptation

Despite high flood risk and development pressure, 85% of New Jersey towns avoided floodplain development by consistently applying zoning and building regulations. Tailored use of standard tools effectively limited construction in flood-prone areas.
Earth Observatory of Singapore - Nanyang Technological University
Sea level rise in Tangier VA
Research briefs

Sea-level rise maps can decrease risk perceptions in coastal communities

A new study finds that providing risk-exposed coastal residents with maps of projected sea-level rise was found to reduce individual concern. By contrast, emphasizing infrastructure disruptions increased concern among all coastal residents.
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
People carrying umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun and heat in the USA.
Research briefs

Trees cool better than reflective roofs in vulnerable Houston neighborhoods

Researchers discovered that trees, rather than roof treatments, provided the best relief from the heat in the most vulnerable areas of Houston.
The University of Texas at Austin
Update

How cities can combat extreme heat using nature-based solutions

Urban cooling with nature-based solutions requires integrated planning, equitable access, community input, and local adaptation for fair, effective results.
Development Asia
Cover
Documents and publications

Prioritizing heat mitigation actions in Indian cities: a cost-benefit analysis under climate change scenarios

To inform debate on how scarce public funds could most efficiently be allocated to reduce deaths and productivity loss due to extreme heat, this paper develops spatially explicit heat risk maps for Lucknow, Chennai, and Surat under climate scenarios,
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