Urban risk assessments: an approach for understanding disaster and climate risk in cities

This paper proposes a framework for carrying out urban risk assessment, and seeks to strengthen coherence and consensus in how cities can plan for natural disasters and climate change. The paper: (i) presents the case for the need to better understand risks related to natural hazards and climate change in cities; (ii) proposes an integrated approach to practitioners for identifying areas; populations and assets most at risk from the effects of disasters and climate change; and (iii) provides preliminary suggestions for risk reduction through quantification of risk and implementation of preventative programs.

Annexes include:

• Urban Risk Assessments: Mexico City Metropolitan Area, Mexico; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Jakarta, Indonesia; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Dakar, Senegal
• Case Studies: Legazpi, Philippines; Sana’a, Yemen; Bogota, Colombia: Using the Urban Disaster Risk Index
• Remote Sensing as a Tool for Assessing Urban Risk
• Community Based Institutional Mapping and Other Participatory Approaches
• Global, National and Local Responses to Disasters and Climate Change
• Tools for Climate Risk Assessment
• Sample Household Urban Risk Questionnaire
• PAGER Construction Types Used for Building Inventory Development
• Urban Risk Assessment Template
• Key Definitions