Climate Resilience
Climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation (1.1)
This section introduces the concept of climate resilience, emphasizing the urgent need for cities to respond to growing climate risks such as extreme weather, sea-level rise, and social inequalities. Learners can explore how urban areas, as complex systems, can build resilience through inclusive, flexible, and integrated approaches, promoting a holistic and equitable path to building sustainable, climate-resilient communities. The section also presents practical examples, such as the OASIS Schoolyard project, and highlights the dual importance of mitigation—reducing emissions—and adaptation—adjusting to current and future impacts.
Climate Risk and Risk Management (1.2)
The “Climate Risk and Risk Management” microlearning module provides essential knowledge to assess and manage climate risks effectively. It emphasizes the interplay between hazards, exposure, and vulnerability in shaping climate risks, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive, risk-centred approach in urban planning. Aligned with the UNDRR Sendai Framework, it advocates for integrating risk understanding into all development processes to build resilient urban systems capable of withstanding climate-induced challenges.
Co-benefits of adaptation and resilience (1.3)
This microlearning module explores how climate adaptation strategies can yield additional advantages beyond their primary goals. It introduces concepts like co-benefits—such as improved public health, air quality, and biodiversity—and the resilience dividend, encompassing economic development and social cohesion. The module emphasizes the importance of identifying and quantifying these benefits to inform decision-making and policy alignment. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are highlighted for their multifaceted benefits, including heat mitigation and water management. Case studies like Rotterdam’s Resilient BoTu 2028 Program illustrate practical applications of these concepts.
References
Arup (2013), City Resilience Index. Understanding and measuring city resilience. Available at: https://www.arup.com/insights/city-resilience-index/ (Accessed: January 2024)
Arup (2024), City Resilience Framework 2024 Edition. Available at: https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/city-resilience-framework-2024-edition/ (Accessed: January 2025)
Children & Nature Network (2023). France | Les Cours OASIS: Greening School Grounds. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGk6_b3Q6ZY (Accessed: January 2025)
Climate-Adapt (2022), Paris Oasis Schoolyard Programme, France. Available at: https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/metadata/case-studies/paris-oasis-schoolyard-programme-france (Accessed: January 2025)
Copernicus (2025), Copernicus: 2024 is the first year to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial level. Available at: https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-2024-first-year-exceed-15degc-above-pre-industrial-level (Accessed: January 2025)
Fung, J.F. and Helgeson, J.F. (2017) Defining the Resilience Dividend: Accounting for Co-benefits of Resilience Planning, in NIST Technical Note 1959, pp 1-40. doi: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.1959
Guidebook for Just Financing, Greater Cape Town Water Fund. Available at: https://guidebookforjustfinancing.com/portfolios/greater-cape-town-water-fund/ (Accessed: January 2024)
IPCC, 2022: Annex II: Glossary [Möller, V., R. van Diemen, J.B.R. Matthews, C. Méndez, S. Semenov, J.S. Fuglestvedt, A. Reisinger (eds.)]. In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, M. Tignor, E.S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke, V. Möller, A. Okem, B. Rama (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA, pp. 2897–2930, doi:10.1017/9781009325844.029
IPCC (2024). Sixth Assessment Report: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Available at: https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/ (Accessed: January 2025)
REACHOUT (2023), Online Training Module I. Learning Program for the City Hubs. Available at: https://reachout-cities.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Online-Training-Modules-I-gecomprimeerd.pdf (Accessed: January 2025)
Resilient Rotterdam, Resilient Bospolder-Tussendijken. Available at: https://www.rotterdam.nl/veerkrachtig-bospolder-tussendijken-2028 (Accessed September 2025)
UNDRR, 2019. Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction. Available at: https://www.undrr.org/publication/global-assessment-report-disaster-risk-reduction-2019 (Accessed: January 2025)
UNDRR, Implementing the Sendai Framework. Available at: https://www.undrr.org/implementing-sendai-framework/what-sendai-framework (Accessed: January 2025)
UNDRR, The disaster risk reduction (DRR) glossary. Available at: https://www.undrr.org/drr-glossary/terminology (Accessed: January 2025)
