We are living in the Anthropocene, a geological epoch defined not by natural cycles but by the significant impact of unabashed human activity. The disruptive consequences brought about by this epochal age are most evident in our cities. As hubs of innovation, mobility, and economic growth, cities are shaping the future of the planet. Yet, these spaces are also the theatres of ecological distress, climate-induced hazards, and growing vulnerability.
Surviving the Anthropocene: Urban Climate Resilience and Disaster Management comes at this critical juncture, a moment of promise and paradox. With cities responsible for a staggering 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and bearing the brunt of climate-related disasters, from unprecedented heatwaves to devastating floods, the imperative to fortify urban resilience is undeniable. Nowhere is this need more urgent than in the Global South, where urbanisation is fast outpacing resilience-building.
This compendium brings together scholars, practitioners, and policy experts who interrogate and reimagine the approaches towards urban resilience. Across 10 essays, contributors explore the complex interplay between infrastructure, equity, finance, governance, and justice. Their research spans disciplines and scales, from passive cooling technologies and heat action plans to gender-sensitive disaster governance, to carbon markets for African cities, and inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems in India’s small towns.
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Contents
Editors’ Note
1. Policy Pathways for Urban Heat Resilience: Leveraging Digital Tools for Risk-Informed Adaptation - Madhurima Sarkar-Swaisgood and Aparna Roy
2. A Multi-Level ‘Mutirão’ Mandate for Urban Climate Action and Disaster Management - Sayli Mankikar and Shinjini Saha
3. Strange Bedfellows: Preparing Climate Action Plans While Perpetuating Disaster-Driving Urban Policies - Ramanath Jha and Dhaval Desai
4. Pathways for Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation Services in India’s Small Cities - Aditi Dwivedi, Jigisha Jaiswal, Meera Mehta, and Dinesh Mehta
5. Heat Adaptation Through Sustainable Cooling and Passive Design - Krishna Vohra
6. Passive Cooling: A Heat Resilience Strategy for Indian Cities - Kamal Kumar Murari
7. Building Climate-Resilient and Equitable Cities in the Global South - Dhaval Desai
8. Gender-Sensitive Approaches to Disaster Management and Climate Adaptation - Mitali Nikore, Brinda Juneja, and Vandhana Ramesh
9. Climate Justice and Inclusive Urban Resilience: Addressing Historical Emissions and Their Unequal Impacts - Meghna Verma
10. Carbon Markets and Urban Transitions: Unlocking Climate Finance for Sub-Saharan Africa’s Cities - Muhammad Hamisu Yadudu and Ruchi Soni