Urban Climate Resilience and Natural Disaster Management
Smarter, Dynamic, Greener: A programme designed to meet SDGs and to make cities more liveable
INTRODUCTION
As challenges posed by climate change continue to rise, the need for climate resilience has never been more pressing. Natural disasters, such as typhoons, tsunamis, heat waves, floods and droughts are becoming more frequent and severe, causing widespread devastation. These challenges are especially present in Asian cities, where economic growth and rapid urbanisation have made it difficult to tackle climate change. Within this environment, however, a number of opportunities can be found to develop and apply new tools to build climate resilience. Modern solutions are emerging to build attractive, intelligent, and resilient cities across the continent.
The first Course in the Smarter Dynamic Greener Programme is “Urban Climate Resilience and Natural Disaster Management” where we explore complex climate challenges in Asian cities and the latest solutions to tackle them. The course equips participants with up to date and actionable knowledge on strategies to build more resilient urban areas. With this knowledge, we can work towards cities that not only withstand climate-related crises but also thrive in the long term through socially and environmentally responsible urban strategies.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course was developed to address the increasing challenges and risks posed by climate change on urban areas, focusing on a range of frameworks and strategies to minimise impact. The course explores three main topics.
The first, Modelling and Assessing Environmental Impact, focuses on the science of climate change and its environmental impact. Participants will explore climate modelling techniques and study various methodologies for environmental assessment.
The second topic, Infrastructural Solutions for Climate Resilience, is dedicated to the understanding of the strategies, planning and design of climate-resilient infrastructure.
Finally, the last topic, Mechanisms for sustainable change, explores the policies, practices and strategies aimed at promoting resilience, sustainability, and adaptation in the face of climate challenges.
COURSE STRUCTURE
This course will run for three weeks and will commence on February 19 2024. On a weekly basis, participants must join a mandatory LIVE interactive online session led by an industry expert, lasting 1.5 to 2 hours. In these sessions, participants will be delving into the content of the week, emphasizing key theories, methodologies, and case studies to illustrate the topic. These interactive sessions also allow participants to engage with the instructors.
In the final week of this course and in addition to the lecture that week, a virtual solutions marketplace will be held. Using digital tools that enable expo-like structures, all lecturers, guest speakers and external invitees will be available to present specific solutions and answer questions relating to their deployment across Asian cities.
TIMELINE
| Course Part | Component | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Course Start | Release of lecture syllabus and all course information | 05.02. 2024 |
| Intro Session | 19.02. 2024 | |
| Week 1: Modelling and Assessing Environmental Impact | Release of learning material and assignment | 19.02. 2024 |
| Lecture 1 | 20.02.2024 – 23.02.2024 | |
| Deadline assignment 1 | 25.02.2024 | |
| Week 2: Infrastructural Solutions for Climate Resilience | Release of learning material and assignment | 26.02.2024 |
| Lecture 2 | 26.02.2024 – 01.03.2024 | |
| Deadline assignment 2 | 03.03.2024 | |
| Week 3: Mechanisms for sustainable change | Release of learning material and assignment | 04.03.2024 |
| Lecture 3 | 04.03.2024 – 06.03.2024 | |
| Deadline assignment 3 | 10.03.2024 | |
| Solutions Marketplace | Solutions Marketplace | 06.03.2024 – 08.03.2024 |
TOPICS
Instructor: Swapnil Saxena
In the first week of the course “Climate Resilience: dealing with natural disasters”, we delve into the topic of modelling and assessing environmental impact. The content equips participants with essential knowledge and skills to understand, predict, and evaluate the consequences of climate-related impacts on urban environments. Participants will explore innovative techniques and methodologies for predicting and mapping risks relating to natural disaster and changing climates, such as novel approaches to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and dynamic climate modelling. They will learn methods and solutions to map potential risks, quantify their impact and how to make informed decisions in relation to urban planning and disaster preparedness. The content of this week will focus on real case studies in Asian cities, where solutions are critically assessed in their capacity to create lasting and effective change.
Instructor: Mohammed Firoz
Week 2 of our course delves into the critical topic of strengthening urban infrastructure in Asian cities against the consequences of natural disasters and climate change risks. As the impacts of climate change intensify, these cities face an increased risk of typhoons, tsunamis, heat waves, floods and droughts. Our focus during this week includes understanding the specific climate risks and vulnerabilities of Asian cities, exploring innovative engineering solutions for infrastructure resilience, and delving into the concept of green infrastructure, while focusing on adaptive measures. This comprehensive approach aims to equip participants with the knowledge and expertise required to enhance the resilience of urban areas, ensuring they are better prepared for the challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters, while also fostering more sustainable and liveable urban environments.
Instructor: Prakash Kamtam
In week 3 we explore the crucial aspect of bringing about lasting transformation and sustainable change in urban environments. This topic delves into socio-economic, policy and governance mechanisms that drive sustainable change and climate-resilience in cities. A focus is placed on how to facilitate effective collaboration between urban stakeholders, through mechanisms of co-creation, community engagement, and collaborative action-formation policy mechanisms. The content explores effective and novel approaches to such mechanisms, critically evaluating processes that hold potential to generate lasting change in Asian cities. By highlighting the interplay between environmental dynamics and human behaviour, this last week aims to emphasise that real sustainable change and climate-resilience are not solely technical challenges, but complex and multifaceted ones requiring collective action and collaborative societal approaches.
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Research Associate at UNDP India. Saxena’s role is a secondment to the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, where she works on the Biennial Report on Global Infrastructure Resilience. Her recent work on the Global Infrastructure Resilience Report prepared under the partnership of United Nations Development Programme and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure positions her well to deliver this week’s content.
Dr. Mohammed Firoz, an Associated Professor in Urban and Regional Planning at NIT Calicut, India, with a PhD in Regional Development and Planning from IIT Kharagpur, and several years of experience in teaching subjects related to Urban, Regional and Environmental Planning. He is actively involved in research, publishing as well as consultancy and university services in relation to these subjects, and therefore brings a strong expertise for this week’s content.
Prakash Kamtam is an independent consultant with over 26 years of experience working with UN bodies, multi-lateral organisations and the public sector in the areas of smart cities, digital transformation and disaster management. He has worked on a large range of urban planning and development projects and brings considerable experience of projects that span local and national decision-making.
LEARNING MATERIALS
Learning material will be provided each week that supplements the information delivered in the lectures. This material will consist of:
- Pre-selected articles
- Short information pieces
- Explanatory videos (in-house and external)
Revision of the learning material is optional, however the content is selected to compliment the learnings from each topic. As such, participants are encouraged to view the material each week in preparation for lectures.
ASSIGNMENTS
Participants will be required to complete one graded personal assignment per week. Personal assignments will be completed in pairs, with participants paired up in the intro session to the course. The assignments will follow one case study that will run throughout each course with assignments challenging participants to apply the learnings from the lecture, to design solutions for sustainable urban development. The assignments are designed as moments to apply the theory taught in lectures and are therefore open book and limited in their complexity.
Personal assignments will be graded each week by the lecturers, with support from the course coordinators. Scores will be recorded and will contribute to the final certificates of participants.
Certifications
All attendees that complete the course will be provided with a certificate of completion and an alumni-book. The alumni-book will contain photos of attendees, contact information and a memorable moment from the course for each attendee. The purpose of the book is to facilitate connection between attendees after the course ends.
Members of the group that score the highest in the case study workshop and tutorial assignments, combined, will also be awarded a certificate with distinction. This distinction will apply to all group members and is determined by moderators, considering the scores of each group throughout the course.
WHO SHOULD JOIN
The course is designed for public and private actors working in urban development in Asia. It presents a comprehensive process of sharing and collaborative learning to meet SDGs and make cities more livable. Exploring three interconnected topics, the course equips participants with knowledge of new methodologies, tools, and strategies.
COURSE FEES
Each individual course is USD300. However, a discount of USD50 will be given to participants who enrol in two courses, and a discount of 100 USD if participants enrol for all three courses.
Enroll for any one course – USD300
Enroll in any two courses – USD550 (USD300 + USD250)
Enroll in all three courses – USD750 (USD300 + USD250 + USD200)
Registration
APPLY NOW by filling out the application form HERE.
For any further inquiries, drop us an email at duncan.cave@thinkcity.com.my
ORGANISERS
The ISOCARP Institute is an international research centre serving as a “Urban Think Tank” that facilitates the generation and dissemination of knowledge for better cities. We combine a wealth of experience in European research projects, global capacity building programmes, and technical advisory services, to contribute to sustainable and inclusive urban development. With an outreach of 85 countries, the ISOCARP Institute participates in a variety of external projects under different programmes (UN-Habitat, European Union) and collaborates with many world renowned organisations.
The Institute’s prime strengths include; supporting cross-border collaboration globally, upholding professional excellence in urban planning, offering trainings to advance sustainable planning; increasing awareness of major development trends and promoting best practices in urban development.
Think City Institute (TCI) is the culmination of a decade of know-how, experimentation and expertise derived from Think City’s projects and knowledge networks in ASEAN and beyond. TCI will offer resources from our Knowledge Repository, and courses, built inhouse and with our international partners, to all levels of professionals looking to elevate proficiencies in city-making and urban development.
