ESSENTIAL: Risk-related resettlement and relocation in urban areas

This executive summary from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) outlines recommendations and best practices for urban resettlement and relocation as a strategy for managing disaster risk, emphasizing the social and economic risks associated with these interventions.

• While resettlement and relocation can lower exposure to hazards, they frequently result in a net negative impact on the social and economic well-being of the affected populations compared to their previous situation.
• Resettlement should be treated as a final option only after all possibilities for on-site upgrading or mitigation have been tried, noting that authorities and local communities often perceive risks differently.
• To prevent the recurring need for resettlement, urban planning must ensure new settlements are not placed in hazard-prone areas, and the systemic drivers of inequality and environmental degradation must be addressed as part of long-term sustainable development.
• There is a requirement for policies and procedures to protect human rights, which may involve strengthening legal frameworks and adhering to international covenants on resettlement.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2017). ESSENTIAL: Risk-related resettlement and relocation in urban areas. https://cdkn.org/resource/essential-risk-related-resettlement-relocation-urban-areas

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. ESSENTIAL: Risk-related resettlement and relocation in urban areas. 2017. https://cdkn.org/resource/essential-risk-related-resettlement-relocation-urban-areas.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=ESSENTIAL: Risk-related resettlement and relocation in urban areas |date=19 July 2017 |url=https://cdkn.org/resource/essential-risk-related-resettlement-relocation-urban-areas |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2017essential, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{ESSENTIAL: Risk-related resettlement and relocation in urban areas}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2017}, month = jul, url = {https://cdkn.org/resource/essential-risk-related-resettlement-relocation-urban-areas}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }