Building climate resilience in cities

This CDKN Essentials fact sheet outlines the importance of building climate resilience in cities, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It highlights the role of local authorities as leaders in innovation and the challenges they face regarding resources and decision-making power, while showcasing specific CDKN initiatives in India, Colombia, and other regions to support climate-compatible development.

• Urbanization is increasing rapidly, with 54% of the global population, or 4 billion people, now living in cities. This population grows by 57 million people annually, and many of the most vulnerable people reside in these urban areas.
• City mayors and local authorities are well-positioned to lead climate resilience efforts because they have first-hand local experience, can mobilize local resources, and can develop solutions tailored to their city's specific risks. Cities often act as innovators that can advance agendas for national governments and produce results faster than national-level actions.
• Despite their potential, local authorities often lack the necessary decision-making power, capacity, or resources to move from diagnosis to action. This is particularly evident in informal settlements, which house the most vulnerable residents, and in secondary or lower-capacity cities that are experiencing the fastest growth.
• CDKN has implemented several initiatives to build urban resilience since 2012, including: studying extreme heat responses in Ahmedabad, India (2013-2015); integrating climate adaptation into city planning in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, via 'Plan 4C'; using carbon and water footprinting in Andean cities; and researching local financial sources for resilience in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2017). Building climate resilience in cities. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/GIP01808_Essentials_Resilient_Cities_final_web-res.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Building climate resilience in cities. 2017. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/GIP01808_Essentials_Resilient_Cities_final_web-res.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Building climate resilience in cities |date=June 2017 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/GIP01808_Essentials_Resilient_Cities_final_web-res.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2017building, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Building climate resilience in cities}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2017}, month = jun, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/GIP01808_Essentials_Resilient_Cities_final_web-res.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }