Much of Asia’s rapid population and economic growth is occurring in large coastal cities at high risk from sea level rise and climate change. The Cities at Risk workshop, held 26-28 February 2009 in Bangkok, brought together nearly 80 scientists, urban planners and officials, and representatives of disaster management and development agencies to review scientific findings and projections regarding climate-related risks (e.g., sea level rise, extreme climate events, intensification of storms and storm surges) for Asia’s coastal megacities. Participants examined potential vulnerabilities and current coping mechanisms, including possible planning and governance mechanisms that better integrate science information, planning, development, and disaster management. Workshop participants also considered means for improving networking and communication among urban planners/officials and the scientific community in order to enhance urban resilience and adaptive capacities. By bringing together key stakeholders under a common umbrella, the workshop contributed to the sharing of critical knowledge and experiences among participants and helped lay a foundation for future communication and collaboration.
Project • CBA2008-06NSY-Fuchs