How research helps build more resilient cities

Faced with rising pollution, flooding, epidemics and other risks of natural and manmade disasters, researchers around the world are working hard to make cities more resilient. How are they going about it? What results have they achieved? As the 9th World Urban Forum explores this topic in Malaysia, let’s take a look at the current state of research supported by the AXA Research Fund. Climate Change

Jul 13, 2017

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But that is no reason to throw up our hands in resignation: there are many ways to help cities organize their future and protect their inhabitants. First, that means expanding our understanding of risks so that we can better prepare for them. Next, we need to continue raising awareness about resilience so that populations, governments and businesses can make the right decisions in light of all pertinent information. Finally, we need to share our research results to help governments, decision-makers and civil society to craft appropriate solutions.

Take a look at the topics discussed in the guide:

3.4 mm per year: this is the average rate of sea level rise since 1996. A 2.000-year record.

Through their research work, Vazken Andréassian, Luciano Raso and Roshanka Ranasinghe aim to prevent flood risks and to promote efficient mitigation and management efforts.

8 out of 10 cities around the world are likely to suffer significant damages from earthquakes.

Preventing risks and ensuring the longevity of infrastructure is an absolute necessity for Athanasia Manou, Giovanni Sansavini, Peifeng Ma and Iunio Iervolino, who devote their research supported by the AXA Research Fund to this topic.

+60%: this is the evolution of CO2 emissions around the world between 1990 and 2013.

What can we do to keep pollution from suffocating urban populations? Research by Magali Dreyfus, Sverre Vedal and Fulvio Amato aims to deepen our understanding of this phenomenon, while also proposing concrete initiatives.

44%: this is the percentage of countries around the world with less than one doctor for every 1,000 inhabitants.

How to keep cities from becoming hotbeds for epidemics: that is the topic researched by Simon Cauchemez and Petra Klepac, both supported by the AXA Research Fund.

Since 1990, 33% of the world’s urban population is estimated to live in slums or precarious housing.

How can we protect and support our most vulnerable populations? Field research by Cassidy Johnson, William Donner and Katrina Brown has helped to launch local initiatives, which may be replicated in other areas around the world.

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Tags: Climate Change