Building City Resilience to Climate Change Disasters

Lately, unusual weather conditions are being experienced due to the climate change phenomenon, and their frequent occurrence is affecting the cities. Basically, in some regions of India, patterns of cyclonic activity, rainfall, and temperature are reportedly undergoing a change. There is concern that the civic agencies are unable to respond properly to the emerging situation because the city-level functionaries are less aware of the actions required and are insufficiently prepared. Generally, these lack abilities to handle the situation, and are mainly dependent on state and national administration.

The aim of the roundtable discussion is to generate ideas for policy makers and the administration on building resilience of cities to climate change-induced disasters. In this respect, the following fundamental questions will be discussed:

• How significant is the role of climate change phenomenon in causing disasters, and based on climate trends, which type of weather patterns can be expected in future?
• Is urban India sufficiently prepared for disaster management?
• What are the main features of existing disaster management approaches? How can the shortcomings be overcome?
• What lessons can be learnt from successful disaster management initiatives? Which practices can be applied in Indian cities for efficient management of cyclonic storms, rainfall, landslides, flooding, and heat?

Programme

10:25 - 10:30 (IN)

Welcome Remarks and Introduction

• Rumi Aijaz, Senior Fellow, ORF

10:30 - 12:20 (IN)

Remarks of Speakers

• Aravind Unni, Urban Community and Development Practitioner
• Arunava Dasgupta, Professor, Department of Urban Design, School of Planning and Architecture
• Barsha Poricha, Technical Head, Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE)
• Bhawna Bali, Associate Professor, School of Global Affairs, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD)
• Kanchan Gandhi, Research Consultant
• Oommen Kurian, Senior Fellow - Health Initiative, ORF
• Rajarshi Dasgupta, Assistant Professor, School of Public Policy, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
• Ravinder Singh Negi, Individual Consultant
  
• Vishwas Chitale, Senior Programme Lead, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)

12:20 - 12:50 (IN)

Open Discussion / Q & A Session

12:50 - 13:00 (IN)

Closing Remarks by Dr. Rumi Aijaz

13:00 - 14:00 (IN)

Lunch