Responding to Climate Change in Asian Cities

"In the wake of COP 21 and Habitat III, this timely book points to the extraordinary potential that cities in Asia - and other rapidly urbanizing parts of the world - have to respond to the complex and unpredictable impacts of climate change. It cautions, however, that this potential can only be realized if we heed the SDG call to "leave no one behind". This is the nub of the 21st Century resilience challenge: "how do we use our cities to avoid non-linearity in some global systems (e.g. tipping points and thresholds in critical earth systems) while encouraging it in others (e.g. transforming society to ensure inclusion and equity for all)? The thoughtful analysis presented here is a much needed resilience Rosetta Stone for the local governments around the world who will have to rise and embrace this complex challenge."– Debra Roberts, Head of Sustainable City Initiatives, eThekwini Municipality, South Africa, Chief Resilience Officer, IPCC Co-Chair Working Group II

"This is an important book. It deals in easily understandable terms with the additional stress that climate change will place on already stressed cities and the need for new governance systems that are required to deal with this pressure. It is a must read not only for academics and practitioners but also for those otherwise involved in the issues of climate change related environment, poverty and political issues." – Arif Hasan, Architect and Chairperson of the Orangi Pilot Project-Research & Training Centre and the Urban Resource Centre in Karachi, Pakistan

"This book is a strategic contribution to our understanding of urban climate resilience in Asia. A diverse set of case studies illustrate the required paradigm shift in climate governance, towards a more inclusive approach, with multiple stakeholders acting at multiple levels for sustainable urban local development." – Wijitbusaba (Ann) Marome, Assistant Professor, Urban Environmental Planning and Development, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, Thailand

"In many respects, cities are at the front line of climate change impacts both in terms of financial and human cost. This book provides an in-depth review of cities in Asia that are at the forefront of problem solving and innovation in how to adapt to climate change. The authors are right: to succeed in reducing the impact of climate change, "out of the box" and evidence-based problem solving will be essential when it comes to the provision of services and the reform of the institutions that provide them." – Mark Redwood, Vice President Water, Sanitation and Environment, Cowater International, Canada

"Cities are complex and man-made environments, and the many challenges facing today’s cities will become more complex due to the effects of climate change on infrastructure, economic growth, social structures and systems. Readers of this book will find many examples and innovations in methods to address the impacts of climate change and lead to more climate resilient cities in Asia." – Purnomo Dwi Sasongko, Secretary of Development and Planning Agency of Semarang City, Indonesia, Chief Resilience Officer, Chairmant of IUCCE