18th Short Course

Developing Networks to Build Urban Climate Resilience

14th May to 20th May, 2015: Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

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Application Dates: 1st January to 28th February, 2015

Course coordinators

  • Dr. David Dodman (IIED)
  • Dr. Diane Archer (IIED)

Objectives

In the next 20 years the world’s urban population is expected to rise from 3.3 billion to 5 billion. Urbanisation will increase the pressure on infrastructure and services like road networks and the provision of electricity and water and sanitation. Climate change presents additional challenges: Increasing temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, rising sea levels and more frequent and severe extreme events threaten to overwhelm urban infrastructure, emergency services, social services and urban management systems. Adaptation will require action at the local level to adapt to climate change and protect residents, industries, societies and economies from the impacts of climate change. This needs to be supported by city officials and other practitioners who are able to work in innovative ways to respond to the dual challenges of urbanization and climate change.

This course will strengthen the capacity of city officials who have been mandated to engage with adaptation and resilience in urban areas, particularly through enhancing their ability to build and strengthen relationships between stakeholders within their cities, and to develop networks with other cities in their country and internationally. It will be particularly appropriate for local government employees in towns and cities that have recently identified climate change adaptation as a priority, but that are still at early stages in developing their responses.

The course will provide participants with a sound understanding of the key drivers and processes of climate change in urban areas, and the key principles and practices of conducting vulnerability assessments, developing adaptation plans, and implementing adaptation projects. There will be a specific focus on the principles and practice of building urban networks to support these processes.  Upon completion of the course, participants will be equipped to undertake many of the activities that are necessary to strengthen the resilience of their cities, and will be sufficiently aware and knowledgeable to generate support for these actions within their municipal or local government agencies and networks. 

Training approach

The course will be conducted using a range of teaching methods including lectures, participatory discussions and case studies. Participants will share their own experience of developing responses (including creating and sustaining networks) to complex environmental challenges – including climate change – in their cities.

The course will also include a field visit organized in association with a local government authority in Bangladesh. The interactions between participants will form a key part of the knowledge exchange and learning process, and will contribute to the development of a global network of city officials who are engaged in building city resilience.

Intended Participants

This week-long course is designed primarily for city officials and urban practitioners working on urban climate change who want to enhance their ability to engage in and work through networks; or people who have experience in working on (environmental) city networks who want to expand these to addressing the challenges of climate change.

For more information, please contact mahmudsabuj11@gmail.com