With the rising of variation already happening due to climate change and with time running out, we have to take necessary actions to ensure that our policy framework and structure are conducive to ensure social sustainability and minimize adverse impacts of climate change. All the stakeholders need to be empowered to achieve a win – win scenario. This will help in harnessing change through the right means.
Climate induced disasters are becoming more and more frequent. The scale and proportion of this onslaught has resulted in displacements, loss of assets and the destruction of livelihoods. These challenges are more evident in the cities that are facing shocks and stresses as a result of these impacts. Exacerbating this are systemic deficiencies in cities’ institutional processes which have further complicated the process of resilience building. Human welfare measures can play an important role in helping people to bounce back.
“I had to abandon my home due to river bank erosion. And so many of us had to do the same and we were forced to move to a slum in the city,” said a resident of Baitul Aman slums, Faridpur, Dhaka.
The challenges emerging as a result of climate change and its varying levels of impacts and threats are leading cities to foster partnerships among stakeholders to bring about significant changes, especially for the urban poor.