Advancing UrbanWater Resilience through Multilevel Governance: A Collaborative Call to Action
Water crises consistently rank among the foremost global risks identified in the Global Risk Report (World Economic Forum, 2023). The rapid pace of urbanization has profoundly altered water availability and quality, rendering communities more susceptible to a spectrum of challenges, including floods, droughts, water scarcity, and pollution, with associated adverse health impacts. Climate change exacerbates these risks, as almost 90% of natural disasters are water-related.
Water-related risks are also contributing to increasing inequities, impacting communities and individuals in distinct ways, depending on their socioeconomic status, geographic location, and access to resources. With the The world still lags on its commitments to ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The ever-changing and increasing risks the world is facing further distance scores of people globally from accessing their basic needs.
Building resilience in urban areas emerges as a basic condition for transformative and equitable urban development planning, requiring evidence-based, long-term, and inclusive strategies to reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptive capacity. Recognizing the need for integrated solutions, combining water management and urban planning strategies is crucial.
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