Building Urban Resilience to Climate Change Forum

3 Threads of Discussions : 3 Breakaway Sessions : 5 Key Takeaways

BUILDING URBAN RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM
A Risk Management Approach

climate-change-forum For the first time in Belize, 70 of the most influential actors in the urban space representing 44 organizations comprising of central, municipal and village governments, vulnerable populations, the youth, environmental agencies, global and regional development partners, professionals and the media convened on March 2^ndand3^rd, 2016 at the ‘Building Urban Resilience to Climate Change Forum-A Risk Management Approach’ at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City, Belize, specifically to discuss issues, challenges and opportunities in consideration of the impacts of the convergence of urbanization, climate change and climate vulnerability in Belize.

The forum sought to build a broad understanding of the drivers and characteristics of population growth, migration and urbanization in relation to climate change and changing weather patterns in Belize, and the critical importance of integrating risk management in urban planning and management, architectural and engineering designs to build the resilience of urban settlements, particularly vulnerable populations, ecosystems, buildings and infrastructure to their impacts.

The forum was organized by the Belize Association of Planners in collaboration with the Association of Professional Engineers of Belize (APEB) and the Association of Professional Architects of Belize (APAB) in partnership with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC).

Key Threads

The presentations and discussions were instructive, place-based, passionate and engaging, and revolved around three (3) key threads:

The challenges to reducing vulnerabilities of urban populations, particularly vulnerable populations, urban ecosystems and buildings and infrastructure to the impacts of the convergence of population growth and urbanization and climate change and changing weather patterns;

The opportunities for building capacity for urban resilience to the impacts of climate change in terms of planning, engineering, and architectural design, principles and practices; while addressing the broader urban development challenges; and

The opportunities for applying tools for planning, engineering, and architectural design, principles and practices e.g. the Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation Tool (CCORAL).

Breakout Sessions

Three (3) breakaway sessions discussed and prioritized the key challenges and opportunities for building urban resilience of urban populations, particularly the vulnerable populations, eco-systems and infrastructure of climate change and changing weather patterns in Belize, that ought to be considered in national and local strategies and action.

The challenges to reducing vulnerabilities of urban populations, particularly vulnerable populations, urban ecosystems and buildings and infrastructure to the impacts of the convergence of population growth and urbanization and climate change and changing weather patterns;

The opportunities for building capacity for urban resilience to the impacts of climate change in terms of planning, engineering, and architectural design, principles and practices; while addressing the broader urban development challenges; and

The opportunities for applying tools for planning, engineering, and architectural design, principles and practices e.g. the Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation Tool (CCORAL).

Vulnerable Populations, including the poor, women, children, mentally challenged, people living with diverse abilities, HIV Aids, Cancer, Diabetes etc.;

Urban Policies, Legislation and Cultural Heritage

Urban Ecosystems, Buildings and Infrastructure

Conclusion

There were five (5) key takeaways emerging from the conversation for further ventilation and action:

The need for a re-defined and strengthened form of urban governance to deliver on the SDGs, particularly SDG11-Bringing about sustainable, safe, inclusive and resilient cities.

The need for research, capacity and knowledge building, and sharing and disseminating by and between the actors within the urban space on urban populations movement and conditions, and specific tools, approaches and principles to guide urban development policy and shape decision making.

The need for advocacy on priority urban development and climate change issues and concerns, and for enhancing and tailoring communications and engagement to vulnerable target populations.

The need for equitable access to service delivery for vulnerable populations to assure their political, social and civil rights.

The need for global, regional, national and local partnerships for community mobilization and action for building urban resilience to climate change and climate variability and at the same time, addressing urban development challenges.

Next Steps: