Urbanisation and global environmental change are two of the most significant challenges facing cities and societies in the Global South. These challenges are particularly acute in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region.
Climate change will aggravate the significant risks already posed by natural hazards, impacting towns and cities that are also rapidly urbanising. In the Pacific, geographical isolation places further stress on the resilience of communities in Small Island States (SIDS). Rapid urban growth often overwhelms local Government response, in some cases leading to unplanned informal settlements and a significant growth in the numbers of ‘urban poor’, a group considered the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Responding to this critical urban resilience agenda in the Global South, the Centre for Urban Research houses CRU-AP; a group of researchers drawn from across different schools and disciplines to collaborate on projects that offer scientific, technical, and capacity strengthening solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing fast-growing towns and cities in the Asia Pacific region. This geographic focus closely complements the Climate Change Transformations group, which predominantly focuses on the Australian context, allowing for a sharing of people and knowledge between the two climate adaptation groups.
Partners and regional engagement:
UN-Habitat (Nairobi and the Asia Pacific regional office)
UN 10YFP Sustainable Building & Construction Programme
Solomon Islands Government
Honiara City Council
Solomon Islands National University
Honiara City Youth Council.
Projects:
Climate Resilient Honiara, phase 2: funded by UNFCCC Adaptation Fund and administered by UN-Habitat (2022-2023).
Inclusive and Disaster Resilient Shelter Guide: Urban Informal Settlements, Honiara, Solomon Islands: funded by the AHP Disaster Ready programme and administered by Habitat for Humanity (2021 – 22)
Unlocking the potential of urban gardens as a mechanism for sustainable, climate resilient, livelihoods in Greater Honiara: funded by SPC (Pacific Community) (2021 – 22)
Climate Resilient Honiara, phase 1: funded by UNFCCC Adaptation Fund and administered by UN-Habitat (2019 – 2022).
Nature-based solutions (NbS) for enhanced climate resilience of informal settlements (SIDA)
Selected publications:
Journal articles
Reports
Women, urban gardens, and local food security
Inclusive and Disaster Resilient Shelter Guide: Urban Informal Settlements, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Nature-based solutions for enhanced climate resilience of informal settlements
Community profiling methodology
Enumerator training notes: community profiling
Local validation of community engineering actions
Kukum Fishing Village – climate resilient community development plan
Ontong Java – climate resilient community development plan
Aekafo-Feraladoa Planning Area – climate resilient community development plan
Wind Valley – climate resilient community development plan
Jabros – climate resilient community development plan
Design and location of new evacuation centres
Locally Appropriate Peri-Urban Land Administration Options
Inclusive and Disaster Resilient Shelter Guide: Urban Informal Settlements, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Climate risk comics (Pidgin)
Disaster resilient housing (Junior)
Disaster resilient housing (Jackson)
Urban gardens, climate change, and local food security (Casper)
Urban gardens, climate change, and local food security (Rowena)
Impact
Learn more about some of the impacts from the project here.