Capacity Building for disaster resilience innovation and local

Capacity Building for disaster resilience, innovation and local funding G. K. Bhat, TARU 9 AUG 2014

Challenges of Climate change • India is inherently Energy, Water and Land hungry Country • Maladaptation led by scarcities ( Ukai dam? ) • Water scarcity increasing while about two thirds of urban population only has access to safe water (Census 2011). • Extreme weather events affecting new cities • Floods in new cities (e. g. Bokaro, 2012, 2014) (Urban Bokaro witnessed floods for the first time in its four-decades-plus history. . - The Telegraph-Sep 7 2012). • Heat stress: A hidden threat amplified by with air pollution • Cities threatened with regular vector/water-borne disease outbreaks- Most cities do not have mechanisms to anticipate and act. 22 October 2021 Capacity Building for Resilience: GK Bhat TARU Leading Edge 3

Growing Challenges • Poverty of Resources > Poverty of Services • Private Sector led growth ignoring vs long term Risks • high risk lands cheaper to start with, encroachment of flood plains • Safe cores becoming unsafe (Srinagar, Bokaro floods) • lack of integration of water and energy systems • Water Supply, Sewerage, Storm water, Solid waste departments not integrated • Roads becoming canals/polders; Storm water <>Sewerage • Autonomy for ULBs and tenuous links (& weakening links) with the regional resources • Poor emergency management systems T 0 onwards but no Tplanning 22 October 2021 Capacity Building for Resilience: GK Bhat TARU Leading Edge 4

Lessons from Recent Past: Windows to future • Failed cities can look booming and can attract investments (e. g. Gurgaon) • Risks transform over time- Urbanisation- CC-Poverty nexus • (Srinagar, Bokaro) • Changing economy (Manufacturing >Tertiary sector growth) • Tenuous link between External Resources and Cities>> Growing conflicts • Disruptive technologies: Communication, Plastics and “Car”(Boon and Curse) can be used better, if managed- Drones next in line • Technologies increasing efficiency but catalysing Jobless growth • Late realisation about Public transport: Retrofitting Services very costly • LRHD >> Compact Cities: Can we plan well ahead? 22 October 2021 Capacity Building for Resilience: GK Bhat TARU Leading Edge 5

Capacity building needs • Risk mitigation is not Add-on; but should become part of urban planning • Anticipatory culture need to be built within ULBs • Scenario informed planning (Resources, Economy, Environment, Social, Technologies) • Understanding critical uncertainties • Use of Spatial Tools ( Hydrologic, UHI models) for planning • Linking with academic/research institutions • On job Retraining and paradigm shift necessary • e-governance: Resetting roles of ULBs (Implementers to Information Managers) • Integration Opportunities- e. g. IUWM paradigm (Water as a resource, not public good alone) • As system becomes large > complexity increases • Managing elements > Systems approach • Back up options: “Redundancy in abundancy” >> “Managed redundancy” across scales • Need for educating policy makers about future ready planning 22 October 2021 Capacity Building for Resilience: GK Bhat TARU Leading Edge 6

◘ Natural Resource Management ◘ Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change ◘ Urban Development ◘ Governance ◘ Water Supply and Sanitation ◘ Social Development ◘ Scenario Planning and Strategy Development 22 October 2021 ◘ Communications Gurgaon 424 Qutab Plaza DLF City Phase I Gurgaon 122 002 India Phone + 91 124 2560 424 Fax + 91 124 2560 421 Ahmedabad D-406 SG Highway Ahmedabad-380060 Gujarat, India Phone + 91 79 40052404 e-mail: info@taru. org Bhubaneswar Shimla Indore Surat Over two decades of unique journey in consulting to bridge Science, Institutions and Society Interface Capacity Building for Resilience: GK Bhat TARU Leading Edge www. taru. co. in e-mail: gkbhat@taru. org 7