Building Resilient Cities through 3R Principles and Higher Resource Efficiency

Abstract

The global phenomenon of urbanization is here to stay. With more than 60% of the total population expected to reside in urban areas by 2050, it is imperative to strongly consider the environmental and economic implications of this global trend. Under the risk of the climate-induced disasters and natural calamities, emergence of technological breakthroughs and fluctuations in the global economy, the importance of various approaches to building ‘resilient’ cities has garnered interest and concern all over the world. In fact, it has also been reiterated in sustainable development goal 11 (Make cities and human settlement inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable). The resilience of cities encompasses a broad range of issues including building efficient recovery systems (engineering and multi-equilibria resilience) in the cities or planning means of adaptation to the increasing environmental, economic or socio-cultural stresses (socio-ecological resilience). It can also be described in terms of transformation brought about by technological advancements. On the whole, it is a matter of utmost importance to ensure that the expansion of existing cities or development of new ones is guided by principles of strong governance or an institution that can adopt technology or absorb the need for innovations. It must also be considered that the cities foster networked material and energy flow which evolve around the idea of resource efficiency and 3R.