Rebuilding Cities in a Climate-Damaged World
Tangible tips for rethinking urban planning in the wake of natural disasters.
“There’s no alternative to sustainable development.”
So began a 2009 article in Harvard Business Review. Although the message was aimed at business, it applies equally well to building cities.
This is especially prescient when the cities in question were damaged or destroyed by climate disaster. Are they being redeveloped with an eye to accommodating that climate, and lessening its impact?
If we use Pakistan as an example, the answer seems to be ‘no’.
Pakistan is currently experiencing the worst floods in 80 years. 1,600 are dead, and more than 20 million affected – nearly 10% of the population.
It’s too early to say if rebuilders will incorporate systems that help Pakistan’s cities accommodate flooding this time. Past experience doesn’t paint a promising picture. There are regular floods in the country, and each one seems to surpass the last in damage caused. Clearly, rebuilding efforts have not addressed the recurring flood problem, leading to ever-more-expensive repetition.
Here in North America, the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina echoes that of Pakistan. 1,836 people died, 15 million people were affected, 275,000 homes were lost.
Unlike Pakistan, however, the US Army Corps of Engineers is building a $14.3 billion line of defense. This will provide greater safety against storms. But it’s a system designed solely for protection, and not accommodation.
An opportunity to rethink
Tragedies like these create opportunities to start anew, with modern approaches and the lens of a more sustainable future.
Core to this is an approach that transitions from immediate needs to insightful long-term strategies.
From technology and systems thinking to urban design and economic development, the community needs to consider not just rebuilding, but reassessing the way the city interacts with nature.
The long-term vision has to incorporate restoration of natural harmony, not just damage control. This means constructing cities that blend environmental value with value to humans.
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