Abstract Summary
"The complexities and uncertainties associated with climate change pose by far the greatest challenges that planners have ever been asked to handle" [1]. Climate-related disruptions are increasing in frequency and complexity, necessitating long-term strategies that encompass interconnected urban systems. While urban resilience theory offers principles to manage uncertainty, it predominantly focuses on individual, short-lived systems, often leading to shortsighted decision-making and neglect of long-term consequences. Additionally, much of the existing planning and resilience theory originates from the Global North and may not adequately capture the dynamics of the Global South. In this presentation, we share insights from an exploratory multi-case analysis aimed at developing a more comprehensive understanding of urban planning in the face of climate uncertainty. Our study entails a thorough examination of climate-related planning responses in two divergent case studies: the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam (representative of the Global North) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (representative of the Global South). Drawing from 39 extensive interviews with senior researchers and planning practitioners, we shed light on highlighting the 'The good, the bad, and the ugly' aspects of integrating climate risks into urban development. Through empirical investigation, we explore how planning practitioners perceive climate risks, formulate response strategies, confront challenges, and navigate an unpredictable future. In conclusion, we propose four key propositions to advance the understanding of urban planning in the context of climate uncertainty, aiming to provide valuable insights for planners, researchers, and policymakers worldwide. We present findings published in two comprehensive journal papers [2,3] [1] Susskind, L., 2010. Responding to the risks posed by climate change: Cities have no choice but to adapt. The Town Planning Review, pp.217-235. [2] Krishnan, S., Aydin, N.Y. and Comes, T., 2023. RISE-UP: Resilience in urban planning for climate uncertainty-empirical insights and theoretical reflections from case studies in Amsterdam and Mumbai. Cities, 141, p.104464. [3] Under Review. Krishnan, S., Aydin, N. and Comes, T., 2023. TIMEWISE: Temporal Urban Dynamics for Urban Resilience-Lessons from the Global North and South.
