Resilient Economies Strategies for Sinking Cities and Flood Risks 2025

TABLE 1 Key drivers and enablers for addressing sinking cities *Definitions modified and based on: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2019). Annex I: Glossary. In: Climate Change and Land: an IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems. Edited by P .R. Shukla, J. Skea, E. Calvo Buendia, V. Masson-Delmotte, et al. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2019/11/11_Annex-I-Glossary.pdf.Driver/enabler Description Value of natural assetsLand, water and airLand, water and air are recognized as high value, strategic natural assets, essential for sustaining life and economic activity. Their value is assessed not only in terms of immediate economic and social utility, but also through the lens of preserving quality (reducing pollution) and quantity, while ensuring long- term sustainability. Overall resilience and preparednessPreventionImplement strategies and solutions to identify and address the root causes of land subsidence, particularly those driven by human activity. Early intervention is essential to prevent the onset and escalation of risks. Mitigation*Build targeted interventions that reduce the severity, costs and impacts of land subsidence, as well as the factors that exacerbate these risks. Adaptation*Adjust urban systems and practices in response to actual or anticipated land subsidence and compounding risks, with the aim of avoiding harm. Resilience*Resilience is the capacity of human systems to withstand, respond to and reorganize to subsidence and compounding risks, while maintaining their essential functions, identity and structure, and ability learn and adapt. Systems thinking and evidence- based decisionsUnderstand interdependencies with evidenceComprehend the complex interdependencies, behaviours and feedback loops between human activities, land subsidence, climate risks, and their impacts on the economy, environment and society based on evidence. Integrated approaches and solutionsCombine urban planning, policy development, infrastructure, investment, technology, innovation and data, and nature-based solutions, guided by evidence and predictive insights to deliver holistic and sustainable outcomes. Governance and leadership Willingness to actLocal and national governments must understand the immediate and long- term risks posed by land subsidence, its interaction with climate change risks and demonstrate strong commitment to address challenges through decisive leadership and sustained action. Foundational regulations and policiesImplement evidence-based legal, regulatory and policy frameworks to mandate and guide actions for the prevention, mitigation, adaptation and resilience to subsidence, while aligning with boarder climate resilience objectives. Cross-government and institution coordinationFacilitate interagency and multi-level collaboration to ensure coordinated, cohesive and integrated strategies to address subsidence and risks. Communities and stakeholdersResident and community engagementActively involve residents and communities as key partners in addressing subsidence. Harnessing local knowledge and lived experiences can inform effective strategies and enable the co-creation and delivery of tailored solutions. Private sector or non- government engagementEngage businesses and non-governmental organizations in learnings, strategy development, implementation and investment, including local data collection and sharing of practical experiences. Resilient infrastructure and investmentsTransition from groundwater to surface waterReduce reliance on groundwater by prioritizing the use of sustainable surface water sources. Proactive infrastructure investmentMove beyond reactive repairs through forward-looking infrastructure planning. Prioritize upfront investments to enhance resilience, ensuring critical systems are prepared to withstand future shocks and stresses. Nature-based solutions and climate-risk-resilient designsIntegrate natural systems and climate resilience principles (e.g. sponge solutions, wetlands restoration, mangrove protection) into urban planning and development to enhance water absorption, reduce flood risks and protect coastlines. Technology, data and researchData-driven actionsUse data from current and emerging technologies, innovation, research insights, including advanced satellite technologies and predictive modelling tools and other reliable sources, to inform decisions. Continuous understandingFacilitate ongoing accurate and reliable qualitative and quantitative research and collaborations with businesses, governments, institutions, academia and civil society to unlock timely information to support measurements, monitoring, assessments, evaluations and predictive analytics for subsidence and its interaction with climate risks. Resilient Economies: Strategies for Sinking Cities and Flood Risks 36