Resilient Economies Strategies for Sinking Cities and Flood Risks 2025

Effectively addressing land subsidence, alongside the compounding risks associated with sea- level rise and extreme weather events, requires a coordinated, cohesive multistakeholder approach. National and local governments, large corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), technology providers, academia, civil society and local communities each have critical roles to play in advancing urban resilience. The following action areas highlight how diverse stakeholder groups can contribute to addressing subsidence and related challenges.3.3 What actions can the public and private sectors take? TABLE 2 Action areas for public-private sectors and stakeholders to address sinking cities (non-exhaustive) Stakeholders Recommended actions Governments (national/local)Develop national-level directives and masterplans on land subsidence intervention and adaptation strategies. Establish multistakeholder governance platforms (at basin, national and transboundary levels) to monitor the progress of land subsidence and coordinate water management, data-sharing and investment priorities. Facilitate and/or provide funding and financing support to implement national and local initiatives through: –Development of investable projects with clear risk-return profiles –Blended finance mechanisms (e.g. concessional loans, guarantees, and co-investment) –Water-related green bonds, water credits, or payments for ecosystem services to finance groundwater and land subsidence solutions –Innovation-friendly regulatory environments that allow experimentation with emerging technologies Identify root causes of land subsidence to inform targeted policies and interventions; use reliable and accurate data from satellite and other sources. Regulate and progressively reduce unsustainable groundwater extraction while investing in alternative sources. Develop national frameworks to value water’s full cost (economic, environmental and social), integrating pricing mechanisms that reflect water quality and quantity, and ecosystem services and align with global initiatives to promote consistency in water valuation and data collection. Develop and enforce zoning regulations on high-risk subsidence areas. Use nature-based solutions where possible for groundwater retention. Engage and provide incentives for businesses, civil society organizations, residents and other stakeholders in land subsidence strategy planning and implementation, while ensuring inclusive governance by including women, Indigenous groups, youth and others. Strengthen capacity-building programmes for residents and businesses on land subsidence and water risk management. Integrate social protection measures and livelihood support for communities most affected by land subsidence. Create multistakeholder innovation platforms linking government, utilities and technology firms (e.g. 50L Home Coalition model), and use these data in planning decisions, including regular monitoring of land subsidence and flooding. Resilient Economies: Strategies for Sinking Cities and Flood Risks 37