Latin America reaffirms its dedication to bolstering local resilience
By CCN News | Published: June 6, 2024
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Image Source: UNDRR
The Americas and Caribbean region have appointed four new Resilience Hubs under the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative.
These four new Resilience Hubs include Montevideo (Uruguay), Pudahuel (Chile), Santa Ana (Costa Rica), and Santiago de Cali (Colombia). This decision, made by the members of the Global Coordinating Committee of MCR2030, signifies a commitment to enhancing local resilience through the development and implementation of risk reduction strategies, the exchange of knowledge and experiences among cities, and the fostering of partnerships.
Being designated as Resilience Hubs places Cali, Montevideo, Pudahuel, and Santa Ana at the forefront of a global network dedicated to reducing disaster risk, promoting climate action, and fostering more equitable and sustainable cities. These cities play a pivotal role within the MCR2030 network by sharing best practices and insights with other municipalities. Globally, more than 1,600 cities are part of MCR2030, with over 700 in the Americas and Caribbean alone, now including 14 Resilience Hubs. The aim is to inspire other local governments to commit to resilience by providing technical support to implement concrete actions.
According to the Regional Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean 2021, 80% of disaster events occur in intermediate and small urban areas. This statistic gains importance considering that by 2030, 60% of the world's population is projected to live in urban areas.
Nahuel Arenas, Chief of UNDRR - Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean, emphasized the role of Resilience Hubs: "Resilience Hubs have a dual commitment: enhancing their own resilience and assisting other municipalities along the way. Disaster impacts transcend borders, underscoring the necessity for city cooperation in implementing effective solutions for sustainable development. These efforts save lives and prevent disasters."
Pudahuel, Chile, focuses on community preparedness and inclusivity in its risk management plans, having pioneered the implementation of the Scorecard Annex for the inclusion of persons with disabilities. This initiative, developed by ONG Inclusiva and UNDRR, underscores the commune's commitment to climate action and coordinated responses to climate risks.
Santa Ana, Costa Rica, a member of MCR2030 since 2022, has crafted a comprehensive Climate Action and Risk Management Plan encompassing 53 mitigation and adaptation actions aligned with national policies and international initiatives. As a Resilience Hub, Santa Ana supports other cities in developing climate and urban resilience plans, integrating disaster risk management and climate adaptation into infrastructure projects and municipal policies.
Montevideo, Uruguay, integrates urban resilience into its practices, focusing on local disaster risk plans that address social, economic, cultural, and gender vulnerabilities. Recognizing the diversity of hazards at the municipal scale, Montevideo prioritizes preparedness across various potential risks.
Santiago de Cali, Colombia, advances projects like the Intelligent Community Early Warning System and the Jarillón Plan, which focus on territorial planning, community preparedness, and multi-hazard approaches. Hosting COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity underscores Cali's commitment to promoting nature-based solutions as effective measures for risk reduction.
As Resilience Hubs, Cali, Montevideo, Pudahuel, and Santa Ana serve as exemplars for other cities, demonstrating that through planning, cooperation, and inclusivity, it is feasible to build safer and more equitable communities with heightened resilience to disasters.
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