Mr.
Choudhury Rudra Charan Mohanty, Coordinator of Environment Programme, UNCRD/UN
DESA
According
to UN estimates, between 1900 and 2015, the urbanized population increased from
14% to 54% and is forecasted to rise to 66% by 2050.
Demand
for housing, food and consumer goods will keep increasing - accelerated levels
of material use, rising urbanization and affluence levels.
Material
consumption by the world’s cities will grow from 40 billion tonnes in 2010 to
about 90 billion tonnes by 2050.
Currently
more than 50% of the World’s people live in urban centers and this figure is
expected to increase (>70% by 2050) considerably in the coming decades as
per UN estimates; cities consume > 70% of all resources; generate > 75%
GHG emissions; > 80% global GDP;
“Urban
Resilience is the ability to adapt, survive and grow when faced with sudden
challenges posed by shocks and stresses ”…….. The Rockefeller Foundation
Urban
resilience will therefore require that ecosystems be properly managed, Climate
Change and its impacts be controlled; and all are achievable by having a strong
3R strategies. The nexus between these elements therefore very critical.
3Rs
and circular economy offer an environmentally friendly alternatives to deal
with the growing waste generation and its related impact on human health,
economy and natural ecosystem thus contributing to Urban Resilience.
