Enhancing urban resilience through RegionsAdapt

Addressing climate change through good urban and territorial policies has been identified as a strategic dimension by several international processes, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Habitat III preparatory process, including the draft New Urban Agenda. Several efforts required to promote resilient cities frequently extrapolate city boundaries, and thus relies on a multi‐level governance structure, highlighting the important role of regional governments in integrated territorial interventions to promote urban resilience. Hence, this event aims to present some contributions to urban resilience carried out by members and partners of RegionsAdapt, with the objective of advocating for a comprehensive approach that values horizontal and vertical integration among different levels of governance while facing climate adaptation. RegionsAdapt was launched in Paris, alongside COP21. It represents the first global initiative for regional governments to take concrete actions, cooperate and report efforts in climate adaptation. As such, it also provides an important bridge between the global climate agenda and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. Panelists will, therefore, present emblematic cases that foster urban resilience, by exploring the contributions of regional governments and their associated partners in areas such as water management, sustainable agriculture, forestry and biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, and social and economic impacts and opportunities. Also during the event, the main features of RegionsAdapt will be outlined, so as to disseminate this initiative among regional governments and technical experts potentially interested in joining this sub‐national partnership open to all regions across the world. So far, this global initiative comprises 50 signatories from all continents (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania) and all levels of development – its members range from least developed countries to advanced economies.