SHAPING THE FUTURE HOW CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS CAN POWER HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
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the poor, the risks are even greater, as many are<br />
forced to settle in areas with the least protection<br />
from flooding and other dangers. With limited<br />
savings or coverage by social safety nets, they<br />
may be unable to recover from a disaster, which<br />
can perpetuate the cycle of poverty and limit<br />
human development across generations.<br />
In 2011, 70 percent of Asia-Pacific cities<br />
with more than 750,000 people were considered<br />
at high risk of natural disaster. This translates<br />
into 562 million vulnerable people—a number<br />
that will undoubtedly grow. Across the region,<br />
73 cities are deemed particularly vulnerable,<br />
being at high risk of at least two different natural<br />
hazards. 40 These include Tokyo (cyclones and<br />
floods), Shanghai (cyclones and floods) and<br />
Kolkata (droughts and flood). Manila is one of<br />
the most vulnerable cities; already home to 12<br />
million people, it is in danger of being hit by<br />
cyclones, earthquakes and floods.<br />
FIGURE 5.17:<br />
Cities tend to generate more solid waste than<br />
rural areas<br />
BOX 5.3:<br />
Effective planning can reduce urban<br />
vulnerabilities<br />
Coastal cities and urban areas in Asia-Pacific,<br />
especially those with dense populations in<br />
slums, are highly vulnerable to natural disasters,<br />
with the risks expected to increase dramatically<br />
through climate change. In the last few years,<br />
urban flooding has affected millions of people<br />
in Bangkok (2011), Chennai (2015), Dhaka<br />
(2015), Jakarta (2013), Karachi (2009) and<br />
Manila (2012). In Dhaka, 30 percent of people<br />
live in slums near water edges that make them<br />
more vulnerable to coastal flooding. In Jakarta,<br />
40 percent of the land is below sea level, leaving<br />
the city highly vulnerable to flash floods during<br />
rainy seasons. A number of Asia-Pacific cities<br />
are susceptible to earthquakes, particularly<br />
where city structures do not comply with adequate<br />
building codes, as was observed in the<br />
fatal 2015 earthquake in Kathmandu.<br />
Better city planning, early warning systems and<br />
effective urban governance can help reduce the<br />
risks and impacts of natural disasters. Understanding<br />
and communicating risk, reducing risk<br />
and managing risk are three key elements that<br />
countries in the region need to look into as part<br />
of sustainable urban development planning. In<br />
particular, greater attention need to go towards<br />
building resilience and ensuring city development<br />
adapts to climate shocks.<br />
Many urban areas<br />
are highly vulnerable<br />
to natural disasters<br />
Source: Waste Atlas 2015.<br />
DISASTERS IN ASIA-PACIFIC: 2005-2014<br />
1,300+<br />
Events<br />
331,000+<br />
People killed<br />
1.4 billion+<br />
People affected<br />
$429 billion<br />
Total damage<br />
Source: UNDP 2015b, The Guardian 2010.<br />
167