Urban Resilience Strategies in the G7 Countries
Urban resilience is becoming increasingly important—not least because of the various crises we face. Cities must therefore focus more on developing the ability to respond appropriately to shocks and disruptions of all kinds and to adapt accordingly after such events. What tools are needed to achieve this? How are other countries and municipalities addressing this issue?
Background to the Research Project: Urban Resilience Strategies in the G7 Countries
In September 2022, ministers responsible for urban development met for the first time under Germany’s G7 presidency to discuss strategies for the sustainable and resilient development of cities. The G7 process that began as a result—also known as the G7 Urban Development Track—is part of the international urban development policy of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development, and Construction (BMWSB).
The results of the discussions and the key points for implementation were set out in a communiqué. The ministers agreed to cooperate closely and coordinate their efforts to address global sustainability issues together with urban stakeholders, utilizing tools of integrated urban development.
One of the four key points of this joint action is the promotion of cooperation and exchange on strategies to strengthen urban resilience. This agreement puts that into practice. It is based on the Memorandum on Urban Resilience, which was published in 2021. The memorandum outlines various requirements for urban development policy; in particular, it calls for more intensive international cooperation to learn from the experiences gained in other countries regarding the strengthening of urban resilience.
More information on the research project: Urban Resilience Strategies in the G7 Countries
The project is based on the following key research questions:
- What current strategies, concepts, legal frameworks, and funding programs for urban resilience exist at the national level in the G7 countries? What are their objectives?
- What experiences at the local level in the G7 countries serve as exemplary and innovative models for German cities, municipalities, and districts?
- How can urban resilience be strengthened through urban development in the interplay between the respective national and corresponding local levels? What role do cooperative, co-productive, and multi-level approaches play
- What need for adaptation arises in specific spatial contexts (e.g., region, city as a whole, urban neighborhood) and in specific fields of action (e.g., public spaces, administrative and governance structures)?
- What specific recommendations for action can be derived for the BMWSB’s urban development policy and for practical work in municipalities in the areas of legislation, funding policy, and standards or guidelines, as well as discourse?
- What specific recommendations for action can be derived for the BMWSB’s international urban development policy regarding its political interaction with the other G7 countries in order to strengthen the existing framework for action within the G7 process?
Objectives of the Research Project: Urban Resilience Strategies in the G7 Countries
A key methodological aspect of the project is the multi-level approach and the involvement of relevant stakeholder groups. This includes, on the one hand, international expert exchange on urban resilience and, on the other hand, the involvement of local stakeholders.
In the first step, the project summarizes the current status of resilient urban practices and identifies international examples of urban resilience in the G7 countries through expert interviews. Based on municipal case studies, the findings are made applicable to municipal practice. In the second step, the project involves various stakeholder groups through workshops and interviews, thereby initiating a corresponding international exchange of expertise.
The findings will result in recommendations for action regarding urban development policy in Germany and for the international urban development policy of the G7 community.
The project pursues the following objectives in research and practice:
- To outline the current state of affairs and the significance of urban resilience in the G7 countries
- To identify and analyze international case studies and approaches in the field of urban resilience in the G7 countries
- To synthesize the findings for use in policy discourse and municipal practice
- Promoting the exchange of knowledge and the cooperative development of resilience strategies among G7 countries
- Formulating concrete recommendations for action to promote urban resilience at the national and international levels
- The findings will result in recommendations for action regarding urban development policy in Germany and for the international urban development policy of the G7 community.
The research team at the University of Augsburg
The international team is made up of various experts. Members of the University of Augsburg’s project include researchers from the Chair of Urban Climate Resilience.
Partners in the research project:
The “ExWoSt” research program is a program of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development, and Construction (BMWSB) and is managed by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs, and Spatial Development (BBSR) within the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR).