Urban Resilience
Urban resilience is “the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience” (100 Resilient Cities, 2016, p. 16).
Adapting Cities for the Future
Urban resilience is the ability of individuals, communities, institutions, and systems within a city to withstand, adapt to, and recover from both chronic stresses and sudden shocks. As defined by 100 Resilient Cities (2016), it represents a city’s capacity to survive and thrive in the face of challenges—ranging from climate change and resource scarcity to economic disruptions and rapid urban growth.
The Urbanization Surge
Although cities occupy just 2% of the Earth’s land surface, they are home to more than half the global population. Over the last century, the urban population has exploded—from 220 million in 1900 to over 2.8 billion by the end of the 20th century. By 2050, nearly 70% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban centres, adding another 2.5 billion people to cities—most of them in Asia and Africa.
Cities are economic powerhouses, generating 80% of global GDP. They also serve as hubs of innovation, education, and cultural development. But this rapid growth brings both opportunity and immense pressure on urban systems.
Water, Infrastructure, and the Urban Boom
Urban growth has been enabled by significant advancements in hydrological engineering. Cities rely on vast infrastructure networks—dams, reservoirs, canals, and pipelines—to transport more than 500 billion litres of water daily across 27,000 kilometres. Today, dams intercept 35% of global river flow, up from just 5% in 1950, underscoring the scale of human intervention in natural water systems.
Challenges in the Developing World
Urbanization in the 21st century is being driven by developing nations. India, China, and Nigeria alone are expected to account for over one-third of global urban growth between 2018 and 2050. By 2030, 81% of the world’s urban population will live in developing countries.
This expansion, while economically significant, will also accelerate the growth of urban poverty and informal settlements. Cities in Africa and Asia are expected to double their populations between 2000 and 2030. By 2028, New Delhi is projected to become the world’s most populous city, highlighting the urgency of sustainable urban planning.
Towards Circular Urbanism
Urban systems today are primarily linear—resources are extracted, consumed, and discarded. This “take-make-dispose” model is unsustainable, leading to resource depletion, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. There is a pressing need to shift towards circular urban models, especially in the management of water, energy, food, and materials.
Adopting circular water management practices—focusing on reuse, recycling, and resource recovery—can significantly reduce dependency on fresh resources, while supporting continued economic development. Integrating Blue-Green Infrastructure (such as permeable surfaces, urban wetlands, and green corridors) into city planning not only enhances resilience but also improves liveability, health, and ecological balance.