Cities are on the frontlines of coronavirus infections, with urban residents facing devastating health and economic impacts. Authorities have innovated ways, which they hope will effectively contain the virus and leave cities greener and more climate-resilient. Some cities have established new bike lanes to reduce corona transmission, congestion, and pollution.
Moreover, rainwater harvesting systems, farming initiatives are part of covid resolutions, though they are also part of mitigation measures in food security and flood management. Although COVID-19 cases continue to surge, there is hope for the future, especially in controlling climate change.
Growth Amid the Pandemic
On Monday, cities across the globe decided to divert their post-pandemic plans to manage the virus while combating climate change. Several non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies came together during a Climate Adaptation Summit to formulate the 1000 Cities Adapt Now initiative. The latter will first operate in 100 Urban areas. And with time will expand to up to 1000 cities.
The 1000 cities evolved following the growing concern that adaptation had received less attention in the international climate discussion. Andy Burnham is convinced that when people are given what they have survived with over the past years, they can make changes and improve their lifestyle. And that might impact their surrounding positively.
“After covid, we need a green recovery led by cities,” said Andy Burnham, mayor of Britain’s Manchester, addressing a summit mayors forum.
Members of the 1000 city project have been endorsing for working on resilient recovery and economic recovery, which entails both adaptations, justice, and equity. Amid the pandemic, most parts of cities and towns are undergoing renovations from cycle lanes to restaurants to parking spots.
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The Examples
In the city of Rotterdam, for instance, they have launched an exclusive Dutch port. To be honest, the port is much more than covid, for it will live to serve future needs and even help in climate regulation. The 1000 City project also aims to manage hydrological hazards in the future, I.e., how to deal with stormwater, prepare for drought, and use natural systems such as reinforcing mangroves in coastal ecosystems to control flooding.
Nevertheless, the pandemic has made us see beyond how vulnerable cities are when faced with challenges. For instance, covid emergence deteriorated residents’ health conditions, disrupted businesses, and increased dependency levels, as in the impact was quite massive as such societies should be prepared for significant disruption like covid, and that’s the essence of formulating 1000 cities project.
Meanwhile, as the pandemic seems to escalate, cities are not hesitating to use the opportunity to help officials figure out ways of strengthening their communities for the long term. Currently, seventeen million people living in Istanbul, Turkey, fear they will run out of water while coping with the Covid-19 crises. These are some of the challenges that will be solved amid the pandemic. And they will live to sustain future generations.
The process of recovering from corona helps establish a strong foundation for resilience everywhere in the world.
