ABSTRACT
For the first time in history, more people live in towns and cities than in rural areas. At the same time, climate risk is intensifying in urban areas. This has led to a growing conceptual and applied interest in building resilience to climate-related impacts. We chart the evolution of this concept from a response to specific shocks to becoming a mode of urban governance. Urban resilience is now broadly understood as the ability of cities and towns to function and flourish despite multiple interacting shocks and stresses. However, the fundamental nature of risk that cities face is changing. We centre this book’s analysis on climate-related events, but explicitly link our analysis and response with other risks. Finally, this chapter introduces the book’s critique of current theory and practice, and we call for a set of pivots towards the new kinds of technologies, risk management paradigms and modes of engagement to “reset” resilience practices in urban centres.
