The Future of Asian & Pacific Cities Report 2023 entitled, Crisis Resilient Urban Futures, is a comprehensive analysis and assessment of sustainable urban development in the Asia and Pacific region at a time of great disruption and uncertainty resulting from multiple interlinked global crises in a post-pandemic era. This report aims to provide valuable insights into the spatial, economic, social, environmental and governance aspects of cities, offering holistic policy recommendations towards a sustainable urban recovery from these crises.
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Introduction | Shocks in the city: Multiple interlinked crises test sustainable urban development
The world is facing multiple and interlinked crises, a perfect storm that is testing the limits of current development paradigms. As countries and cities across Asia and the Pacific struggle to recover from the health and socioeconomic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of climate change continue to ravage the region. Geopolitical tensions and the growing food and energy crisis are undermining prospects for a true recovery and are, consequently, placing the aspirations of the New Urban Agenda and localization of the Sustainable Development Goals in the region seemingly out of reach. Drawing upon consultations on the status of Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities in the region, in the present report, the linkages between urban planning, climate action, digitalization and finance in urban areas of Asia and the Pacific are explored. The report concludes with actions for policymakers to guide urban cooperation and partnerships to address severe disruptions and long-standing development challenges in cities for a sustainable urban recovery in Asia and the Pacific.
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Chapter 1 | Urban and territorial planning for a resilient future
To strengthen urban and territorial planning, the first chapter provides an analysis of the current dynamics faced by cities in the Asia-Pacific region as they grow and evolve spatially, especially due to the consequences of unplanned accelerated urbanization. It is focused on the interconnected network of systems within cities, and the benefits of urban and land-use planning and compact cities to improve quality of life, resilience and sustainability. The role of holistic approaches to urban and territorial planning is fundamental to addressing the challenges related to all aspects of urban life in the region, including mobility, equitable access to services and affordable housing, especially for people living and working in informal settlements, are highlighted in the chapter.
Chapter 1 | Urban and territorial planning for a resilient future
Chapter 2 | Urban resilience at a crossroads: multilevel climate action
Climate change and the threats it brings to urban centres in Asia and the Pacific are addressed in the second chapter. The region remains vulnerable to extreme weather events and climate-related hazards, which carry significant implications for cities. The rapid pace of urbanization, often coupled with rising greenhouse gas emissions, inadequate infrastructure, limited financial resources and competing development priorities, complicates efforts to implement effective climate mitigation measures.
Chapter 2 | Urban resilience at a crossroads: multilevel climate action
Chapter 3 | Urban digital transformation: linking innovation to inclusion
Urban digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region is the main point of discussion in the third chapter, which is focused on how to ensure inclusivity, accessibility and the equitable distribution of digital technologies, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure and resources. Leveraging partnerships with the private sector presents a significant opportunity to drive innovation, mobilize investment and implement digital solutions at scale, which would ultimately accelerate the region’s progress towards attaining sustainable and inclusive smart cities.
Chapter 3 | Urban digital transformation: linking innovation to inclusion
Chapter 4 | Urban finance during turbulent times
Urban finance plays a pivotal role in advancing progress towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals in the Asia-Pacific region. Adequate financial resources are required to invest in critical areas, such as infrastructure, housing, health care, education and social services, all of which are vital to achieve sustainable and inclusive urban development. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple crises continue to strain the financial capacities of many governments in the region, leaving limited fiscal space to allocate funds for investment in urban development. In chapter 4, the urgency of exploring innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and domestic and international cooperation to bridge the urban finance gap and ensure the region’s resilience and progress towards localizing the Sustainable Development Goals is highlighted.
Chapter 4 | Urban finance during turbulent times
Conclusion | Seizing the urban opportunity
This report has highlighted the need for collective yet localized efforts to achieve crisis-resilient urban futures for Asia and the Pacific. Its ambition is to support the dialogue, collaboration and cooperation needed across government, stakeholders and the region to address the complex challenges cities face. By implementing the recommendations from each chapter, cities in the Asia-Pacific region can forge post-pandemic pathways towards sustainable development, ensuring a brighter and more resilient future where no city is left behind. ESCAP and UN-Habitat alongside urban development partners located across Asia and the Pacific are ready to assist in the implementation of these recommendations and help build a more sustainable and prosperous future for cities in Asia and the Pacific.
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