The Philippines is extremely vulnerable to climate change, with as much as 70% of its cities located along the coast. Settlements in these areas are exposed to hydro-meteorological hazards aggravated by climate change, like sea level rise, stronger typhoons, and storm surges. Regular flooding in cities undermines infrastructure, disrupts economic activity, and impedes the delivery of services. This increases the vulnerability of the urban poor as well as new migrants who tend to live in informal settlements located in environmentally fragile and dangerous areas, and who are without resources to bounce back when disaster strikes.

In this context, the Building Climate Resiliency Through Urban Plans and Designs project, or BCRUPD, aims to support the Philippine government in improving policies, regulations, and capacities to adapt to climate change through the promotion of climate-responsive sustainable urban development plans and designs. In support of existing national legislation, action plans and frameworks on climate change, it is designed to enhance national and subnational government representatives’ institutional capacities to guide and manage urban growth towards suitable areas and design the same incorporating resilience principles and practices.

BCRUPD supplements existing urban planning guidelines and develop knowledge through policy inputs, capacity development, and demonstrations. Demonstration of innovative approaches in five partner cities will showcase context-specific processes in building resilience while considering balanced economic and ecological sustainability.

Download the project brief here.
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