Other Urban Study
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Publication
Rapid Urban Growth in Flood Zones: Global Evidence since 1985
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-04)As countries rapidly urbanize, settlements are expanding into hazardous flood zones. This study provides a global analysis of spatial urbanization patterns and the evolution of flood exposure between 1985 and 2015. Using high-resolution annual data, it shows that settlements across the world grew by 85 percent to over 1.28 million square kilometers. In the same period, settlements exposed to the highest flood hazard level increased by 122 percent. In many regions, risky growth is outpacing safe growth, particularly in East Asia, where high-risk settlements have expanded 60 percent faster than safe ones. Developing countries are driving the recent growth of flood exposure: 36,500 square kilometers of settlements were built in the world’s highest-risk zones since 1985–82 percent of which are in low- and middle-income countries. In comparison, recent growth in high-income countries has been relatively slow and safe. These results document a divergence in countries’ exposure to flood hazards. Rather than adapting their exposure to climatic hazards, many countries are actively increasing their exposure. -
Publication
Managing Environmental and Social Risks in Resilient Housing Projects
(Washington, DC, 2022-03)Resilient Housing (RH) initiatives are a crucial means of improving access to safe and sanitary housing in urban areas of high vulnerability. These projects make residents safer, healthier, and more secure, and increase the economic inclusion of the world’s poorest populations. They upgrade homes, improve neighborhoods, and change lives. Like all investment projects, RH initiatives carry with them some risks and may impact the lives of community members in the project area. The note briefly introduces RH initiatives, describes their unique approach to project design, and touches on the possible risks occasioned by RH projects. It then explores the many ways in which RH initiatives closely align with the objectives and technical requirements embedded in the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), which went into effect on October 1, 2018. The ESF lays out a comprehensive approach to identifying and managing environmental and social risks and minimizing potential impacts. The goals and requirements of RH initiatives and the ESF complement one another, and this note will describe how this mutually supportive relationship creates desirable outcomes that achieve the objectives of both, despite occasional trade-offs. Using recent operational experience as a guide to best practices, the note’s final section provides recommendations for Task Team Leaders responsible for managing RH projects on how to apply the ESF to their projects to minimize risk and maximize project impact. -
Publication
Resilient Transport in Small Island Developing States: From a Call for Action to Action
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-02-28)Small island developing states (SIDS) are among the most exposed, vulnerable countries in the world to natural hazards and the impacts of climate change. SIDS are already experiencing significant economic and social losses from climate change impacts. Extreme weather events such as flooding and hurricanes significantly affect the transport sector, with damage from such events accounting for a large percentage of total infrastructure damage costs. The need for climate adaptation is recognized in SIDS’ nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The World Bank supports its clients in implementing nationally determined contribution objectives and actions. The World Bank’s programmatic technical assistance, Resilient Transport in Small Island Developing States, implemented with the aim of enhancing the resilience of the transport sector in SIDS, was delivered in three phases. The objective of this report is to help practitioners integrate climate resilience considerations into transport asset management and thus enhance climate resilience in the transport sector of SIDS (Phases 2 and 3 of the technical assistance). The report starts by introducing the topic of natural hazards and climate change in SIDS and how they affect the transport sector. The report describes how governments can develop resilient transport asset management systems (TAMS) and then summarizes the activities implemented in four SIDS, Cape Verde in Africa, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, and Solomon Islands and Vanuatu in the Pacific,and shares lessons learned to improve the approach and framework. Finally, the report introduces an online training course on resilient TAMS and the i-Knowledge platform -
Publication
Pathways to Electric Mobility in the Sahel: Two and Three-Wheelers in Bamako and Ouagadougou
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-02-14)This study analyzes the potential for electrification of two- and three-wheelers in Sahelian cities, using Bamako and Ouagadougou as case studies. The electrification of urban mobility in the Sahel has the potential to address pressing development issues such as reducing local air pollution, decarbonizing the transport sector, reducing vulnerability to petrol imports, and creating new jobs. The study has a particular focus on the electrification of two- and three- wheelers due to their dominant share of total mobility in Sahelian cities. In Ouagadougou, two-wheelers are used mostly for private vehicle use. In Bamako, they are used for private travel as well as commercial passenger travel as mototaxis and freight transport. Several international experiences show that switching from internal combustion engines to electric twoand three-wheelers has a high potential to reduce local air pollution and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions as well as noise pollution. The World Bank aims to develop a dialogue with the governments of the Sahel region regarding the transition to two- and three-wheelers in cities, and consequently the reduction of carbon emissions, air pollution and dependence on fossil fuels. Based on the analysis of the mobility situation in the cities of Ouagadougou and Bamako, independent recommendations were prepared on how to develop a roadmap for transformation to e-mobility in Sahelian cities. The study focuses on all types of two- and three-wheeled vehicles, both motorized and nonmotorized. Thus, in addition to scooters, motorcycles and tricycles, bicycles are also included in the study. Similarly, the study considers two- and three-wheeled vehicles for the transport of people and goods. -
Publication
Air Quality Deep Dive - Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland and Romania: Sustainable Cities Implementation Framework
(Washington, DC, 2022-02)The World Bank is developing a Sustainable Cities Implementation Framework for Europe and Central Asia to inform World Bank and other development partners’ ongoing support to national and sub-national authorities in pursuit of Sustainable Cities. As part of this work, preliminary assessments were conducted in four countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland and Romania), which identified the need for deep dive analytics on three topics (Air Quality, Spatial Form and Solid Waste Management). This report explores air quality challenges in urban areas, focusing on existing data, identifying contributing factors to poor air quality, and providing recommendations (implementation support areas) to improve air quality in Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland and Romania. Air pollution has a major impact on the sustainability of an urban area. It is a significant cause of premature death and morbidity, representing the single, largest environmental health risk in Europe. People in the larger cities tend to be exposed to higher levels of nitrogen dioxide due to emissions from road traffic. In central and eastern Europe, air quality is poor in many areas, especially in urban settings, and the burning of solid fuels for domestic heating and in industry results in public exposure to the highest concentrations of particulate matter and polycyclic hydrocarbons. -
Publication
Resilient Tashkent: Inputs into an Urban Resilience Strategy and Investment Program
(Washington, DC, 2022-02)Tashkent’s strategic regional position and its projected growth, combined with the natural and human-made hazards it faces, will bring both opportunities and challenges to the city. One of Central Asia’s most populous and dynamic cities, Tashkent is the administrative and financial center of Uzbekistan, and its business continuity is essential for the country. The city contributes 16.2 percent of national GDP and is the largest urban market for goods and services in the central Asian region. Tashkent has strong transport, logistics and retail sectors coupled with a significant industrial heritage. Its advantageous location on the transit routes between China and Europe and with neighboring Kazakhstan, combined with declining restrictions on cross-border movements of goods and people, contribute to the increase in economic activity and the growing inflow of visitors both domestic and international. Tashkent has the unique opportunity to be the first city in Central Asia to develop an urban resilience strategy and investment program. Cities around the world are developing resilience strategies to enhance their resilience to local and global shocks and stresses. This report is intended to reinforce Tashkent’s potential to be the first city in Central Asia to develop a resilience strategy and through its implementation become a role-model to other cities in the region as well as join other cities globally that are also leading the way in enhancing urban resilience. -
Publication
An Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Plans, Collection, Recycling and Disposal of Metro Manila
(Washington, DC, 2022)This study performed an assessment of the solid waste management (SWM) plans and the collection, recycling, and disposal conditions of the 17 Local Government Units (LGUs) of Metro Manila to determine the gaps and barriers hindering the effective implementation of Republic Act 9003 (RA 9003), particularly the recovery and recycling of plastic waste. The results were used to identify potential investment opportunities that could contribute to improved plastic waste management and the overall SWM systems of LGUs. The assessment focused on the approved 10-Year SWM plans, online reports of the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), data provided by the Metro Manila Development Authority, interviews with the heads and staff of the SWM functional groups of each LGU and related government institutions, and a web search on government and private sector initiatives on recycling and plastic waste management. Metro Manila is composed of 16 cities and 1 municipality, with a combined total 1,712 barangays. Its land area of 619.1 square kilometers is bounded by large bodies of water on the west (Manila Bay) and east (Laguna de Bay). The central section LGUs are traversed by the main channel of the Marikina-Pasig River and the rest are drained by the tributaries. These waterways and waterbodies are plagued by illegally disposed and uncollected waste. The condition is exacerbated during floods when additional uncollected waste and litter move down the gradient and clog man-made canals and natural waterways. Eventually, the waste is discharged into Manila Bay or deposited into the 50 existing pumping stations of Manila. The institutional, legal, and financial aspects as well as the management of hazardous waste were not covered in this assessment. The assessment did not consider the effects of the pandemic on waste generation. Due to the restrictions brought on by the pandemic, field verification of the data gathered through interviews was not conducted. -
Publication
Plan d’Action de Mohammedia et Ain Harrouda 2022-2027
(Washington, DC, 2022)Ce diagnostic a pour objectif de fournir un aperçu rapide des risques liés au changement climatique et aux catastrophes auxquels sont confrontées les communes à travers une évaluation du cadre institutionnel et réglementaire, de l’exposition aux aléas et de la vulnérabilité. Les principaux aléas examinés dans l’étude diagnostique ont été identifiés avec le comité de pilotage de la préfecture, et inclus les inondations, les raz-de-marée, l’élévation du niveau de la mer, l’érosion côtière, les tremblements de terre et les incendies. -
Publication
Silver Hues: Building Age-Ready Cities
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022)Cities and countries the world over are at the cusp of epochal global trends whose impacts are likely to be more intense and more far-reaching than those of similar trends in the past. The simultaneity of the demographic transition, deepening urbanization, a technological revolution, frequent shocks brought on by health and climate emergencies, mean that one will need to plan for an older and more urban future. This report is intended as a policy document that helps articulate the idea of age-readiness while building on the idea of age-friendliness. It highlights the varied trajectories of aging and urbanization and draws on the experiences of older and more urban countries to show how others can become age-ready. It is intended for cities and towns as they prepare for an older urban age, offering examples and options to help younger cities visualize age-readiness while focusing primarily on the built urban environment. Its main audience is intended to be policymakers, city leaders, and implementing agencies, but it is also expected be useful to researchers, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and communities. -
Publication
Paving the Way for Prosperous Cities and Territories: Urbanization and Territorial Review of the Dominican Republic
(Washington, DC : World Bank, 2022)Over the past four decades and prior to the pandemic, the Dominican Republic (DR) experienced high economic growth rates, which were accompanied by an expansion of the middle class and a significant reduction of poverty rate. During the same period, the country became predominantly urban, and its territories evolved from rural and agricultural spaces to large metropolitan areas, consolidating tourism poles in coastal areas and suburban spaces where manufacturing emerged, fueled by the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZ). In 2020, it is estimated that 82.5 percent of the Dominican Republic’s population lives in urban areas; and by 2050 this number will go up to 92 percent.While the economic and territorial transformation of the country has generated opportunities for its population, it has also created a number of challenges which require to be tackled. Such as providing quality basic services, assuring safe and affordable housing solutions to the fast-growing population, assuring firms count with the right enabling environment in the places where they locate and, more recently, supporting the Coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery efforts to build a better future for the country. The government of the Dominican Republic has recognized the opportunities that come with better leveraging its territory and tackling current development challenges; and is pushing to advance an ambitious territorial development reform. This DR’s Urbanization and territorial development review aims to inform and contribute to the Government’s effort by (i) providing evidence of the main territorial challenges currently being faced by the country with a specific focus on urban areas and lagging regions; (ii) review the current (and proposed reforms to the) regulatory framework for territorial planning and local government finance; and (iii) inform policy decisions at the national, regional, and local levels for ways ahead to address the territories challenges and embrace its opportunities, and to implement the proposed reforms.