Delta Life 11

11 M ore than two- thirds of all Americans live on less than three percent of the total territory. Worldwide, more than half of the global population cluster in cities. In his book The Triumph of the City (2011), economist Edward Glaeser concluded that cities, despite having a stubbornly poor reputation as the most criminal, expensive and unsustainable places on earth, really are the healthiest, and culturally and economically richest, places on earth to live. Glaeser doesn't gloss over the fact that there are cities that go under and he dwells extensively on the case of Detroit, where an urban desert was left behind when the auto­ mobile industry abandoned the city. And another important case for the economist is New York before the urban renewal of the 1970s. But Glaeser believes that both cities will recover, albeit at their own pace: they are resilient and robust. Visible scars The Rockefeller Foundation founded the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) five years ago to boost urban resilience. That will be needed if cities are to cope with the problems facing them now and in the future. Things like chronic stress resul- ting from high unemployment, failing public transport, crime or endemic vio- lence. Or inadequate water supplies and poor sanitation. Or sudden disasters such as floods, terrorist attacks, earth- quakes or epidemics. There are occa­ sions when everything comes together and the result is a 'perfect storm' for an urban calamity. New Orleans was not brought to a grinding halt by Katrina alone: the main factor was the domino effect initiated by the hurricane. The scars are still visible in the fabric of the city and its DNA. When there is a setback, it is important to yield some ground before bouncing back – as in judo, where you use the strength of your opponent. Collaboration and consultation 'Resilience', says Michael Berkowitz (the 100RC president), talking to us from New York – the home of the initiative that also includes Rotterdam and The Hague – 'is not a choice or a necessity; it's more a question of potential.' It's a state of mind. According to Berkowitz, the Netherlands should not only be promoting its understanding of water management in the rest of the world, we should also be talking about the political and administrative conditions that are always needed: the fight against water can only be won with collaboration and consultation. That mindset is also appropriate for other issues – such as immigration, poverty reduction or inclusiveness – that determine a city’s resilience. He mentions the example of the port of Rotterdam, which also gets municipal authorities in the area involved. Elsewhere in the world, global ports are a lot more arrogant in their dealings with neighbouring communities and so they are more vulnerable. New York, Detroit, Rotterdam and New Orleans demonstrate the increased importance of cities. So it's hardly surprising that, in 2013, Benjamin Barber wrote that mayors are the new world leaders ( If Mayors Ruled the World ). Berkowitz believes that resilience is best organised at the urban level. The city is a crossroads of problems and solutions. Climate change and immigration are issues that result in ideological conflict at the national level, and decision-making gridlock. Berkowitz: 'In today's America, that is very dramatic and visible.' Cities need practical solutions and so they are more willing to experiment on a smaller scale. Where success is achieved, an idea can be rolled out; and failures don't have far-reaching consequences. Long way to go Even so, Berkowitz does not believe that cities are becoming more important administrative entities than, for example, the nation. 'In the Netherlands and America, cities have power but that is much less the case in Africa and Asia.' Cities there have much stronger ties with national governments and so it is much harder for them to organise and upgrade their resilience themselves. 'The quality and availability of water is often a Resilient cities are better prepared for chronic stress and sudden disasters. The 100 Resilient Cities initiative helps them to cope and Deltares is an active discussion partner. 'It's plain and simple: water management is indispensable. Cities need to include it in their strategies and transform, or suffer the consequences.' BY SEBASTIAAN VAN DER LUBBEN / IMAGE ISTOCKPHOTO, HOLLANDSE HOOGTE DELTARES, MARCH 2019