Abstract
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) recognizes the urgent demand to reduce the underlying risk induced by climate change and rapid urbanization. As a core development strategy, 10 of the 17 SDGs with 25 targets are identified related to disaster risk reduction (DRR). A pathway in upscaling multi-sectoral efforts to strengthen resilience of vulnerable cities remained challenging. Urbanization rate in Malaysia is expected to increase up to 85% in 2040. Making development risk sensitive is therefore a key priority to manage the growth of future economic losses, as promoted by the New Urban Agenda and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR2030). Penang is one of the most economically vibrant states that contributes about 7% to the national GDP with 40% projected population growth by 2030. Georgetown, the capital city, is the second’s most inhabitant largest city in Malaysia, which historically founded in 1786 and inscribed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. This state is prone to floods, landslides, earthquake-induced tsunami, coastal erosion, typhoon including biological hazards, e.g. COVID-19 pandemic. Rapid urbanization and extreme climate are leading to broader development problems characterized by underlying risk drivers, e.g. unplanned urbanization processes, environmental degradation, and lack of regulations. Therefore, it is crucial to rejuvenate DRR resilience strategies towards making cities sustainable, equitable and resilient. This paper explores a transdisciplinary approach for mainstreaming DRR resilience strategy into development and investment in Malaysia. A nationally-supported study on the development planning strategy for disaster resilient city, one of the first kind of development guidelines in the region is presented. This study provides a new insight into a multi-tier risk-sensitive development strategy for addressing multi-hazards, multi-risk dimensions and multi-sectoral stakeholders in a changing climate. In this study, we assessed about 3652 indicators associated to all economic development initiatives, known as Penang 2030 with respect to the global agenda for disaster risk reduction and key requirements for making cities resilient. It is a state vision that focusses on liveability improvement, economic development, people empowerment, and investment towards enhancing quality of life, raising household incomes, strengthening civil participation, and improving resilience, respectively. The Penang 2030 consists of 16 overarching strategies and 67 key initiatives, with a vision to achieve a family-focused, green and smart state. Two sets of indicators are used: 1) 38 indicators translated into seven DRR’s global agenda, 2) “Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient” consists of corporate/governance, integrated planning, and response/recovery. We found that 64% of state initiatives positively correlated to the economic development planning and urban resilience. Only 21% of the state agenda are not related to SFDRR2030 indicators. Moreover, we spatially evaluated the land use changes using GIS-based spatiotemporal analysis, and concluded that technology enhanced risk-sensitive urban development is needed. We also critically argue disaster-risk trade-offs, and explore a sociotechnical-based system, enabled by a collaborative foresight and data-drive decision making for action. Multi-sectoral stakeholders were carried out to understand needs and demands of risk-sensitive development planning. Some disaster preventive measures (structural- and non-structural) to reduce hydro-meteorological, geological and climate-induced risks are discussed. This study emphasizes the importance of a scientific basis for supporting risk-informed decision making. It addresses multi-dimensional needs for rebuilding lives, livelihoods, socio-economic and communities in adaptation for resilience. Overall, this study assessed risk-informed development and resilience-building considerations in Penang Island. It promotes coherence of global frameworks into policy and practice to achieve resilience at a local level across all sectors including by strengthening risk assessment, governance, and communication.
