The number of people affected by climate disasters annually grew to 262 million between 2000 and 2004. In 2010, natural disasters have affected over 15 million people in urban centers in at least 25 countries. In OECD countries 1 in 1,500 people are affected by climate disaster, while in developing countries 1 in 19 people are.  Low-risk cities show low vulnerability to climate change, natural and industrial disasters and economic shocks. Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction planning by all Member local governments will be key to facilitating sustainable cities and communities.

ICLEI's Resilient Communities & Cities (RC&C) initiative adopting the LA21 process was launched in 2002 in Johannesburg as a Type-2 Partnership program.

Since then ICLEI has made headways in forging partnerships, building networks, committing to advocacy and research and developing tools for local governments.

ICLEI has also created platforms to network, share and inform local actors on how to be better prepared to face the challenges of a changing climate and to increase urban resilience.

Concepts

• Provide communities with a locally developed Climate Change Adaptation Plan
• Builds capacity internally for ongoing implementation and monitoring
• Highlights key mechanisms available to local governments which can be utilized to drive local action on climate change adaptation

Tools for local decision makers

• Preparing for Climate Change - A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments (ICLEI USA Office and partners)
• ADAPT tool (ICLEI USA Office)
• Adaptation Toolkit (ICLEI Oceania Secretariat) 
• Changing Climate, Changing Communities: Guide And Workbook For Municipal Climate Action Workbook For Municipal Climate Adaptation (ICLEI Canada Office)
• Disaster Risk Management Tolls Evaluation (ICLEI World Secretariat)

Partnerships for Global Resilience 
ICLEI launched a partnership program in 2002 with the Hairou Commission, the International Centre for Sustainable Cities, UN-Habitat and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The RC&C Partnership Program is registered with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Division for Sustainable Development.

ICLEI sealed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative (EMI) to carry out joint capacity building and advocacy for disaster risk management in big cities.

In November 2010 ICLEI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UNISDR and the organizations will cooperate on both the Resilient Cities congress series and the Making Cities Resilient campaign.


Resilient Cities: the Global Forum
Resilient Cities is the global platform for learning, cooperation and networking on all aspects of urban resilience and adaptation to climate change organized back to back to the UNFCCC Climate Talks in Bonn, Germany.

The first edition of Resilient Cities was successfully launched in May 2010.
More than 500 participants from all continents and 24 endorsing partners attended this milestone event connecting local government leaders and climate adaptation experts to discuss adaptation challenges facing urban environments around the globe. Organized by ICLEI and co-hosted by the World Mayors Council on Climate Change and the City of Bonn, the event also hosted the Mayors Adaptation Forum, the leadership segment of the congress, and resulted in the Mayors Declaration.

Resilient Cities 2011 built upon the success of the 2010 event with a wider attendance and precise outcomes highlighted in the Resilient Cities 2011 congress report.

Resilient Cities 2012 will bring the key message of the 2011 congress forward. Taking place from 12 to 15 May 2012, the congress will explore the concept of broader resilience from different angles and sectors and how these can contribute to comprehensive solutions: a perfect networking opportunity for all actors in the field of cities, urban resilience and adaptation to climate change.