Cities and Climate Change: Responding to the Impacts of Water-Related Disasters in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Globally, disasters and climate change pose a significant threat to sustainable urban development, with increased impacts on the communities and economic costs. Subsequently, policy makers and practitioners face the challenge of introducing a holistic approach integrating risk reduction and adaptation strategies for urban sustenance. Sri Lanka is a tropical island which has been experiencing impacts of a variety of disasters as well as climate change in many urban areas. Against this backdrop, the present chapter attempted to examine the impacts of water-related disasters on Sri Lankan cities. Therefore, a comprehensive literature review was carried out supplemented by analysis of available data on disasters. Published reports, research papers, and data portals were used as sources of information.

This chapter begins with an overview of water-related and climate change-induced disasters in cities with a special focus on floods, droughts, and landslides. Key findings reveal that floods, droughts, and landslides in urban areas have demonstrated an increasing trend in the recent few decades. Many coastal cities have faced impacts of floods and droughts, while inland urban areas have exhibited more impacts from landslides. In this respect, the chapter presents challenges in managing water-related disasters. Finally, the chapter sheds light on how the cities could prepare for the rising impacts of climate change and disasters. Equally important though is adopting possible best practices and “environmentally smart” solutions to make cities disaster-safe and disaster-resilient places.