Preparing Cities for Climate Change:
An International Assessment of Urban Adaptation Planning

Meeting with planners in Walvis Bay. Image: Leanne Farrell

Eric Chu is a PhD student in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. He participated in field research in Manila, follow-up interviews in Durban and Cape Town, and is assisting with case analysis and write up. He also helped facilitate the Bellagio meeting and is engaged in analysis and write up of the results.

Leanne Farrell completed her MCP degree in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. She conducted field research for the project in Southern Africa and worked on case studies of Cape Town, Durban, and Walvis Bay. Her Master of City Planning thesis examined departmental mainstreaming of adaptation in Cape Town and Durban.

Ian Gray is an MCP student in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. He participated in field research in South Africa and Namibia and assisted with case studies of Cape Town, Durban, and Walvis Bay.

YeSeul Kim completed her undergraduate and MCP degrees in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. She participated in field research in South Africa and Namibia and assisted with case studies of Cape Town and Windhoek. Her undergraduate thesis examined adaptation planning in informal settlements in Cape Town.

Nikhil Nadkarni is an MCP student in Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. He assisted with survey development and web protocols, managed survey implementation, and is working on data analysis.

Christopher Rhie is working on his MCP degree in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. He is assisting with database development, production of the survey report, and case study analysis.

Shoko Takemoto completed her MCP degree in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. She is engaged in background research on adaptation activities in Asia, participated in pilot research in multiple cities in Japan, and case study development for Tokyo and Kawasaki. Her Master of City Planning thesis examined the nexus of adaptation and flood management in Tokyo and Bangkok.

Yuan Xiao is a PhD student in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. She participated in field research in South Africa and Namibia and worked on case studies of Cape Town and Windhoek.

David Dodman is Senior Researcher in the Human Settlements & Climate Change Groups and Team Leader Cities and Climate Change at the International Institute for Environment and Development. He helped convene the Bellagio meeting and co-authored papers and reports based on that meeting.

Debra Roberts is Deputy Head of Environmental Planning and Climate Protection in eThekwini Municipality. She facilitated research in Durban, South Africa and drew on her professional and scientific expertise to co-author and provide feedback on papers and reports.

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability was a partner on the international survey, providing feedback on survey content, support with survey implementation and input on the survey report. ICLEI operates 13 offices on 7 continents. The ICLEI global network works on clean energy, climate protection, biodiversity, sustainable procurement and water issues.