Prof Terry van Gevelt Speaks at Singapore International Water Week on Urban Resilience and Climate Risks

Prof Terry van Gevelt, Urban Fellow at the Singapore Management University’s (SMU) College of Integrative Studies, participated as a panel speaker at the prestigious Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2024. He joined industry experts Ted Howland (CapitaLand), Amanda Ikert (C40 Cities), and Elaine Tan (Centre for Liveable Cities) for a panel discussion titled “Strengthening Urban Resilience to Measure and Mitigate Climate Risks.” The panel was moderated by Rex Liu from Atkins.

The session delved into the growing need for urban resilience strategies to address climate change challenges. Three main themes emerged from the discussions, highlighting key areas of focus for the future of urban planning:

Stakeholder Collaboration
The panel emphasized the critical role of collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including researchers, investors, government bodies, and city authorities. This cooperation is seen as pivotal to developing innovative solutions and building a resilient ecosystem capable of addressing gaps in current systems.

Long-term and Integrative Planning
The success of Singapore’s long-term, integrative planning model was highlighted as an effective approach to tackling complex urban challenges. The approach encourages multi-disciplinary and multi-agency cooperation to solve problems from various perspectives, ensuring sustainable and comprehensive solutions for the future.

Innovation and Adaptation
Continuous innovation and adaptability were stressed as essential for addressing the climate crisis. Panelists warned against seeking a "silver bullet" solution, urging instead for incremental steps that leverage innovations to reduce environmental footprints and enhance urban resilience.

Prof. van Gevelt’s contributions to the panel underscored the importance of developing adaptive strategies and building resilient urban systems to safeguard cities against future climate risks. The discussion was well-received by attendees, reinforcing the importance of collaborative and innovative approaches in shaping the future of urban resilience.

The Singapore International Water Week serves as a global platform for water and climate change experts to engage in conversations that drive sustainable water management practices worldwide.