Speakers
Description
This presentation will explore two distinct yet complementary case studies that exemplify unique and synergistic approaches to urban resilience: the Metropolitan City of Bologna in Italy and the Marmara Region in Türkiye, a megalopolis comprising six metropolitan areas. It will deal with complex problems like including rapid urbanization, climate change, widening social and economic disparities that require innovative approaches (for ex. new finance tools) and utilise the strengths of urban planning and cooperative administration.
In 2021, the Metropolitan City of Bologna established the Metropolitan Equalization Fund, aligned with the strategies outlined in the Metropolitan Area Development Plan (“PTM - Piano Territoriale Metropolitano”). Funded by urbanization charges collected from significant developments near metropolitan hubs, primarily in central municipalities, this fund distributes resources with an emphasis on territorial equity. These programs not only support urban regeneration in socially, demographically, and economically fragile areas but also promote a more cohesive development across the metropolitan territory.
On the other side of the world, the Marmara Region, home to over 26
million people—one-third of Türkiye’s population—displays a dynamic mix of urban complexity and interconnectivity. This region’s response to climate crises and natural disasters is managed by the Marmara
Municipalities Union (MMU), which includes over 190 member
municipalities from 11 cities. The MMU employs a multifaceted approach to enhance urban resilience, incorporating the Local Government Academy, five specialized Centers, the Mentor Program, and initiatives like the Marmara Urban Forum (MARUF). Using these tools, MMU addresses the critical need for inter-city collaboration across the region to effectively confront and adapt to shared challenges.
Together, these case studies from Bologna and Marmara demonstrate
proactive steps towards fostering urban resilience. They emphasize how strategic financial mechanisms and robust inter-municipal cooperation can create more sustainable and resilient urban environments. Drawing inspiration from the proverb, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ this presentation adapts it to urban dynamics, proposing that ‘It takes a metropolis, and sometimes even a megalopolis, to become resilient.’ This underscores the collaborative efforts needed to address the complexities of urban development in an era of growing planetary challenges.
| Keywords | resilience, spatial planning, metropolitan governance |
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