
As Asia and the Pacific region urbanize at an unprecedented pace, the need for transformative urban governance has never been more urgent. Over half of the region’s population now resides in cities, which generate over 80% of the regional GDP. While urban centers are engines of economic growth and innovation, they are burdened with stark inequalities, environmental degradation, and vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change and other global challenges.
The recent UNDP High-Level Policy Dialogue on “Leadership for the Future: Enhancing Urban Governance Practices for Sustainable, Resilient, and Prosperous Cities,” held in Bangkok, highlighted the critical role of leadership in addressing these multifaceted challenges. This blog distills insights from the UNDP’s policy brief and proposes actionable pathways to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments across Asia and the Pacific.
A New Vision for Urban Governance
Traditional governance approaches, characterized by siloed structures, rigidity, and reactive policies, are increasingly misaligned with the demands of today’s urban realities. To confront the complex challenges posed by rapid urbanization, climate change, and socio-economic inequalities, cities require a governance model that is anticipatory, adaptive, and agile.
Anticipatory Governance: This approach emphasizes foresight and preparedness, enabling cities to identify potential risks and opportunities ahead of time. For instance, early identification of climate vulnerabilities can guide investments in resilient infrastructure and disaster mitigation strategies.
Adaptive Governance: Adaptive governance focuses on flexibility, allowing cities to recalibrate policies and strategies in response to evolving circumstances. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cities that demonstrated adaptive governance by reallocating resources and reimagining public services fared better in minimizing disruptions.
Agile Governance: Agile governance prioritizes swift, efficient decision-making and implementation. This is critical in urban settings where delays in addressing issues like housing shortages or flooding can have cascading negative impacts on millions of residents.
Key Challenges in Urban Governance
1. Unplanned and Inequitable Urbanization
Rapid and often unplanned urban growth has exacerbated disparities in access to essential resources such as housing, healthcare, and education. Approximately 650 million people in the region live in informal settlements, often without access to basic services. Addressing these disparities requires inclusive urban planning that prioritizes affordable housing and equitable service delivery.
2. Climate Change and Environmental Degradation
Asia and the Pacific house 25 of the world’s most polluted cities. Climate-induced hazards like heatwaves and flooding are increasing in frequency and severity, costing the region $780 billion annually in economic losses. Urban governance must integrate climate adaptation and mitigation strategies to build resilience against these threats.
3. Limited Governance Capacities
In many cities, governance remains siloed, with weak coordination between government entities, private sectors, and civil society. Local governments often face resource constraints, limiting their ability to deliver essential services and infrastructure. Innovative financing mechanisms, such as green bonds and public-private partnerships, are essential to bridging these gaps.
Areas for Transformative Action
To foster sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban environments, urban governance must focus on four interconnected areas:
- Socio-Economic Inclusivity: Urban strategies should prioritize expanding affordable housing through policies that encourage mixed-income development and address homelessness. Equitable access to public services such as healthcare, education, and transportation is essential, alongside initiatives that actively involve communities in decision-making processes to promote social cohesion, trust, and collaboration.
- Built and Spatial Resilience: Investments in green and blue infrastructure, such as urban parks, permeable surfaces, and water management systems, are key. This is crucial to mitigate climate impacts and creating sustainable cities. Expanding sustainable public transportation options can reduce carbon emissions while improving accessibility. Additionally, energy-efficient development should be encouraged through incentives for green building standards and renewable energy integration.
- Climate and Environmental Sustainability: Urban planning must integrate climate strategies, including nature-based solutions, to reduce vulnerability to climate risks. Strengthening urban ecosystems by advancing air and water quality standards and prioritizing low-carbon solutions is equally vital. Furthermore, adopting circular economy initiatives can help minimize environmental impact through waste reduction and recycling.
- Governance and Financial Innovation: Inclusive governance should be prioritized by establishing transparent and participatory planning processes that engage diverse stakeholders, ensuring that decision-making reflects the needs of all communities. Innovative financing mechanisms, such as tax incentives, climate funds, and blended finance, can be leveraged to mobilize the necessary resources for urban initiatives. Additionally, enhancing institutional capacities through skill-building and knowledge development is essential for designing and implementing effective policies.
Moving Forward
The transformation of urban governance requires not only visionary leadership but also active collaboration among local governments, international organizations, and community stakeholders to ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard and acted upon.
Achieving equitable, resilient, and sustainable urban development in Asia and the Pacific requires coordinated efforts across all levels of governance and society. For local governments, embracing the Anticipatory, Adaptive, and Agile governance model is key to navigating the complexities of urbanization. By prioritizing people-centered approaches, cities can not only meet the immediate challenges of urban growth but also lay the groundwork for long-term sustainability and resilience.
Note: The Policy Brief reflects on the discussions, experiences and recommendations that emerged from the High-Level Policy Dialogue, “Leadership for the Future: Enhancing Urban Governance Practices for Sustainable, Resilient, and Prosperous Cities in Asia and the Pacific”, organized by UNDP in collaboration with ESCAP, UN-Habitat, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on October 15, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand (UNDP, 2024).
You can read the full report here: Reimagining Urban Governance in Asia and the Pacific: A Roadmap for Resilience, Equity, and Sustainability