Cities Learning from a Pandemic: Towards Preparedness

COVID-19 has highlighted the need for cities to adapt to unexpected global urban challenges. The book "Preparing Cities for Pandemics and Unpredictable Socio-Environmental Shocks" proposes preparedness as a key concept in urban geography, planning, and policy. It builds a critical theoretical framework around preparedness, redefines it through worldwide surveys, research experiences, public discourses, and spatial strategies analysis, and suggests it as a technology supporting a sustainable urban transition. The book is primarily targeted at academics in urban planning, policy, and geography, but its relevance extends to other fields such as engineering, basic sciences, and life science. It provides guidance to practitioners and civic leaders in helping cities and regions prepare for pandemics and socio-environmental shocks.

Format: Hardback
Length: 266 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

COVID-19 has brought to light the pervasive state of radical uncertainty that permeates our contemporary world, forcing cities to adapt and find innovative solutions to address unforeseen global urban challenges. This comprehensive volume explores preparedness as a central concept in urban geography, planning, and policy, inviting esteemed international scholars to engage in a thoughtful discourse on its merits and demerits.

To establish a robust theoretical foundation, the book begins by constructing a critical framework that contextualizes preparedness in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and other interconnected crises. It then delves into a comprehensive redefinition of preparedness, drawing upon global surveys, research experiences, public discourses, and spatial strategies analysis in Europe, particularly in Italy.

In the final section, the book extends its perspective beyond preparedness as an emergency response tool, proposing to interpret it more broadly as a technology that supports a sustainable urban transition. This transformative approach recognizes preparedness as a proactive measure that empowers cities to adapt, thrive, and mitigate the impacts of future pandemics and unpredictable socio-environmental shocks.

While the book primarily caters to academics specializing in urban planning, policy, and geography, its significance extends far beyond the social sciences. The prominence of preparedness makes it an indispensable reading for engineers, basic scientists, and life scientists, as well as practitioners and civic leaders who seek to equip cities and regions with the necessary tools to prepare for the challenges of the 21st century.

Furthermore, the volume offers valuable guidance to practitioners and civic leaders in their efforts to support cities and regions in developing effective preparedness strategies. By embracing preparedness as a core principle, cities can enhance their resilience, adaptability, and ability to respond to the ever-evolving demands of a rapidly changing world.

Weight: 675g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032147666