Panel discussion: Building resilient cities – integrating climate, social, and infrastructure risks

This session examines why cities need to replace siloed risk planning with integrated resilience approaches that recognise how climate pressures, infrastructure systems and social conditions interact. Speakers will explore strategies that strengthen whole-city resilience, highlighting governance models, investment priorities and community-centred approaches capable of addressing multiple, compounding risks at once. The discussion will outline how city leaders can embed this thinking into daily operations and long-term planning. 

Key talking points: 

• How climate, social and infrastructure risks intersect to shape citywide vulnerability 
• Governance and planning structures that support multi-risk, system-wide resilience approaches 
• Ways to ensure infrastructure investments and adaptation measures deliver equitable outcomes 
• Practical steps cities can take to embed integrated resilience thinking into operations, budgeting and long-term planning