Special issue  

The effects of extreme weather events are linked to the complex interactions between natural forces, physical drivers, and societal factors. Accordingly, inclusive and effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to enhance climate resilience need to be based on a sound understanding and quantification of the drivers of climate change as well as changes in socio-economic characteristics. While acknowledging different roots of disciplinary paradigms, advanced methods and approaches are needed to capture multiple dimensions of vulnerability and resilience, including structural, ecological, socio-demographic, and institutional drivers.

This special issue aims to bring together interdisciplinary approaches in climate vulnerability, adaptation, and disaster resilience to inform planning and policy in a rapidly changing world. In particular, the volume will highlight the role of different assessment methods, tools, and frameworks to improve the understanding of social, economic, physical, and ecological resilience to the hazards of flooding and heat waves including compound events.

The special issue comprises papers of original research and perspectives on the following topic areas:

• operationalized and applied resilience assessment frameworks, e.g. by using remote sensing, statistical data, climate information, and predictive models aiming to quantify disaster resilience;
• lessons learned from previous disaster events as well as new methods and tools to strengthen climate-resilient development in reconstruction after extreme events (such as within the reconstruction of the Ahr Valley in Germany, which was hit by a major flood);
• the role of socio-economic forces in capturing social vulnerability and determining adaptation options in spatial planning and urban development;
• linkages between climate change projections and socio-demographic development to inform urban climate policies; and
• tools and approaches for enhancing multi-sectoral cooperation, including decision-makers, practitioners, and the public in disaster recovery and resilience.