Urban Inequalities and Climate Change: Contributions to the Study of Resilience in Argentine Cities

Latin American cities are exposed to threats triggered by climate change that generate environmental impacts. In addition, there is evidence of an accelerated process of urbanization which consequences are intensified by the absence of comprehensive planning policies, deepening urban inequalities. In Argentina, the effects of climate change are visible and have differential regional scope, depending on the response capacity of cities in the face of environmental dangers. This ability to respond to extreme events can be interpreted in terms of resilience. In this context, the present work analyzes resilience in 32 Argentine urban agglomerates through the construction of a synthetic index, the Resilience Index, which integrates three variables: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptation. The results are spatially represented using a Geographic Information System. The response capacity in the cities analyzed accounts for the existing inequalities in the national territory. Although the concept of resilience was incorporated into the urban planning and management processes of some cities, the importance of focusing on adaptation measures that involve everything from works and infrastructure to training actions, awareness, and action in emergencies is highlighted. The opening of new questions stimulates to continue deepening the analysis of inequalities, to advance toward sustainability and urban resilience from its inclusion in the local political agenda. Fil: Zulaica, Maria Laura. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Instituto de Hábitat y Medio Ambiente; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina