Americas and the Caribbean

The Americas and the Caribbean region is mainly urban.  It is estimated that 81% of the population lives in cities, and in 2018, about 15% of the total population was concentrated in six cities with more than ten million inhabitants each. By 2050 it is expected that more than 90% of the population of the region will be urban. 

Urban centers also play an important role in the region’s economic development, with ten of its largest cities accounting for one third of total gross domestic product. However, it is small and medium-sized cities that are growing rapidly. This translates into disorganized urban sprawl, with inadequate planning processes that further stretch spatial and socio-economic exclusion, and inequities.

The region’s vulnerabilities are rooted in social, political, environmental, and economic factors that manifest at the local level: Social inequity end economic exclusion, growing informal settlements, urban poverty, and unplanned growth reveal inefficient urban planning processes. Moreover, and despite the relatively low greenhouse gas emissions, the region is being affected by climate change impacts as fires, heat waves, droughts, water stress and recurrent floods show.

The commitment of cities in the region to strengthen their resilience and pursue risk-informed sustainable development became evident with the Global Campaign Making Cities Resilient: My City is getting ready!. Cities in the region accounted for about 50% of the world’s registered cities and the eleven Model Cities made significant progress in the Ten Essential Aspects of Developing Resilient Cities.

This new initiative builds on the achievements already made by cities in our region and will drive the resilience building efforts in an increasingly urban envorinment. 

  • 81% of the region’s population lives in cities
  • 53% of workers work informally 
  • 31% of the population in the region below the poverty line, 
  • 11.5% live in extreme poverty. 2
  • One out of four urban dwellers lives in informal settlements and, 3
  • 17% of the urban population do not have access to drinking water.4

OIT, 2018
2 ECLAC, 2019
3 BID, 2014
4 WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2017

Download the MCR2030 Brief in Spanish 

Download the MCR2030 Brief in Portuguese 

MCR2030 Regional Core Partners (Americas and the Caribbean)
Cascos Blancos. Argentina
Cascos Blancos Argentina is an agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship which oversees the designing and implementing humanitarian assistance action in Argentina and abroad.
CC35
CC35 is a unique platform that aims to accelerate the commitment of the Capital Cities of the Americas to address the climate emergency that the Planet is currently facing.
CAF – Development Bank of Latin America
CAF is a development bank committed to improving the quality of life of all Latin Americans.
Secretaria Nacional de Proteção e Defensa Civil do Brasil (SEDEC)
The National Secretariat for Civil Protection and Defence (SEDEC) is responsible for coordinating civil protection and defence actions throughout Brazil.
Coordenadoria Estadual da Proteção e Defensa Civil de Sāo Paulo
CEPDEC/SP is responsible for coordinating civil protection and defence actions throughout the State of São Paulo (Brazil).
ICLEI – Gobiernos locales por la sostenibilidad
ICLEI is a global network of local governments that influences sustainability policy and drives local action for circular, equitable, resilient, low-emission and nature-based development.
Federación Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Medialuna Roja (IFRC)
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is the world's largest humanitarian network, guided by seven Fundamental Principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntarism, unity and universality.
Foro de Ministros y Autoridades Máximas de la Vivienda y el Urbanismo de América Latina y el Caribe (MINURVI)
MINURVI is the coordinating and intergovernmental cooperation body for the sustainable development of human settlements across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mercociudades
Mercociudades is a network of local governments with the goal of strengthening regional identity and integration to ensure the development of cities and well-being in South America.
Red Global de Ciudades Resilientes (R-Cities)
R-Cities is a municipally-led organisation that is driving urban resilience actions to protect vulnerable communities from climate change and other physical, social and economic urban adversities and challenges.
Secretaría de Gestión Integral de Riesgos y Protección Civil (SGIRPC). Ciudad de México
Through a policy of planning and transversal participation, taking into account risk knowledge, the Municipal Department seeks to avoid the creation of new risk, reduce existing ones, deal effectively with emergencies and rebuild better.
Programa de las Naciones Unidas para los Asentamientos Humanos (ONU-HABITAT)
UN-Habitat promotes transformative change in cities and human settlements through knowledge management, policy advice, technical assistance, and collaborative action to leave no one and nowhere behind.
Unidad Ejecutiva de Resiliencia. Montevideo
The Unit was established to develop the resilience strategy of Montevideo, through cross-cutting, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary coordination work.
Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres. Colombia
Coordinates Disaster Risk Management in Colombia, strengthening the capacities of public, private and community entities and society in general, with the purpose of contributing to the improvement of people's quality of life and sustainable development.
Youth Climate Leaders (YCL)
YCL is a global youth leadership network that catalyses climate careers that position young people to lead action and solutions to the climate crisis.
quote

quotation-first-icon
The construction of Quito, as a modern and safe District requires the convergence between the technical-scientific work, the political-administrative will and the acceptance of the city.
quotation-first-icon

—Mauricio Esteban Rodas Espinel, Exalcalde (former Mayor)  2014 – 2019, City of Quito, Ecuador
quote

quotation-first-icon
The resilient city resists, absorbs, and recovers from disasters, with prevention, investment, planning and linking the three spheres of government (Federal, State and municipal), universities, research institutes, and civil society.
quotation-first-icon

—Geraldo Alckmin, Ex-Governor, State of Sao Paulo
quote

quotation-first-icon
Prevention is not only our strength but our best strength
quotation-first-icon

—Myriam Urzúa Venegas, Secretary of Integral Risk Management and Civil Protection, Secretary of Integral Risk Management and Civil Protection of the CDMX
quote

quotation-first-icon
To learn to live with the rivers is the way, they are part of our environment; and [we should] be prepared for difficult situations to achieve a rapid recovery in case of crisis. A planned urban growth, respectful of its environment is fundamental to project a sustainable city.
quotation-first-icon

—José Manuel Corral, Ex-Intendente (former Mayor) 2011 – 2019, City of Santa Fe, Argentina
How to get involved

Connect with the Americas and the Caribbean

MCR2030 Americas and the Caribbean Regional Secretariat

News about disaster risk reduction in Americas

Partners leading the way in this region

Regional partner
Full name of partner company goes here and the card links to their website
Regional partner
Full name of partner company goes here and the card links to their website
Regional partner
Full name of partner company goes here and the card links to their website
Regional partner
Full name of partner company goes here and the card links to their website
Regional partner
Full name of partner company goes here and the card links to their website
Helping your city thrive

Protecting communities and helping them thrive

 MCR Campaign participants from 2010 to 2020 worked tirelessly to reduce disaster risk in their cities, sharing knowledge. Thousands of participating cities and supporters collaborated over a series of planning sessions, conferences, meetings, and seminars to better protect their villages, towns, and cities.

Resources from Arab State

Publications - Americas
No results found!

Upcoming events from Europe

Upcoming Events - Americas
No results found!

Is this page useful?

Yes No Report an issue on this page

Thank you. If you have 2 minutes, we would benefit from additional feedback (link opens in a new window).