Following the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and Hurricane Sandy in New York, in 2013 the Rockefeller Foundation set up a global action and innovation platform to create greater urban resilience in 100 cities worldwide.
« One of the resiliency strategy projects in which Veolia has played a large role is constructing a four-megawatt generator inside the Eastbank wastewater treatment plant. They are responsible for operating and maintaining it so that even if we have another Katrina that knocks out the power, the generator is available to provide the electrical power that we need to operate the facility. » Joseph Becker, General Superintendent New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board.
The aim of this platform for exchange and mutual aid is to make these 100 cities, chosen by a jury of independent experts, better able to withstand natural disasters and cope with the social, economic and environmental pressures linked to overly rapid urbanization.
« The aim of this platform for exchange and mutual aid is to make these 100 cities, chosen by a jury of independent experts, better able to withstand natural disasters and cope with the social, economic and environmental pressures linked to overly rapid urbanization. » Ivo Menzinger, Global Partnerships Director, Swiss Re
In August 2015, New Orleans released Resilient New Orleans, one of the world’s first comprehensive strategies for building city resilience.
Based on more than ten years of planning and visioning for the city, the initiative proposes bold strategies with committed partnerships to move from recovery to resilience for the next 300 years
« For our city, being resilient means more than levees holding back water and wetlands protecting us from storms. It means striking a balance between human needs and the environment that surrounds us while also combating the chronic stresses of violence, poverty, and inequality. » Mitchell J. Landrieu, Mayor of New Orleans
