Strengthening urban resilience in the United States: community preferences for green rooftops integrating agriculture and solar energy

Green rooftops, also known as vegetated roofs, will play a critical role in enhancing the resilience of urban areas in the face of climate change and other contemporary environmental and social challenges. To ensure the optimal design and implementation of these green technologies, it is vital to understand the public’s preferences, values, and attitudes toward the government support for green rooftops. This study employs contingent valuation methods, specifically utilizing a payment card and a choice experiment, to investigate these topics that have received inadequate exploration within the current body of literature. Our findings indicate that 45% of the public is aware of green rooftops, and the most desired features on an extensive green rooftop, ranked by importance, are: flowers, grass, trees, and walking paths. The majority (79%) of the public supports a federally proposed legislation currently under review (the Public School Green Rooftop Program) and has a mean willingness to pay of approximately $176 per household as a one-time payment. Additionally, the results show that individuals place a higher value on green rooftops that incorporate solar energy technology compared to those without. Furthermore, there is a perceived, loss of value when access to a green rooftop is limited, as opposed to having open access.

This article consists of two parts. The first shows how the principles of the ecosystem approach can be applied to green rooftops, and the second attempts to illustrate it through a case study. In particular, it suggests new approaches and techniques for creation of green rooftops in a perspective of urban habitat network and urban biosphere reserve. To endow urban rooftops with the roles and functions of urban habitat network and urban biosphere reserve, it is necessary to apply "an ecosystem approach to urban management." In this article, an ecosystem approach to urban management is illustrated with Seoul as an example. The Habitat Network in Seoul will be reviewed with a focus on the model suggested by MAB Urban Group. Then, the roles and functions of Myeongdong UNESCO Green Rooftop and its possible contribution to building the Seoul Urban Biosphere Network will be described. The UNESCO Green Rooftop is 628 m(2) and was created on the 12th floor rooftop of UNESCO Building in Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-ku, Seoul. In the green rooftop, which was created with goals of securing green areas and biotopes in downtown, creating an urban econetwork, securing a base for urban ecosystem study and environment education, and disseminating an idea of coexistence between nature and humankind, wetland, meadow, scrub and woodland, wall revegetation, and a vegetable field are created. Also, rainwater recycling facilities and a solar energy water circulation system were set up. Rest facilities including observation and education facilities were built. Based on the Seoul example, as well as urban biosphere reserve models suggested by the MAB Urban Group, we suggest several principles to be applied for a green rooftops to qualify as a category of urban biosphere reserves.

Granular mapping of UHI and heatwave effects: Implications for building performance and urban resilience

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate disaster preparedness in urban communities across three districts in Selangor, Malaysia. The focus is on awareness of flood early warning systems (EWSs), financial preparedness, evacuation knowledge and community engagement in urban community resilience. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was distributed to residents of Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang districts. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to determine significant associations between variables such as EWS awareness and participation in emergency drills. Findings This study reveals a significant correlation between awareness of EWSs and participation in emergency drills, highlighting the importance of informed communities for effective disaster response. However, financial preparedness is a critical gap, with only 25% of respondents having emergency savings and 15% subscribing to disaster insurance. These findings underscore the need for enhanced educational programs and financial planning initiatives to improve urban disaster resilience. Originality/value This research contributes to the field of disaster risk management by providing a detailed analysis of urban community preparedness in Selangor, Malaysia. This study highlights the critical areas needing improvement, such as financial preparedness and community engagement, and offers practical recommendations for policymakers and emergency planners. This study’s focus on urban resilience aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 11 and provides valuable insights for enhancing disaster preparedness in rapidly urbanizing regions.

In the context of global climate change and accelerated urbanization, the construction of resilient and safe cities has become key to addressing both natural and human-made disasters. This literature review systematically analyzes relevant data from resilient city studies published in the SCIE and SSCI databases from 2000 to 2023, focusing on the risk and safety perspectives. Using bibliometric tools, the spatial–temporal distribution, collaboration networks, and knowledge foundations of the literature are examined, revealing the current state, core topics, and emerging trends in resilient city research. The findings indicate that contemporary research on resilient cities primarily focuses on disaster response, infrastructure resilience, community engagement, and the application of big data technologies, reflecting a trend toward interdisciplinary integration. This review not only provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for the academic community but also offers data-driven decision support for governments. The results highlight key directions for future research, contributing to the enhancement of urban resilience in managing complex risks and promoting sustainable urban development globally.

Rhode Island is home to many historical societies, small museums, and historic houses that include textiles in their collections. The University of Rhode Island (URI) Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design department (TMD) offers a masters program in historic textiles and costume. The density of small cultural institutions that have textile or costume collections in Rhode Island provides an opportunity for the URI TMD Department to position itself as a locus for engagement, education, and research in Rhode Island and beyond. University-community collaboration is not a new development. States founded land-grant universities to serve as resources for their communities, though the definition of the community to be served and the types of service to be provided have evolved over time. Within university contexts, promotion and tenure systems codify engagement, and major granting agencies are supporting engagement within university settings, between universities and other cultural institutions, and between local, state, and regional organizations. This thesis describes the results of a project aimed at identifying potential linkages between the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Cultural Institutions (RICI). Changes in the attitudes of the academic community and philanthropic organizations are examined, specifically related to ideas of outreach and engagement, using the current and potential relationships between RICIs and TMD as context. Participants showed interest in strengthening contact with TMD at URI, though an “academic as expert” model was revealed in participant anxiety related to accessions, storage and exhibition practices. Semi-structured interviews and site visits with participating institutions allowed ideas for inter-institutional partnership to develop without predetermined “outreach” activities planned. With this data and supporting literature on community engagement, a model for institutionalizing and sustaining community engagement is proposed.

Public trust in government agencies plays an important role in the formation of public opinion about public policy issues. However, the association between public trust in regulatory agencies and public support for policy development in emergent biotechnologies such as gene drive is not well understood. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are tasked with coordinating and regulating biotechnology. Drawing on past literature, this study examines how public trust in these federal agencies is associated with public opinion on various options for gene drive policy. Using data from a nationally representative public opinion survey (n = 1220) conducted in 2021, our statistical analyses show that respondents who report higher levels of trust in regulatory agencies are more likely to support policy proposals that promote gene drive research and ultimately, may lead to regulatory policies that allow gene drive to be researched and employed to manage agricultural pests, establishing a pathway for scientists, developers, producers, and consumers alike to realize the benefits of this technology.

Trust is a key component of democratic decision‐making and becomes even more salient in highly technical policy areas, where the public relies heavily on experts for decision making and on the information provided by federal agencies. Research to date has not examined whether the members of the public place different levels of trust in the various agencies that operate within the same policy subsystem, especially in a highly technical subsystem such as that of nuclear energy and waste management. This paper explores public trust in multiple agencies operating within the same subsystem, trust in each agency relative to aggregate trust across agencies that operate within the nuclear waste subsystem, and trust in alternative agencies that have been suggested as possible players in the decision‐making process. We find that trust accorded to different federal agencies within the nuclear waste subsystem varies. The variation in trust is systematically associated with multiple factors, including basic trust in government, perceptions about the risks and benefits of nuclear energy/waste management, party identification, and education. These findings have significant implications for research on public trust in specific government agencies, alternative policy entities, and for policy makers who want to design robust and successful policies and programs in highly technical policy domains.

ObjectivesThis study examines how Social Network Analysis (SNA) contributes to understanding and enhancing urban resilience, addressing the need to integrate social dimensions beyond technology-driven smart city approaches.MethodsA systematic literature review combining bibliometric and content analysis was conducted on 89 peer-reviewed articles to identify key themes, node types, and applications of SNA in resilience research.ResultsFindings show that urban resilience is shaped by interactions among community, institutional, and infrastructure networks, though most studies focus on isolated network types. SNA applications have evolved from small-scale surveys to social media and multi-source data, yet longitudinal analyses remain limited. Highly central nodes are often assumed to enhance resilience, but causal relationships are rarely tested. Additionally, social ties, community engagement, and behavioral factors emerge as critical drivers, while challenges persist in data integration, dynamic analysis, and incorporating human behavior into network models.ConclusionAdvancing SNA for urban resilience requires integrating diverse data sources, longitudinal approaches, and behavioral insights to support more inclusive, adaptive, and evidence-based urban policy and disaster management strategies.

Urban resilience is a critical concept in the face of increasing challenges that cities encounter. This paper explores the concept of urban resilience, the factors influencing it, and measures to improve it. Urban resilience refers to a city's ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses while maintaining essential functions and overall well-being. Factors influencing urban resilience include social cohesion, inclusivity, economic diversity, sustainable infrastructure, environmental sustainability, effective governance, and community engagement. To enhance urban resilience, cities can undertake measures such as conducting risk assessments, incorporating resilience into urban planning, investing in resilient infrastructure, promoting social cohesion and community engagement, supporting economic diversification and sustainability, leveraging technology and innovation, and strengthening governance structures and partnerships. These measures aim to build cities that can effectively respond to challenges, reduce vulnerabilities, and foster sustainable and inclusive development. By embracing the concept of urban resilience and implementing these improvement measures, cities can create resilient urban environments that are well-prepared for the uncertainties of the future.

Social identity, values, and trust in government: How stakeholder group, ideology, and wildlife value orientations relate to trust in a state agency for wildlife management

Avoiding the Doldrums: Evaluating the Need for Change in the Offshore Wind Permitting Process

Urban flooding has become an urgent environmental issue in rapidly developing cities like Cebu City, Philippines, where accelerated urbanization has led to increased impervious surfaces and limited natural water absorption. Traditional flood management approaches, such as concrete drainage systems, are proving insufficient amid the growing impacts of climate change. This study investigates the effectiveness of green infrastructure (GI) in urban flood control, with a focus on Barangay Lorega. GI includes sustainable, nature-based solutions such as permeable pavements, green roofs, rain gardens, and constructed wetlands that offer both ecological and social benefits. Employing a descriptive-quantitative research design, the study combined survey data and stakeholder interviews to evaluate GI’s flood mitigation capacity, cost-effectiveness, and social relevance. Statistical results revealed no significant differences in flood control effectiveness based on demographic factors such as sex, age, civil status, or education. However, regression analysis showed that community engagement and awareness significantly influenced perceived effectiveness, while GI implementation demonstrated a modest yet meaningful impact. These findings suggest that while GI alone may not drastically transform urban flood resilience, it plays a valuable role when combined with public participation and informed governance. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on urban resilience and sustainable flood management, particularly in tropical, high-density settings. It offers insights for local policymakers, urban planners, and community stakeholders seeking to integrate green infrastructure into comprehensive climate-adaptive urban planning.

Given the interrelated problems of climate change, energy and resource scarcity, and the challenge of supporting critical natural systems in cities, urban dwellers may be exceptionally vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. While a number of programs and policies have been developed and implemented to help reduce the environmental and social impacts of climate change on communities, we argue that effective and sustainable programs must not only consider how the changing environment impacts communities, but also how communities interact with and impact the environment. Specifically, drawing on a case study of the needs assessment of the Healthy Soils for Healthy Communities Initiative conducted in Los Angeles (LA) County, CA as a model for a Virtuous Cycle Framework, we attempted to better understand how urban residents interact with land, green spaces, and soil as a means of finding ways to address some of the environmental and health disparities that many urban residents experience, while also exploring ways to improve soil health to support its capacity to provide essential ecosystem services (e.g., carbon sequestration, water filtration, food and biomass production). A unique feature of our approach is that it involved an interdisciplinary and multi-level partnership composed of a well-established environmental organization dedicated to urban forestry, environmental justice, and climate resilience, university faculty researchers who study human behavior and human-nature relationships, government partners, and, most importantly, community members, among others. The first step in understanding how community members interact with their environment involved collecting survey and focus group data from residents of LA County to assess attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors around land and soil. Results were used to explore strategies for deepening community engagement, addressing knowledge gaps, and shaping policies that would benefit not just people who live/work in LA, but also the soil and other natural systems that rely on soil. This article integrates our previously published survey and focus group findings with new results that pertain specifically to the Virtuous Cycle Framework, and demonstrates how the data are being used to inform our community-based interventions (e.g., policy change, public education and community engagement, and demonstration projects).

Urban flooding has become an urgent environmental issue in rapidly developing cities like Cebu City, Philippines, where accelerated urbanization has led to increased impervious surfaces and limited natural water absorption. Traditional flood management approaches, such as concrete drainage systems, are proving insufficient amid the growing impacts of climate change. This study investigates the effectiveness of green infrastructure (GI) in urban flood control, with a focus on Barangay Lorega. GI includes sustainable, nature-based solutions such as permeable pavements, green roofs, rain gardens, and constructed wetlands that offer both ecological and social benefits. Employing a descriptive-quantitative research design, the study combined survey data and stakeholder interviews to evaluate GI’s flood mitigation capacity, cost-effectiveness, and social relevance. Statistical results revealed no significant differences in flood control effectiveness based on demographic factors such as sex, age, civil status, or education. However, regression analysis showed that community engagement and awareness significantly influenced perceived effectiveness, while GI implementation demonstrated a modest yet meaningful impact. These findings suggest that while GI alone may not drastically transform urban flood resilience, it plays a valuable role when combined with public participation and informed governance. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on urban resilience and sustainable flood management, particularly in tropical, high-density settings. It offers insights for local policymakers, urban planners, and community stakeholders seeking to integrate green infrastructure into comprehensive climate-adaptive urban planning.