Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Resilience in Global South Coastal Cities: Lessons from Global North Approaches to Climate Change–Induced Urban Flooding, Coastal Erosion, Water Stress, and Heat Risks in Accra, Cape Town, and Chennai

Climate change has aggravated these types of climate-induced hazards, including urban flooding, coastal erosion, water scarcity, and extreme heat — particularly risking rapidly urbanizing coastal cities in the Global South. With poor infrastructure, expansive informal settlements, and institutional capacity gaps, resilience becomes more imperative. This thesis explores DRR and climate resiliency strategies in three case study cities: Accra (Ghana), Cape Town (South Africa), and Chennai (India), while also gleaning insights from northern star examples in the Global North such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Chicago. Inspired by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), the Paris Agreement, and international efforts like MCR2030, C40, and the Resilient Cities Network, the study uses a three-tiered approach. First, it makes a synthesis of global systems and resilience approaches. Second, it sets case-specific benchmarks through spatial and socio-economic assessments of climate hazards, vulnerabilities and adaptive capacity. Third, it evaluates project-level interventions, from Accra’s GARID project, Cape Town’s Green Infrastructure Framework, and the restoration of Chennai’s Pallikaranai Marsh to Global North innovations like Copenhagen’s Cloudburst Management Plan and Amsterdam’s Rainproof Program. Using an indicator-based approach, the paper combines hazard mapping, spatial overlays and resilience indices with a qualitative policy survey. Together, they underscore the value of ecosystem-based adaptation, community engagement, and blue–green infrastructure as flexible but context-sensitive approaches. Compared to cities in the Global North, where strong governance and financial capital exist, the contexts in the Global South necessitate adaptation that integrates informal settlements, local livelihoods, and inclusive governance systems. This study argues that anticipatory, climate-informed spatial planning offers a potential path for shifting from reactive disaster response to resilience-minded development. By aligning global frameworks with local realities, the thesis identifies scalable practices and policy recommendations to strengthen DRR and increase climate resilience in vulnerable coastal cities of the Global South.