Dear Colleagues,

The concept of urban resilience emerges as a multidimensional approach of significant importance in addressing the impacts of natural disasters and ensuring the sustainability of cities. It is closely tied to the capacity of an urban system to resist, maintain continuity, and recover from all stresses, while simultaneously adapting and transforming towards sustainability.

Resilience has become a central concern for city managers and policymakers. Initially introduced in the scientific realm, it was later embraced by psychologists and ecologists to describe the ability to withstand unforeseen disasters and return to a pre-disaster state. Following its introduction to the global stage, major cities are increasingly adopting resilience strategies to plan for and manage various risks, encompassing environmental, economic, social, and food security factors, among others.

There is a degree of disagreement regarding the term resilience, with some acknowledging its all-encompassing nature, while others criticize it as merely a catch-all concept. Nevertheless, if specific strategic, holistic, durable, and collaborative conditions for achieving legitimacy are met, resilience can provide a range of new tools to foster the emergence of a sustainable and enduring city of tomorrow.

Studies on urban resilience are essential due to the growing challenges faced by cities, including climate change, natural disasters, and social tensions. Urban resilience denotes a city's capacity to survive, adapt, and thrive in the face of shocks and stresses, encompassing environmental, economic, and social risks. Developing strategies to manage these risks and enhancing the ability to cope with various challenges are crucial for cities. Urban resilience also presents opportunities to improve infrastructure, develop new business models, and promote collaboration between different sectors, ultimately contributing to the emergence of sustainable and enduring cities of the future.

So, research articles, reviews and studies in this area of study are welcome. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Somayeh Zandiyeh

Section Editor

Urban Resilience; Resilient Cities; Natural Disaster; Disaster Management; Sustainability; Adaptation