27/02/2025 00:00

Sala Descubre | Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación - Edificio 8E Acceso J 4ªPlanta

Abstract 

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts often focus on restoring systems to their pre-crisis state, inadvertently perpetuating vulnerabilities and systemic inequities. Such approaches frequently miss the critical window of opportunity to redesign systems in a “better” way, e.g. by integrating climate considerations—both adaptation and mitigation—into recovery processes. The Build Back Better (BBB) framework has emerged as a potential paradigm for guiding recovery toward more resilient and sustainable outcomes. However, despite its promise, BBB faces notable limitations, particularly in overfocus on resilience to the hazard rather than transformation opportunities. This article proposes a Transformative Recovery Framework that extends the BBB approach by incorporating insights from transition, transformation, and regeneration theories, with a specific focus on the climate dimensions of "better." Using case studies from cities in Ukraine, Morocco, Spain, Italy, and Türkiye, this study assesses how recovery efforts have addressed climate-related challenges and opportunities, and identifies both enablers and barriers to systemic change. The findings reveal theoretical and practical pathways for embedding sustainability, equity, and resilience into post-disaster recovery processes, underscoring the need for climate-conscious and community-centered approaches to achieve meaningful transformation.

Oksana Udovyk, INGENIO (CSIC-UPV), Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Vitaliy Soloviy, Scientist, Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), Vienna, Austria

Jordi Peris, INGENIO (CSIC-UPV), Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Kh Md Nahiduzzaman, Associate Professor, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco 

Fatma Özdoğan, PhD Candidate & Researcher, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada

Andrés David Maglione, Research Assistant, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

Stella Pennino, Research Assistant, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy