Defining Sustainable Urban Resilience Dynamics for Urbanization in Istanbul Considering Multifaceted Direct and Indirect Earthquake Risks alongside Growing Urban Challenges

Abstract Urbanization presents one of the most significant challenges facing the Earth. Irresponsible and non-risk-based urban development processes have contributed to Earth’s problems and increased the vulnerabilities of cities by making urban areas more susceptible to disasters during natural events like earthquakes. Building urban resilience and supporting urban sustainability requires understanding and evaluating not only the city’s direct and indirect natural event risks but also urban issues simultaneously. This article examines sustainable urban resilience dynamics for urbanization in Istanbul, Türkiye, considering both direct and indirect earthquake risks, as well as the growing urban challenges. These dynamics, shaped by a holistic, comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach, foster sustainable urban resilience. However, several limitations hinder the identification and implementation of these dynamics including difficulties in accessing relevant data indicators at the urban level, confusion among institutions regarding authority and responsibility in decision-making processes, financial constraints that limit action-oriented initiatives, and deficiencies in participatory processes that obstruct collaboration and joint actions within the city. Additionally, inherent uncertainties regarding the implementation of resilience and sustainability further complicate these efforts.