This report, written by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), provides a global snapshot of how local governments reduce disaster risk and identifies trends in the perceptions and approaches of local governments toward disaster risk reduction (DRR). It finds that political leadership is more important than a city's wealth when it comes to protecting the lives and economic assets of cities and towns from disasters. The report identifies the following as the five most common DRR activities in cities: taking DRR into account in new urban planning regulations, plans and development activities; establishing councils/committees/disaster management structures dedicated to DRR; constructing hazard-resistant infrastructure or improving existing facilities; establishing education/awareness/training programmes; and increasing citizen participation and multi-stakeholder dialogues.