Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Areas
Background and Goals
This book series will lead to new insights into how cities address the sustainability challenges they face by not returning to old patterns but by searching for new and innovative methods and instruments that are based on shared principles of a transitions approach. Based on concrete experiences, state-of-the-art research, and ongoing practices, the series provides rich insights, concrete and inspiring cases as well as practical methods, tools, theories, and recommendations.
To sum up, the book series aims to:
- Provide theory, case studies, and contextualized tools for the governance of urban transitions worldwide
- Provide a necessary and timely reflection on current practices of how transition management is and can be applied in urban contexts worldwide
- Further the theorizing and conceptual tools relating to an understanding of urban sustainability transitions
- Provide best practices of cities across countries and different kinds of cities as well as across policy domains in shaping their city’s path towards sustainability
Content time
toResearch area/region
Country
- Germany
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
Approach and results
Chapter 2 of the book series “Impacts of Climate Change on urban Areas and Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation” outlines the general impacts and direct consequences climate change is likely to have on urban areas in Europe and how nature-based solutions (NBS) could increase our adaptive capacity and reduce the negative effects of a changing climate. The focus is on urban temperatures while effects on hydrological, ecological and social factors are also included. Challenges for planning and design of successful implementation of NBS for climate change adaptation within urban areas are discussed.
Effect on Urban Temperatures
- large-scale climatic changes and ongoing urbanization as drivers for changing temperatures
- Urban heat island effect caused by dark surface, decreasing vegetation surface and release of heat
Effect on Urban Hydrology
- Frequency of flood peaks is predicted to increase
- Estimations of average doubling of severe flood peaks
- Increase in coastal flooding
- Capacity of urban drainage system will exceed
- Limited evapotranspiration
Parameter (climate signals)
- River flooding
- Altered rainfall patterns
- Sea level rise und storm surges
- Extreme precipitation (incl. hail, snow)
Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact
Approach and results
Climate change causes indirect effects on urban habitats and biodiversity
- Change in species community development
- Change in invasiveness of alien species
- Increase in disease and pests spread
Step 3: Develop and compare measures
Measures and/or strategies
Amongst other things, the book suggests Urban Green Infrastructures (UGI) and nature-based solutions (NBS) to cope with climate change impacts. Small scale measures are exemplarily green roofs, rain gardens and bioswales. However, there is a need to work on multiple spatial scales. The focus of UGI lies on the strategic role for integrating green spaces and their associated ecosystem services within urban planning at multiple scales. In order to implement UGI it is important to consider vegetation type and amount and level of soil sealing. NBS on the other hand concentrates on participatory processes in creation and Management. Also important to consider is the vegetation type and amount and level of soil sealing in addition to the local conditions. Other factors that are of importance are the urban morphology and population details in order to think about investing in NHS. Helpful guides to ensure cost-effective, highest gain and to take into account environmental justice are green infrastructure plans. It is also suggested to involve the local population into the planning, design and management process.
Step 4: Plan and implement measures
Measures and/or strategies
Chapter 15 of the book begins with an introduction to the concept of adaptation mainstreaming. It then presents an integrated framework that illustrates potential mainstreaming measures and strategies at different levels of governance, and discusses their application in urban planning practice with a focus on nature-based solutions. Case studies from Germany and Portugal illustrate the text. Four key principles for successful adaptation mainstreaming are highlighted. First, at the local level, adaptation mainstreaming requires the active consideration and combination of four approaches/ measures to reduce climate risk on the ground. Second, to ensure their sustainable implementation, mainstreaming strategies must be implemented at the local, institutional and interinstitutional level. Third, the different measures and strategies only lead to sustainable change in combination. Finally, experience in mainstreaming other cross-cutting issues (notably climate change mitigation) can create synergies and support progress. However, in practice there is still a long way to go. Current approaches often remain characterised by individual actions and the creation of separate, bolted-on structures and mechanisms.
Chapter 18 sums up that policy instruments for implementing NBS in urban environments are manifold and touch upon almost every single policy area in the urban context. Instruments can be divided into providing information, fostering cooperation, greening plans and setting incentives.
Costs of the measures
Fostering nature-based solutions in urban areas is an issue that receives increasing attention on the political agenda. But in many cases, only insufficient financial resources are available for the implementation of such solutions. A central issue is the structure of municipal revenues, which stem from either municipal tax revenue, fees for municipal services, or fiscal transfers from other governmental levels. Many of these revenues are however absorbed by specific tasks, especially social expenditure; thus there is little room left for autonomous investments, e.g. into nature-based solutions and green infrastructure. In Chapter 18 of the book, the structure of the problem such as the corresponding fiscal and constitutional restrictions and analyse are elaborated which solutions are possible to allow for greater investments into multifunctional urban nature-based solutions.
Legal aspects
Chapter 16 showcases examples of multi-stakeholder partnerships, private sector leadership, and citizen engagement, which have supported the development or implementation of NBS in urban areas.
Participants
Funding / Financing
The project developed out of the successful European conference ‘Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change in Urban Areas and Their Rural Surroundings: Linkages between Science, Policy and Practice’ on 17–19 November 2015 in Bonn, Germany. The conference was organised by the German Federal Agency of Nature Conservation (BfN) and the climate change interest group of the Network of European Nature Conservation Agencies (ENCA) in collaboration with the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig.
Cooperation/Partners
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- Federal Agency of Nature Conservation (BfN)
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Contact
• Drift, Netherlands
• Graduate School of Public Policy (GrasSPP), The University of Tokyo
