Climate change adaptation in practice – experiences and lessons from two coastal cities

1. Climate change adaptation in practice – experiences and lessons from two coastal cities Master Thesis by Lisa Junghans

2. Outline • Introduction • Research design • Climate change and adaptation in coastal urban areas • Climate change adaptation in practice • Lessons learned • Conclusion

3. 1. Introduction

4. 1. Introduction

5. 1. Introduction • aimofthethesis • how Hamburg & Durban haveapproached CCA • whatmakescities‘ strategiessuccessful • aspectsanalyzed • initiating factors • research collaboration • governance • project implementation • lessonsforothermunicipalleaders

6. 2. Reseach design • Hamburg & Durban have different states of development • diverse CCA practices • overcome conventional wisdom (Global South Global North) • Expert interviews

7. 3. Climate change and adaptation in coastal cities

8. 3. Climate change and adaptation in coastal cities • 14 out of 17 largest cities along coast • Vulnerability hot spots • greatest threat: flooding • degraded natural flood plain storages • lack of natural defense lines (e.g. through ports) • increased salinity & coastal erosion degrade shorelines • land compaction, subsidence, ground water withdrawal

9. 3. Climatechangeandadaptation in coastalcities

10. 3. Climatechangeandadaptation in coastalcities • VulnerabilityoftheGlobal South • large proportionof urban poor • people live in hazardousenvironments (floodplains & unstableslopes) • lossofproperty • limited food/ water/ energysupply • restrictedinfrastructuralservices

11. 3. Climatechangeandadaptation in coastalcities • VulnerabilityoftheGlobal North • dense physical structures • dependency on infrastructure • vast accumulationof material wealth • Hurricane Katrina & flooding in Queensland

12. 3. Climatechangeandadaptation in coastalcities • CCA - political, economic, social, environmental conditionsallowfor different mechanisms • institutional • technical • behavioral • financial • regulatory

13. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice

14. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Hamburg and Durban aslocalchampions • offervaluable insights into the challenges and benefits of engaging in and advancing on CCA • comparativeevaluationofthefollowingaspects • initiating factors • research collaboration • governance • project implementation

15. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Initiatingfactors

16. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Research collaboration

17. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Governance

18. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Governance (continued)

19. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Technical CCA projects • both cities have a different understanding of labeling projects astechnical • measures can be gray & soft interventions • soft = rather low-cost with less complex knowledge needed, • gray = imply more high-tech measures that require knowledge, experience, and training (cf. EUROPEAN TOPIC CENTER 2010, p. 24)

20. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Technical CCA projects in Durban • local authorities are building on traditional approaches, reinforcing local indigenous knowledge, and applying more common sense measures • put confidence in natural ecosystems that are, if rehabilitated to their original state, to a certain degree able to buffer the impacts of CC • Technical CCA projects in Hamburg • favors man-made technology and machinery to countervail natural forces • new concept of becoming more flexible and giving nature more space, the has not yet reached administrative levels (cf. BECKER 2011).

21. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Sample projects in Hamburg

22. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Number 5: Construction of a new flood protection barrier and elevated flooding docks in close proximity to the inner harbor (cf. LSBG 2011a, p. 2)

23. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Number 7: Construction of a cover onto the interstate A7 to reduce the heat island effect and enlarge wind channels for inner city ventilation (cf. BSU 2011, p. 3f)

24. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Number 9: Construction of water houses on top of a rain storage reservoir. The houses set standards for resource conservation and sustainability (cf. IBA HAMBURG GMBH 2011b, n.pag)

25. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Number 10: Development of the Tidal Elbe Concept at Kreetsand that will serve as a flood plain to reduce the tidal range and at the same time deposit sediments, (cf. KÖNIG 2011)

26. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Sample projects in Durban

27. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Number 5: Reforestationof steep scarp slopes torestore vital ecosystemgoodsandservicesandto ensure socialupliftment

28. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Number 6: Restoration of a vital ecosystem‘sgoods and services. Managing biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable supply of ecosystem services under a climate changed future

29. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Number 1 and 6: Research into water harvesting options and the undertaking of a local level project focusing on water harvesting and water-wise landscaping

30. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Number 12: Installation of green roofs to address raising temperatures, increased storm water runoff, and the loss of biodiversity • Initiated on a municipal building, the effectiveness of vegetated roofs in terms of temperature amelioration and storm water management was being tested (cf. EPCPD 2011, p. 3)

31. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • Behavioral CCA measures

32. 4. Climatechangeadaptation in practice • New tariffsystem

33. 5. Lessonslearned

34. 5. Lessonslearned • Previoussectionsoutlinedtheapproachesandmeasures Hamburg and Durban haveapplied • Whatsuggestionsandrecommendationscanbedrawn?

35. 5. Lessonslearned 1. Build up inner motivation and show strong political commitment • enforcement of (unpopular) environmental policies is difficult, but after all easier with dedicated political figures • advisable to develop a devoted and enthusiastic political environment as is found in Durban

36. 5. Lessonslearned • Use a reliable scientific basis • information on most vulnerable urban residents and other high risk urban environments • Hamburg: Klimzug-Nord provides a vast scientific science basis for future adaptive measures in the city

37. 5. Lessonslearned • Promote developmental co-benefits • Durban: embedding CCA strategies into other local governmental departments - promoting CCA in terms of economic development & risk management • linking CCA to routine activities and ongoing programs –convince decision makers of the importanceof CCA

38. 5. Lessonslearned • Build knowledge and awareness • transferring knowledge and raising awareness among the ones affected most in simple and understandable manner • Hamburg: European Green Capital 2011raised public interests on the issue of CC • cities with limited educational system are advised to build up knowledge among its urban residents

39. 5. Lessonslearned • Use monetary incentives • Durban: new tariff in Durban led to rapid and effective changes regarding the consumption of water • similar new tariffs could be beneficial for a lot more municipalities

40. 5. Lessonslearned • Create an overlooking body • ensure approach with a common target - institution to oversees the entire adaptation process • Durban: EPCPD has so far successfully overlooked the process of CCA in other departments

41. 5. Lessonslearned • Prevent entrenched organizational culture • long-standing political structures - act upon traditional decision making processes and past-oriented responses that do not target at innovative changes • Durban: modification of political structures and decision-making processes and mandates aligned with long-term climatechallenge

42. 5. Lessonslearned • In addition to these general lessons local leaders may consider specific projects installed in both cities • although suited to local conditions - some transferable to other urban environments • some projects do not require broad expertise but mostly basic know-how

43. 6. Conclusion

44. 6. Conclusion • Note: through very unique geographical, cultural, political, economical, social, and environmental conditions - no one size fits all solution • lessons to understand as factors that support a successful adaptation process • strong need to incorporate more cities, including municipalities in developing countries

45. 6. Conclusion • cities exemplified that no matter if highly resource constrained or conservative political structures - cities adapt to CC • relative immaturity of African and Asian cities creates advantages for CCA in developing countries • industrialized cities: very mature, settled and established infrastructure - spatial layout difficult to change • communicated to international audience to motivate more urban leaderstofollow

46. Thank you!