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

Master Thesis by Lisa Junghans

Outline

1. Introduction

2. Research design

3. Climate change and adaptation in coastal urban areas

4. Climate change adaptation in practice

5. Lessons learned

6. Conclusion

1. IntroductionClimate change

Urbani-zation

?

1. Introduction

Climate change &

urbanization

Cities are key actors to respond

Respon-sibility

Vulnera-bility

1. Introduction

aim of the thesis how Hamburg & Durban have approached CCA what makes cities‘ strategies successful

aspects analyzed initiating factors research collaboration governance project implementation

lessons for other municipal leaders

2. Reseach design

Hamburg & Durban have different states of development diverse CCA practices overcome conventional wisdom (Global South Global

North) Expert interviews

3. Climate change and adaptation in coastal cities

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

3. Climate change and adaptation in coastal cities

Vulnerability of the Global South large proportion of urban poor people live in hazardous environments (flood plains &

unstable slopes) loss of property limited food/ water/ energy supply restricted infrastructural services

3. Climate change and adaptation in coastal cities

Vulnerability of the Global North dense physical structures dependency on infrastructure vast accumulation of material wealth

Hurricane Katrina & flooding in Queensland

3. Climate change and adaptation in coastal cities

CCA - political, economic, social, environmental conditions allow for different mechanisms institutional technical behavioral financial regulatory

3. Climate change and adaptation in coastal cities

4. Climate change adaptation in practice

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Hamburg and Durban as local champions offer valuable insights into the challenges and benefits of

engaging in and advancing on CCA comparative evaluation of the following aspects

initiating factors research collaboration governance project implementation

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Initiating factors

Durban Hamburg

- 2004 Municipal Climate Protection Programme (MCPP)

- early engagement can be traced backto strong political leadership and commitment

- modification of political responsibilities & down-scaled projections of potential climate change impacts motivated local authorities to advance their commitment on CCA (cf. ROBERTS 2011)

- Hamburg‘s adaptation planning process arose in 2007 from several external happenings

- publication of the Fourth Assessment Report- forthcoming German Adaptation Strategy- meetings with environmental officers from different federal states,- the installation of adaptation projects in other European (cf. SCHENK 2011, DE BUHR 2011)

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Research collaboration

Durban Hamburg

- strong research collaboration with external institutes is lacking

- Klimzug-Nord, a research initiative financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research lasting until 2014, is an essential scientific contributor of useful adaptation strategies and measures for the city (cf. BECKER 2011)

- Climate Campus a network of climate research experts from 18 different institutes in the Greater Hamburg Metropolitan Region and local authorities keep regular contact withregional scholars and researchers (cf. SCHENK 2011)

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Governance

Durban Hamburg

- sector-based approach: embedded its adaptation strategy into specic depart-ments, aligned with those agencies' development objectives, their availability of funding, their human resources, and according to their institutional structures (cf. ROBERTS 2011)

- this approach has helped participating departments to see adaptation as a task which can contribute to ongoing activities (cf. O'DONOGHUE 2011a).

- Department for Urban Planning and Environment (BSU) launched a cluster of agencies to mainstream the concept of CCA into existing policies and projects

- Participating agencies: Department of Education, Department for Health and Consumer Protection, Water Department etc.

- BSU does not have the authority to take part in the decision-making process in other agencies (cf. SCHENK 2011).

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Governance (continued)

Durban Hamburg

- launched the Durban Climate Change Partnership (DCCP) in 2010 that seeks to involve a range of stakeholders into the adaptation process making it more transparent & conversational (cf. ALSEN 2011)

- no common platform, which could serve as an interface for policy and project develop-ments among different stakeholders

- Durban's newly elected mayor joined the World Mayors Council on Climate Change shortly after his election - clear political endorsement and underlined Durban's efforts on tackling climate change (cf. ROBERTS 2011)

- Hamburg's change in government in early 2011 led to a reconfiguration of governmental priorities reducing the city's attention given to CCA (cf. SCHENK 2011)

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Technical CCA projects

both cities have a different understanding of labeling projects as technical

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)

4. Climate change adaptation 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).

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Sample projects in Hamburg

4. Climate change adaptation 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)

4. Climate change adaptation 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)

4. Climate change adaptation 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)

4. Climate change adaptation 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)

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Sample projects in Durban

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Number 5: Reforestation of steep scarp slopes to restore

vital ecosystem goods and services and to ensure social upliftment

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Number 6: Restoration of a vital ecosystem‘s goods and

services. Managing biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable supply of ecosystem services under a climate changed future

4. Climate change adaptation 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

4. Climate change adaptation 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)

4. Climate change adaptation in practice Behavioral CCA measures

Durban Hamburg

Community theatre project School books on climate change, mitigation, and adaptation

Environmental schooling project Climate & environmentl tours

Brochures on climate change Workshops

Partnership between schools & scientists

Public awareness-raising events

4. Climate change adaptation in practice New tariff system

Durban Hamburg

- Tariff to counter water scarcity- Incrementally rising water prices with a certain amount of water being free of charge (CARTWRIGHT 2011)

- Tariff to decrease rainwater-runoff and limit the negative impacts of flood-ing- Billing home owners, industries, and companies according to their sealed up land - To reduce asphalt parking lots and other sealed up land and have more water infiltrating into the ground(SCHENK 2011).

5. Lessons learned

5. Lessons learned

Previous sections outlined the approaches and measures Hamburg and Durban have applied

What suggestions and recommendations can be drawn?

5. Lessons learned

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

5. Lessons learned

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

5. Lessons learned

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 importance of CCA

5. Lessons learned

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

5. Lessons learned

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

5. Lessons learned

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

5. Lessons learned

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 climate challenge

5. Lessons learned

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

6. Conclusion

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

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 leaders to follow

Thank you!