EC Conference: Green Infrastructure Implementation Brussels 19 November 2010

Green and Blue Space Adaptation in Urban Areas and Eco Towns (GRaBS)

Diane Smith – GRaBS Project Manager and TCPA European & Corporate Affairs Manager

19 November 2010

what is GRaBS?

• GReen and Blue Space adaptation for urban areas and eco-towns

• three-year project funded under INTERREG IVC Programme - September 2008 to August 2011

• 14 partners from 8 members states representing a broad spectrum of authorities, climate change challenges and with varying degrees of strategic policy and experience

who are the partners?

City of Malmo

Klaipeda University Coastal Research and Planning Institute

Regional Environmental Centre for Eastern Europe (Slovakia)

Province of Styria

Municipality of Kalalaria

University of Catania,

EtnambienteProvince of Genoa

Nieuw-West District, Amsterdam

Southampton City Council

TCPA (Lead Partner)

London Borough of Sutton

Northwest Regional Development Agency

University of Manchester

GRaBS background

Manchester University ASCUUE research:Based on the evaporative cooling effects from a matrix ofgreen corridors, smaller open spaces, street trees, andgreen or living roofs and walls

• 10% decrease in urban green leads to a potential 8.2ºC increase in surface temperatures by the 2080s

• 10% increase in urban green will keep temperatures at, or below, current levels until the 2080

GRaBS background

Climate Change Adaptation ‘by Design’ guide (originated from a partnership with University of Manchester in the ASCCUE project)

Key findings:• climate change will make cities hotter and

drier in summer, and wetter in winter• effects will be more dramatic in cities that

suffer from Urban Heat Island effect and poor drainage

Strategic spatial planning has a key role to enable urban designers, architects and planners to create or remodel outdoor spaces and buildings that are resilient to climate change and extreme weather

The role of planning

“a green infrastructure is best achieved through an integrated approach to land management and careful strategic spatial planning”

EN Natura Newsletter June 2010

why are we doing it?Birchgrove, Swansea Nov09

Cockermouth, Cumbria, Nov09

Mudslides, Sicily, Feb2010Drought, Spain –

frequent!

GRaBS overall aim

‘to ensure existing and new mixed use urban development is adapted to the impact of climate change through improving local and regional planning policy to put in place green and blue infrastructure;

and to facilitate the much needed exchange of knowledge and experience and the actual transfer of good practice on climate change adaptation strategies to local and regional authorities across Europe’

Adaptation ActionPlans and High Level

Policy Statements•Concrete actions

•Delivery mechanisms•Measurable targets

Database of GoodPractice Case Studies

Vulnerability/RiskAssessment Tool

Mentoring and StaffExchange Programme

Communication and Dissemination Outputs

Thematic Seminarsand Study Visits

Panel of EU Experts on Climate Change

Adaptation

Community Stakeholder

Networks

Source: Jeremy Carter,

University of Manchester

Adaptation ResearchPolicy and Practice(outside GRaBS)

project activities

Adaptation Action Plans

• Each partner will produce an Adaptation Action Plan, including a High Level Policy Statement

• The High Level Policy Statement will address regional policies and delivery of adaptation actions at the regional and local level

• Each Adaption Action Plan will be based on a SWOT analysis and be informed by the Climate Risk Assessment Tool

Adaptation Action Plans

• Partners will devise communication and dissemination strategies to -

• develop new, or build upon existing, community networks to engage local people in local adaptation issues

• develop regional stakeholder networks from the private, public and voluntary sectors to raise awareness of the need for partnership working on adaptation

SWOTs: some common themes

Weaknesses•Lack of political awareness – need ‘champions’ to drive for change•Focus more towards mitigation over adaptationStrengths• Good level of climate change expertise availableOpportunities‘Hooks’ for adaptation due to multifunctional nature of green and blue space, eg attractiveness for tourism/economic competitivenessEU Directives as levers e.g. SEA/Floods/Habitats Directives, and Adaptation White Paper/Aarhus ConventionThreatsEconomic climate (cut backs) + political climate (e.g. elections)Lack of strategic coordination/cooperation

risk and vulnerabilities assessment tool

Online

Google-map base

Climate change/flood risk data

Partner socio- economic and demographic data

hyperlinked information

Local updates

http://www.grabs-eu.org/casestudies.php

risk and vulnerabilities assessment tool

exchanging knowledge

• Mentoring Visits - timed to help develop AAPs by implementing SWOT Analyses, and gain first- hand knowledge of climate change impacts/solutions in host location

• Workshops, Thematic Seminars & Study Visits – Scandinavia, Netherlands, Graz, Freiburg, Bratislava

planning for climate change – guidance & model policies

LCP12: when determining applications development should…

• provide public or private open space as appropriate so that an accessible choice of shade and shelter is offered, recognising the opportunities for people, biodiversity, flood storage and carbon mgt provided by multi- functions green spaces and green infrastructure networks

See http://www.tcpa.org.uk/pages/climate-coalition.htm

• Project Brochure• Expert Papers• Case Study Database• Newsletters• R&V Assessment Tool• Extensive Press Coverage• Conferences• Website

www.grabs-eu.org

raising awareness

Green Infrastructure

Biodiversity and GRaBS

The value of green and blue space

• natural cooling to mitigate the urban ‘heat island’

• space for sustainable urban drainage/water storage to absorb excess rainfall

• creation of natural areas for recreation, exercise, social meeting

• urban gardening and allotments • healthier, happier people!

The value of green and blue space

• first exposure of urban dwellers to biodiversity• Unused land can create green corridors such as

disused railway lines• vegetation to reduce the effects of air pollution, store

carbon, increase permeability • habitat preservation and sustainable ecosystems• places for species to migrate and adapt to the effects

of climate change• healthier, happier people!

Value of biodiversity

• trees and plants in cities have a cooling effect through CO2 absorption and shading

• green routes through unused land (railtracks) reduce pollution, increase exercise

• more natural vegetation, more flood and drought resilience

• natural planned and planted flood areas for play and recreation

• improved air quality

Learning to reduce vulnerability

• Adaptation means learning to live with more extreme weather events and changing weather patterns– Focus on People: improving quality of life for future

generations• Significant change is needed by individuals,

organisations and government in both policy and practice

• Communities must reduce their vulnerability to environmental, social and economic damage from long-term climate change impacts

• Projects such as GRaBS have a vital role to play

Natural environment- Kalamaria

Fully urbanised area

Clear anthropogenic environment

No fauna and flora

Small number of sea species (pollution)

Limited and specified Green locations

(better than other Municipalities in Thessaloniki)

value of green spacein urban areas

further information

Diane SmithEuropean and Corporate Affairs ManagerTown and Country Planning Association17 Carlton House Terracet: +44 (0)20 7930 8903

www.grabs-eu.org