Adaptation Challenges in European Cities and...

Adaptation Challenges in European Cities and Regions:

a case study-based view

Magnus BenzieICLEI Resilient Cities 2010 Congress28th May 2010Session B2

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• Recently shared in the winning of a Nobel Peace Prize with the IPCC

• Long track record of climate impacts, vulnerability and adaptation consultancy

Adaptation & Transformation

“Transformation requires us to re-think how our cities operate, how they are built and how they are lived in. ”

Adaptation in European Cities: Heading in the Right Direction?

ICLEI Resilient Cities 2010 Congress Paper

• Adaptation and Transformation are local processes.

• Cities are best placed to lead their own adaptation initiatives.

• National governments and the EU may be best placed to invest in and

share research, consider longer term implications and manage trans-

boundary and global issues.

• One size does not fit all.

We need to understandhow adaptation workson the ground so that

multi-level governance

efforts can be efficient,

effective and equitable.

Setting the Scene

• Complexity of multi-level

governance for adaptation

• Challenges of adaptation

• ‘Market for adaptation

knowledge’

• Adaptation has started: it is different everywhere

• Often locally driven: not ‘top-down’

Key points

• Often locally driven: not ‘top-down’

• The supply of adaptation knowledge should balance with demand

Multi-level Governance: Overview

Awareness Awareness Awareness Awareness

ICLEI

Core Cities

Covenant of

Mayors

Projects

European

Funding

Researchers • Finance • Tools • Ideas

DIRECTIVES

LEGISLATION

Contradictions

Contradictions

Budget ControlRegional

Priorities

Awareness Awareness

Multi-level Governance: Examples

• Eco Cities

with Bruntwood

• ASSCUE• ASSCUE

with UKCIP + researchers & consultants

• GRaBS

University of Manchester

Awareness Awareness Awareness

Multi-level Governance: Examples

Awareness AwarenessAwareness

BudapestBudapestPRUDENCE

Paris

Awareness Awareness Awareness Awareness

Multi-level Governance: Examples

UKCIP or KLIMZUG

4 Step Adaptation Methodology

Prepare the ground

Identify

adaptation

measures

Assess

vulnerabilities

Set strategic directions

1. Prepare

• Screen evidence; highlight issues• Political support• Stakeholder buy-in

Many cities are currently at this stage; not all prepare adequatelyMany cities are currently at this stage; not all prepare adequately

The Mayor of London

GLA Act 2007: “climate change duty”

• GLA buy-in

• London Climate Change Partnership

• 15+ research projects

• 2nd draft London CC Adaptation Strategy

• Intangible: ‘political currency’ of climate change in London

MLG > Influence and political backing to gain buy-in…

2. Assess Vulnerability

• Gather best available evidence• Assessment of impacts, vulnerability & risk• Understand priorities for adaptation

Very different levels of detail between cities: social dimension often missing

Vienna

• Downscaling – reclip:more project (10km2)

• Danube models – future flow rates

Birmingham

• LCLIP + UKCP09 + UHI modelling

• Surface Water Management Plan: River Cole

MLG > Invest in climate research (+ tools, BP); projects that follow through…

3. Set Strategic Direction

• Agree way forward with stakeholders based on evidence• Embed adaptation in existing plans• Set objectives for adaptation

Often implied within projects; cities need deliberate strategyOften implied within projects; cities need deliberate strategy

Prague• Reduce River Vlatava flood risk

• Mainstream: 2008 update of Flood Defence Plan

• Learning from Köln

• Stakeholders involved

• Costs identified:

€130m –Prague City Hall, National and EU funding programmes

MLG > Steering Group, check that objectives align with National/ EU…

4. Adaptation Measures

• Assess and Select Adaptation Measures• Implement, Monitor, Review

More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation

MLG > BP examples, remove policy barriers, implementation funding…

Buildings

Green

space

Flood

Water

Efficiency

Heat

Capacity

building

More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation

4. Adaptation Measures

• Assess and Select Adaptation Measures• Implement, Monitor, Review

MLG > BP examples, remove policy barriers, implementation funding…

Flood

• Diversified coastal protection (Hamburg)

• Tide monitoring centre (Venice)

• Contingency planning (Riga)

• Consider retreat (Almada)

• Rain water management (Dresden)

• Reduce erosion (Bologna)

• Flood Strategy (Amsterdam)

Buildings

Green

space

Flood

Water

Efficiency

Heat

Capacity

building

A “Market” for Adaptation Knowledge

FundingStakeholder

SupportStrong Drivers

Vulnerability Evidence Leadership

Vulnerability

Perception

Supply Demand

A “Market” for Adaptation Knowledge

Supply Demand

Manchester: Supply Heavy –follow through?

A “Market” for Adaptation Knowledge

FundingStakeholder

SupportStrong Drivers

Vulnerability Evidence Leadership

Vulnerability

Perception

London: Supply/demand balance

Supply Demand

How to create demand

Supply Demand

One-off ProjectsMainstreamed policies

Evidence

‘Best Practice’

Mainstreamed policies

Incentives

Formal Requirements

Not all demand can come from EU level

Research & Oversight• Short/Medium term perspective

• Local knowledge & priorities

• Local networks & actors

• Longer term • National Framework

• Funding & infrastructure• Funding & infrastructure

• Long term strategic issues • Cohesion & Solidarity

• Transboundary & Global issues

Time perspective

• Cities’ requirements will vary as will their appetite for involvement

• Adaptation has started at local level (pioneers)

Summary

• Adaptation is a complex process involving coalitions of stakeholders

• EU and National research and project funding is helping (supply)

• Measures are needed to sustain demand for this knowledge

• Local needs and approaches vary

Conclusion

Multi-level Governance

• Flexibility to allow local approaches

• Help to create demand for adaptation knowledge

- Mainstreamed policies

- Incentives aligned

• Represent long-term interests and trans-boundary/ global issues

• Oversight: is it enough? Where is there a need for transformation?

Questions

“Transformation requires us to re-think how our cities operate, how they are built and how they are lived in. ”

Adaptation in European Cities: Heading in the Right Direction?

Benzie, Harvey & Miller (2010)

ICLEI Resilient Cities 2010 Congress Paper

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Session Questions

Main Challenges

Social Vulnerability

Increased inequality

Success Factors

1. Political currency of CC

2. Strong demand for

adaptation knowledge

3. Strong stakeholder 3. Strong stakeholder

networks

Recommendations

1. Projects → Follow-through

2. Continue funding research

• Impacts

• Vulnerability Ass’t

Barriers

1. Time horizons of decision-

makers

2. Budget cuts

3. Urbanisation

Spare Slides

Regional Adaptation Headlines

Regional adaptation

Policy concern 18%

Policy Measure 33%

Policy Recommendation

49%

Regional Adaptation Headlines

Regional Adaptation Objectives

Building adaptive

capacity

33%

Capitalising on changes

8%

Coping Capacity:

Extreme Events

18%

Reduction of risk

41%

More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation

4. Adaptation Measures

• Assess and Select Adaptation Measures• Implement, Monitor, Review

MLG> BP examples, remove policy barriers, implementation funding…

Buildings

• Insulation (Vienna)

• Energy Efficient a/c (Dresden)

• Green building code + resilience (Bologna)

• Adaptive urban maintenance (Venice)

• Spatial planning (Almada)

Buildings

Green

space

Flood

Water

Efficiency

Heat

Capacity

building

More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation

4. Adaptation Measures

• Assess and Select Adaptation Measures• Implement, Monitor, Review

MLG> BP examples, remove policy barriers, implementation funding…

Green space

• Urban greening programme (London)

• Increase urban tree canopy (Lyon)

Buildings

Green

space

Flood

Water

Efficiency

Heat

Capacity

building

More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation

4. Adaptation Measures

• Assess and Select Adaptation Measures• Implement, Monitor, Review

MLG> BP examples, remove policy barriers, implementation funding…

Water Efficiency

• Water strategy (Zaragoza)

• Retrofit 1.2m homes (London)

Buildings

Green

space

Flood

Water

Efficiency

Heat

Capacity

building

More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation

4. Adaptation Measures

• Assess and Select Adaptation Measures• Implement, Monitor, Review

MLG> BP examples, remove policy barriers, implementation funding…

Heat

• Traffic restrictions (Budapest)

• Media heat warnings (Tatabanya)

• Neighbourhood adaptation plans (Birmingham)

Buildings

Green

space

Flood

Water

Efficiency

Heat

Capacity

building

More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation More recommendations than specific measures; early implementation

4. Adaptation Measures

• Assess and Select Adaptation Measures• Implement, Monitor, Review

MLG> BP examples, remove policy barriers, implementation funding…

Capacity Building

• Communications strategy (Dresden)

• Risks systems & Comms (Birmingham)

Buildings

Green

space

Flood

Water

Efficiency

Heat

Capacity

building

City Adaptation Overview

• Spectrum of ‘adapters’

InnovatorsReceptiveLaggards

Overview

• Spectrum of ‘adapters’

InnovatorsReceptiveLaggards

• Often before National Adaptation Strategy

• Before EU White Paper

Those who have begun adaptation:

Overview

• Question for governance: who is the target?

InnovatorsReceptiveLaggards InnovatorsReceptiveLaggards

• Do nothing (watch & learn)

• Share BP

Action

Overview

• Question for governance: who is the target?

InnovatorsReceptiveLaggards InnovatorsReceptiveLaggards

• Information, Guidance

& Tools

• Incentives

• Recognition

Action

Overview

• Question for governance: who is the target?

InnovatorsReceptiveLaggards InnovatorsReceptiveLaggards

• Regulation

• Enforcement

• Funding

Action