scholarly journals From Planning to Implementation? The Role of Climate Change Adaptation Plans to Tackle Heat Stress: A Case Study of Berlin, Germany

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Mahlkow ◽  
Julie Donner
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Constellation Analysis ◽  
Urban Heat ◽  
Governance Processes

Global climate change increases the necessity for mid-latitude cities to tackle urban heat. Climate change adaptation plans are common policy mechanisms to approach the issue. This paper studies the city climate development plan (StEP Klima) of Berlin, Germany, by using Constellation Analysis. We analyzed to what extent StEP Klima might trigger planning and governance processes for the implementation of heat stress measures. Berlin’s plan brought attention to the local risks of urban heat and possible strategies. To translate its aims into decision makers’ everyday governance and planning practice, institutionalized guidance and an activation of policy instruments is needed.

Achieving a low carbon transition in Japan, the role of motor vehicle lifetime

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigemi Kagawa ◽  
Daisuke Nishijima ◽  
Yuya Nakamoto
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Policy Tool ◽  
Using Data

In order to achieve climate change mitigation goals, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Japan’s household sector is critical. Accomplishing a transition to low carbon and energy efficient consumer goods is particularly valuable as a policy tool for reducing emissions in the residential sector. This case study presents an analysis of the lifetime of personal vehicles in Japan, and considers the optimal scenario in terms of retention and disposal, specifically as it relates to GHG emissions. Using data from Japan, the case study shows the critical importance of including whole-of-life energy and carbon calculations when assessing the contributions that new technologies can make towards low carbon mobility transitions. While energy-efficiency gains are important, replacing technologies can overlook the energy and carbon embedded in the production phase. Without this perspective, policy designed to reduce GHG emissions may result in increased emissions and further exacerbate global climate change.

Cooperation for Climate Mitigation in Amazonia: Brazil’s Emerging Role as a Regional Leader

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Antonia Tigre
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Climate Change Negotiations ◽  
Common But Differentiated Responsibilities ◽  
Nationally Determined Contributions ◽  
Self Differentiation

AbstractSince their inception, climate change negotiations have stalled because of the scope of parties’ mitigation responsibilities under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The concept of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC) became a core principle of the framework to ensure consensus on a global climate policy in 1992 and to promote differentiation. By letting each country assess its current responsibilities and capacities for climate mitigation through their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the Paris Agreement has built on the principle of CBDR-RC and promoted self-differentiation. As the concept evolved, the role of emerging economies has been a particular focus of discussions. Academia is still grappling with the revised meaning of CBDR-RC and the newly introduced NDCs. This article contributes to the discussion by analyzing the role of emerging economies in climate governance through the lens of regional responsibility. In particular, it discusses how cooperation can be a more effective way to ensure differentiation, especially by distinguishing emerging economies from other developing countries with fewer capacities. The article uses the Amazon rainforest as a case study, discussing Brazil’s role within the region. Building on lessons from regional schemes that have successfully promoted climate mitigation, the article looks at the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) as an avenue for enhanced cooperation at the regional level.

How to assess ecodistrict resilience to urban heat stress under future heatwaves? A case study for the city of Paris

2020 ◽  
pp. 11-24
Author(s):  
Anaïs Machard ◽  
Simon Martinez ◽  
Emmanuel Bozonnet ◽  
Eleonora Lacedra ◽  
Christian Inard
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Urban Heat

It is now well-known that the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves will strongly increase along the XXIth century, which introduces the urban built environment resilience as a new paradigm. In Paris, the intense 2003 heatwave demonstrated that warm urban temperatures could result in serious adverse health issues. Temperatures were particularly elevated during nighttime, due to the urban heat island effect. Since air-conditioning has not penetrated yet in residential French buildings, studying the potential of combined mitigation strategies at the district and building scale to increase the neighbourhood and buildings resilience in strong urbanized areas under future heatwaves is a key subject matter. The climate change aspect is integrated through a future heatwave weather file, re-assembled from dynamically downscaled multi-year regional climate change projections from the EURO-CORDEX project. The new ecodistrict Clichy-Batignolles in central Paris is chosen as a case study, recognized as innovative for low-energy and environmental solutions. It is composed of high-rise residential and commercial buildings, large green areas, cool surfaces, and reduced anthropogenic sources. We used an Urban Canyon Model (Urban Weather Generator) to model the neighbourhood and different design configurations (building height and density, green and cool surfaces). The designs and measures were evaluated through a sensitivity analysis to analyse their potential to mitigate the urban local microclimate air temperature during the heatwaves. We quantified the neighbourhood resilience and found that the ecodistrict is exposed to a strong urban heat stress under the future intense heatwave. These results highlight how outdoor overheating assessment can be used to evaluate the district mitigation and adaptation strategies. This approach can be used for urban planning, while the modelled future urban heatwaves can be used as an input for building simulations and evaluate the resilience of the buildings to urban heat stress.

scholarly journals Understanding Controversies in Urban Climate Change Adaptation. A case study of the role of homeowners in the process of climate change adaptation in Copenhagen

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Baron ◽  
Lars Kjerulf Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Urban Climate ◽  
Housing Cooperative ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Best Responses ◽  
Urban Adaptation ◽  
Adaptation Options

<div><p>This article explores the controversies that exist in urban climate change adaptation and how these controversies influence the role of homeowners in urban adaptation planning.  A concrete ‘Sustainable Urban Drainages System’ (SUDS) project in a housing cooperative in Copenhagen has been used as a case study, thereby investigating multiple understandings of urban climate change adaptation. Several different perspectives are identified with regard to what are and what will become the main climate problems in the urban environment as well as what are considered to be the best responses to these problems. Building on the actor-network inspired theory of ‘urban green assemblages’ we argue that at least three different assemblages can be identified in urban climate change adaptation. Each assemblage constitutes and connects problems and responses differently and thereby involve homeowners in different ways. As climate change is a problem of unknown character and outcome in the future, we argue that it can be problematic if one way of constituting urban climate change adaptation becomes dominant, in which case some climate problems and adaptation options may become less influential, even though the enrolment of these could contribute to a more resilient city. Furthermore, the case study from Copenhagen also shows that the influence and involvement of homeowners might be reduced if the conception of future climate problems becomes too restricted. The result would be that the potential benefits of involving urban citizens in defining and responding to problems related to climate change would be lost.</p><div> </div></div>

scholarly journals Environmental Governance and Climate Change Adaptation in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 007 (01) ◽  
pp. 46-55
Author(s):  
Asti Amelia Novita
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Budget Planning ◽  
Corporate Social

This paper examines environmental governance in climate change adaptation efforts in Indonesia. Climate Change has been a common concern, especially since the signing of 194 countries in the Paris Agreement. Climate change adaptation is one of the points in the Paris Agreement as an effort to implement commitments to tackle global climate change. Climate change adaptation is one of the responses made by humans in facing climate change in addition to mitigation. Adaptation is carried out to reduce vulnerability to the effects of climate change. The Indonesian government has made various climate change adaptation efforts, including preparing national policy documents such as INDC, RAN-API, and related regulations to address the impacts of climate change. However, the research results show that strengthening climate change adaptation efforts needs to be balanced with commitment from sharing parties, strengthening the role of the private sector, and proper budget planning. Committees here are associated with the alignment of central and regional policies and the compliance of local governments in implementing climate change adaptation policies. The private sector's role emphasized the contribution of activities and finance to climate change adaptation efforts through corporate social responsibility programs.

Development as Self-Interest

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Blodgett Bermeo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
Adaptation And Mitigation

This chapter introduces the role of development as a self-interested policy pursued by industrialized states in an increasingly connected world. As such, it is differentiated from traditional geopolitical accounts of interactions between industrialized and developing states as well as from assertions that the increased focus on development stems from altruistic motivations. The concept of targeted development—pursuing development abroad when and where it serves the interests of the policymaking states—is introduced and defined. The issue areas covered in the book—foreign aid, trade agreements between industrialized and developing countries, and finance for climate change adaptation and mitigation—are introduced. The preference for bilateral, rather than multilateral, action is discussed.

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