Policies and Architectures for the Unthinkable Era: New Resilient Landscapes in Fragile Areas of Sardinia

The culture of urban space design is not separate from the uncanny nature of climate change, even though this latter now appears more threatening than the production of risks or new vulnerabilities. Environmental disasters and cities’ high degree of exposure to these risks are well known. What is apparent is the close relationship between these disasters and the urban transformations generated by approaches which, quoting the writer Amitav Gohsh, can be defined as outcomes of the Great Derangement Era. Through our research and design project; we have outlined the need to break free from the uncanny feeling caused by the specific phenomena which make territories more fragile and vulnerable to extreme weather and climate events. The design process illustrated, which involved a small town in central-western Sardinia, is an example of how the construction of a new urban landscape and architecture can take place starting, not only from the contingent risks of emergency situations, but rather from the recognition of any potential risks. With the goal of setting up an open and sustainable territorial plan, the case study has been designed as an approach to climate adaptation even if in Sardinia the link between climate change and flood risk has not been studied in depth and no evidence of this link has yet emerged. The project scenarios of an urban plan for one of the local governments in Sardinia, highlighted in the paper, has been conceived as a path of coevolution between new urban transformations and ecological dynamics of the environment.

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Paesaggi d’acqua in territori fragili

10.30687/978-88-6969-562-9/029 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Giovanni Maria Biddau ◽

Gianfranco Sanna ◽

Silvia Serreli

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Landscape Design ◽

Environmental Disasters ◽

Weather And Climate ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Urban Transformations ◽

High Degree ◽

Climate Events

Environmental disasters and the high degree of exposure of cities to these risks are well known. What is evident is the close relationship between these disasters and urban transformations generated by sectoral approaches to landscape design that have made territories more vulnerable to extreme weather and climate events. With the aim of creating an open and sustainable spatial plan, the case study outlined in this article is intended as an approach to climate adaptation, even though in Sardinia the connection between climate change and flood risk has not been studied in depth and the evidence of this connection has not yet emerged.

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Adaptation confusion? A longitudinal examination of the concept “climate change adaptation” in Norwegian municipal surveys.

Weather Climate and Society ◽

10.1175/wcas-d-21-0024.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Torbjørn Selseng ◽

Marit Klemetsen ◽

Tone Rusdal

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Local Governments ◽

Large Scale ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Building Society ◽

Questions And Answers ◽

Local Government Level ◽

Longitudinal Examination

AbstractIn recent decades, there has been a surge in the scholarship on climate change adaptation (CCA) terminology and diverging interpretations of the term has emerged. Given the crucial role of local governments in building society-wide adaptive capacity, understanding how municipalities understand and interpret CCA, is important. In this study, we analyse twelve large-scale questionnaires from 2007 to 2020 distributed to all Norwegian municipalities. Using a combination of directed and conventional content analysis of the questions and answers, we summarise and map the progress of adaptation work over the 14 years and assess the consistency and the scope of the surveys in light of the current research on climate adaptation. We find diverging views on what adaptation entails, both from the researchers, in the phrasing of questions, and from the respondents. The empirical evidence suggests an overall imbalanced interpretation of CCA, both in terms of the risks and consequences we may face, the climate that needs adapting to, as well as adequate adaptation strategies. We go on to discuss the implications of these findings, highlighting the need for a shared and well-communicated framework for local CCA and a closer monitoring of the actual efforts of the municipalities. If instead left unchecked, this confusion might lead to unsustainable maladaptation at the local government level throughout Norway and beyond.

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Climate change adaptation and local government: Institutional complexities surrounding Cape Town’s Day Zero

Jàmbá Journal of Disaster Risk Studies ◽

10.4102/jamba.v11i3.717 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Godwell Nhamo ◽

Adelaide O. Agyepong

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Local Government ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Network Theory ◽

Local Governments ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Cape Town ◽

Water Security ◽

Landmark Learning

The challenges associated with climate change in local governments are growing daily. One such challenge is water security, an aspect that draws us to the subject matter of climate change adaptation. This article discusses findings about institutional complexities surrounding Day Zero, a concept associated with water taps running dry because of drought conditions as aggravated by climate change in the city of Cape Town, South Africa. The thrust on institutional complexities is deliberate, as this affects how crisis situations like Day Zero were handled. The data were generated mainly from the actor–actant–network theory, events study as well as document and discourse analysis methods. The actor–actant–network theory is used widely to trace how actors (humans) and actants (non-human phenomena) interact in space and time through their networks, following narratives like Day Zero, and act on climate-related matters. The analysis applied elements of grounded theory, resulting in categories and themes emerging for discussion. The article found that narratives surrounding Day Zero were embedded in both political and administrative dilemmas and red tape. Despite these challenges, the article concludes that Day Zero remains one of the landmark learning points for climate change adaptation and water security in Cape Town, South Africa, and in other cities across the world. The article recommends that Day Zero experiences continue to be embraced positively and documented further to enhance local government climate adaptation for water security currently and into the future as well.

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Local Perceptions of Fires Risk and Policy Implications in the Hills of Valparaíso, Chile

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12104298 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 4298 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rodolfo Sapiains ◽

Ana María Ugarte ◽

Paulina Aldunce ◽

Germant Marchant ◽

Javier Alberto Romero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Local Governments ◽

Fire Risk ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Structural Barriers ◽

Local Perceptions ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Community Factors ◽

Emergency Situations ◽

Complex Scenario

Climate change is increasing the occurrence of natural disasters worldwide, and more frequent and intense fires represent one of the most destructive expressions of this trend. Chile is highly vulnerable to climate change, and fires are a recurrent phenomenon affecting many people each year. To reduce fire risk, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests reducing both exposure and vulnerability through multiple initiatives, which demand increased community engagement. In such a context, this study explores local perceptions of fire in a sample of inhabitants in a wildland-urban interface (WUI) in Valparaiso, a city that is affected by numerous fires each year. The ultimate goal was to identify psychological and community factors that should be taken into consideration to develop prevention plans and safer environments for people living in a context of poverty and social inequity. Using a qualitative approach, 28 interviews were conducted and analyzed following grounded theory principles. Results identified multiple causes, impacts, and characteristics of the problem perceived by people who permanently cohabit with fire risk, showing that for many of them, fire risk is not about the probability of occurrence of a disaster, but a question about when and how the next fire will happen. However, in such a complex scenario, psychological, community, and structural barriers deter people from implementing more effective actions. Conversely, in emergency situations, such barriers are irrelevant and cooperative actions prevail, suggesting the existence of resources and capacities within the community that could lessen exposure and vulnerability if activated on a day-to-day basis. Overall, reducing fire risk cannot be achieved by local communities alone nor without their support. To build, maintain, and consolidate fire prevention actions, it is critical to activate community strengths and cooperation and engage the resources and management capacity of local governments.

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EXTREME EVENTS, CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTATION IN THE STATE OF SÃO PAULO

Ambiente & sociedade ◽

10.1590/1809-4422asoc0277r1vu19l4ao ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gabriela Marques Di Giulio ◽

Roger Rodrigues Torres ◽

Maria da Penha Vasconcellos ◽

Diego R. G. C. Braga ◽

Rosa Maria Mancini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Extreme Events ◽

Local Governments ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Urban Climate ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

The State ◽

São Paulo ◽

Extreme Climatic Events

Abstract In this paper, we analyze secondary data from surveys focusing on climate change and adaptation in Sao Paulo municipalities. The survey was completed by municipal actors who work in 332 of the 645 municipalities in the State. In this paper, we use a theoretical framework on urban climate governance, which highlights the role that local governments play in proposing strategies to deal with climate change, to present and discuss data related to: 1) the occurrence of extreme climatic events in these municipalities; 2) the impacts of these events; 3) local government actors’ perception about climate change; and 4) local actions and responses. Our analysis of these data significantly contributes to better understanding how cities in the most populous and economically developed state in Brazil perceive, respond and deal with climate change and what critical challenges hamper climate adaptation in these cities.

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Strengthening climate-resilience in the Mekong Delta – an application of the Economics of Climate Adaption (ECA) methodology

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-9501 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Arun Rana ◽

David N. Bresch ◽

Annette Detken ◽

Maxime Souvignet

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Local Governments ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Cost Benefit Analysis ◽

Mekong Delta ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Evaluation Process ◽

Climate Impacts ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

Climate Risks

Climate Change has presented an ongoing and eminent threat to various regions, communities and infrastructure worldwide and in-turn increasingly pressuring national and local governments to take action. In the current study we identify and evaluate climate impacts faced by the city of Can Tho in Vietnam and the broader Mekong Delta and appraise preparedness options to manage today&#8217;s as well as future climate risk. We first, identify the climate risks in co-operation with various local, national and international stakeholders in the region. This is done on the current and future time scales under Socio-Economic Pathways (SSPs) as suggested in the current iteration of IPCC evaluation process. Based on these development pathways, we apply the Economics of Climate Adaptation (ECA) methodology to quantify the climate risks various sectors of the economy will be facing until 2050 with a focus on flood. Further we assess a range of possible adaption measures - including behavioral, environmental, physical as well as financial measures that can mitigate the identified risks by providing a cost-benefit analysis for each of the adaptation measures as well as for bundles thereof. The ECA methodology has proven to be an established tool to enhance our knowledge on the topic and its application in this specific context will enable stakeholders to strengthen societal resilience in the context of both socio-economic development and climate change.

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Drivers and Benefits of Integrating Climate Adaptation Measures into Urban Development: Experience from Coastal Cities of Indonesia

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12020750 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 750

Author(s):

Nurrohman Wijaya ◽

Vilas Nitivattananon ◽

Rajendra Prasad Shrestha ◽

Sohee Minsun Kim

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Urban Development ◽

Local Governments ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Local Level ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Sustainable Urban Development ◽

Integration Process ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

Coastal Cities

Integrating climate adaptation measures into urban development has emerged as a holistic approach to minimize climate change impacts and to enhance urban resilience. Although there has been an initial implementation of the integrated strategy at the national level, the progress of its adoption at the local level is relatively less studied. The study aims to examine the integration development of climate adaptation measures into urban development strategies by looking at its drivers and benefits in two coastal cities of Indonesia, i.e., Semarang and Bandar Lampung. Both cities have experienced climate change impacts and the preliminary effort of the integration process. The study was depended on close-ended Likert-scale questions with key actors representing local authorities and relevant stakeholders. Then, a Weighted Average Index was applied to transform their perceptions. The assessment of their knowledge of related issues was conducted. Secondary data was obtained from a desk study. The study found out that the effort of the integration process had influenced stakeholder’s understanding of the issue of climate change and urban development, as well as its relationship. The level of stakeholder’s knowledge related to the issue was very high. The result also revealed that the most influencing driver of the integration process is related to the motivation and initiative of municipal officers. It significantly contributed local governments to adopt its integration strategy. There was a strong consensus regarding the benefits of the integration process. They believed that it could ensure sustainable urban development in the future. This empirical study distinguishes the significance of integration development based on the local perspective for the approach improvement. The results could be applied to encourage other local municipalities in other emerging coastal cities.

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Climate Justice at the Local Level

Politikon IAPSS Journal of Political Science ◽

10.22151/politikon.45.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 7-30

Author(s):

Beyza Sarıkoç Yıldırım

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Content Analysis ◽

Urban Space ◽

Local Governments ◽

Local Level ◽

Social Groups ◽

Climate Justice ◽

Action Plans ◽

Climate Action ◽

The Relationship

Climate change is an issue of social justice, as it affects different social groups in the urban space differently. Yet, while formulating climate action plans, local governments often disregard the relationship between climate change and justice. By using content analysis, this article explores climate change action plans of Turkish municipalities from the perspective of climate justice. It concludes that action plans of Turkish municipalities do not consider climate change as a problem of justice despite the emerging or exacerbated inequalities in the urban space caused by climate change.

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New landscapes of the post-industrial city

Polish Journal of Landscape Studies ◽

10.14746/pls.2019.4.5.8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (4-5) ◽

pp. 87-98

Author(s):

Jadwiga Zimpel

Keyword(s):

Urban Space ◽

Local Governments ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

Industrial City ◽

Landscape Studies ◽

Cultural Concepts ◽

New Type ◽

Private Investors ◽

Post Industrial

This paper attempts to analyze modern urban space in the context of intercepting the effects of biopolitical production by means of a conceptual apparatus taken from urban landscape studies. Among the discussed sections of urban space, which illustrate the issue undertaken in this text, there are first and foremost places that focalize and intertwine practices of urban design, landscape architecture, design and media initiated by local governments, institutions, and private investors. All of these practices strive to create a new type of urban landscapes, characterized by their simultaneous functioning as sights and as “urban stages.” Following from the above findings, this paper aims to describe the listed forms of land use in terms derived from cultural concepts of landscape, considering the latter to be a useful tool for explaining the relations between modern urban subjects and the environment they exist in.

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Movement Through the Marginalised: An Urban Landscape Investigation

10.26686/wgtn.16606733 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Freddie Bensemann

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

Urban Space ◽

Landscape Architecture ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Black Spot ◽

Urban Spaces ◽

Design Problems ◽

Urban Public Space ◽

Space Design ◽

Marginalised Groups

In Western democratic society, urban public space has always been dominated by theMainstream user. The Marginalised, to being periodically shifted from one area to another through prevailing processes that gentrify and regulate space. These habitual processes directly and indirectly manage civic space eroding particular character evolved fromMarginalised occupation and expression, and in doing so, urban space caters to the needs and wants of the Mainstream. This project investigates such a situation yet with such habits reversed. Through the landscape design of urban space the project asks can we design urban space to accommodate thesocio-spatial needs of the Marginalised whilst at the same time, support Mainstream users? The investigation situates its research in Te Aro Park, a public urban space in Wellington Cityoccupied predominantly by the Marginalised. From the homeless to the eccentric, the drugaddict to the gang member, the space is often a considered a black spot avoided oruncomfortably and rapidly moved through by the Mainstream user. With a social hierarchy that has been flipped on its head the space exudes the diverse nature of Wellington with murals and public artwork that represent the Marginalised groups including local Iwi. This project aims to use landscape architecture design to critically assess, seek and developpotentials for harmony of urban spaces exhibiting spatial and social conflicts betweenMarginalised and Mainstream citizens. It is an attempt through landscape architecture technique, to destabilize the binary between Mainstream and marginal, and therefore engender conditions for truly diverse urban spaces. In doing so the research discovers how designers can approach public space design problems while opposing the forces of displacement. The researchadditionally contributes an understanding of the underpinnings of trying to introduce new actors without displacement of the existing and more vulnerable actors.

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