scholarly journals Evaluation of Water Governance Processes Required to Transition towards Water Sensitive Urban Design—An Indicator Assessment Approach for the City of Cape Town

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boipelo Madonsela ◽  
Stef Koop ◽  
Kees Van Leeuwen ◽  
Kirsty Carden
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Assessment Approach ◽  
Water Sensitive Urban Design ◽  
Governance Processes ◽  
The City

In the face of water related risks resulting from climate change and rapid urbanization, water resources in South African cities have increasingly come under pressure. Following the most recent drought period (2015–2018), local authorities such as the City of Cape Town are being tasked with restructuring policy to include climate change adaptation strategies to adapt more adequately and proactively to these new challenges. This paper describes an evaluation of the water governance processes required to implement Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) in Cape Town—with a specific focus on the barriers to, and opportunities for, those processes related to wastewater treatment, flood risk and the pressing issue of water scarcity. The City Blueprint Approach (CBA) was selected as the indicator assessment approach for this task. The CBA is a set of diagnostic tools comprising the Trends and Pressures Framework, the City Blueprint Framework and the Governance Capacity Framework. This was applied to Cape Town based on in-depth interviews and publicly available information. The analysis revealed that smart monitoring, community knowledge and experimentation with alternative water management technologies are important when considering uncertainties and complexities in the governance of urban water challenges. We conclude that there is potential for Cape Town to transition to a water sensitive city through learning from this experimentation and by implementing WSUD strategies that address water scarcity following the shifts in governance caused by the 2015–2018 drought.

From vision to action: roadmapping as a strategic method and tool to implement climate change adaptation – the example of the roadmap ‘water sensitive urban design 2020’

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 2251-2259 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. U. Hasse ◽  
D. E. Weingaertner
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Process Support ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Water Sensitive Urban Design

As the central product of the BMBF-KLIMZUG-funded Joint Network and Research Project (JNRP) ‘dynaklim – Dynamic adaptation of regional planning and development processes to the effects of climate change in the Emscher-Lippe region (North Rhine Westphalia, Germany)’, the Roadmap 2020 ‘Regional Climate Adaptation’ has been developed by the various regional stakeholders and institutions containing specific regional scenarios, strategies and adaptation measures applicable throughout the region. This paper presents the method, elements and main results of this regional roadmap process by using the example of the thematic sub-roadmap ‘Water Sensitive Urban Design 2020’. With a focus on the process support tool ‘KlimaFLEX’, one of the main adaptation measures of the WSUD 2020 roadmap, typical challenges for integrated climate change adaptation like scattered knowledge, knowledge gaps and divided responsibilities but also potential solutions and promising chances for urban development and urban water management are discussed. With the roadmap and the related tool, the relevant stakeholders of the Emscher-Lippe region have jointly developed important prerequisites to integrate their knowledge, to clarify vulnerabilities, adaptation goals, responsibilities and interests, and to foresightedly coordinate measures, resources, priorities and schedules for an efficient joint urban planning, well-grounded decision-making in times of continued uncertainties and step-by-step implementation of adaptation measures from now on.

Pathways for Mainstreaming Resilience-Thinking into Climate Change Adaptation and Planning in the City of Cape Town

2021 ◽  
pp. 229-250
Author(s):  
Luanita Snyman-van der Walt ◽  
Greg Schreiner ◽  
Surina Laurie ◽  
Michelle Audouin ◽  
Paul Lochner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Resilience Thinking ◽  
The City

scholarly journals Syrian Refugees, Water Scarcity, and Dynamic Policies: How Do the New Refugee Discourses Impact Water Governance Debates in Lebanon and Jordan?

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussam Hussein ◽  
Alberto Natta ◽  
Abed Al Kareem Yehya ◽  
Baha Hamadna
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Water Crisis ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Syrian Crisis ◽  
Humanitarian Interventions ◽  
The Impact

Since the Syrian crisis and the so-called “Arab Spring”, new discourses have been created, sparking the discursive water governance debates around water scarcity and hydropolitics. In Lebanon and Jordan—where most water resources are transboundary, and where most Syrian refugees have flown in—new discourses of climate change and especially of Syrian refugees as exacerbating water scarcity are emerging, shaping water governance debates. The aim of this paper is to engage in comparative discourse analysis about narratives of water crises and refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. This study is novel because of the focus on the new discourse of refugees in relation to water governance debates in both Lebanon and Jordan. This paper finds that in both countries the new discourses of refugees do not replace previous and existing discourses of water crisis and scarcity, but rather they build on and reinforce them. This paper finds that the impact these discourses had on the governance debates is that in Lebanon the resources mobilized focused on humanitarian interventions, while Jordan focused on development projects to strengthen the resilience of its water infrastructure and its overall water governance system.

Water sensitive urban design retrofits in Copenhagen – 40% to the sewer, 60% to the city

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 1945-1952 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Fryd ◽  
A. Backhaus ◽  
H. Birch ◽  
C. F. Fratini ◽  
S. T. Ingvertsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Design ◽  
Environmental Chemistry ◽  
Urban Climate ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Public Parks ◽  
Sewer System ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Water Sensitive Urban Design ◽  
The City

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is emerging in Denmark. This interdisciplinary desk study investigated the options for WSUD retrofitting in a 15 km2 combined sewer catchment area in Copenhagen. The study was developed in collaboration with the City of Copenhagen and its water utility, and involved researchers representing hydrogeology, sewer hydraulics, environmental chemistry/economics/engineering, landscape architecture and urban planning. The resulting catchment strategy suggests the implementation of five sub-strategies. First, disconnection is focused within sites that are relatively easy to disconnect, due to stormwater quality, soil conditions, stakeholder issues, and the provision of unbuilt sites. Second, stormwater runoff is infiltrated in areas with relatively deep groundwater levels at a ratio that doesn't create a critical rise in the groundwater table to the surface. Third, neighbourhoods located near low-lying streams and public parks are disconnected from the sewer system and the sloping terrain is utilised to convey runoff. Fourth, the promotion of coherent blue and green wedges in the city is linked with WSUD retrofits and urban climate-proofing. Fifth, WSUD is implemented with delayed and regulated overflows to the sewer system. The results are partially adopted by the City of Copenhagen and currently under pilot testing.

scholarly journals Vulnerabilidad al cambio climático en Pedernales, Ecuador: retos desde el agua/ Vulnerability to climate change in Pedernales, Ecuador: challenges from the water

2018 ◽  
pp. 83-104
Author(s):  
Andrea Cevallos Aráuz ◽  
Cristhian Parrado Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
The State ◽  
Main River ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change ◽  
State Of Water ◽  
El Sistema ◽  
The City

Este artículo identifica las condiciones de vulnerabilidad y riesgo al cambio climático que presenta la ciudad de Pedernales (Ecuador) en relación con el agua. Caracteriza estas problemática en función de cuatro ejes: el estado de los recursos hídricos, las formas de ocupación sobre riberas, los mecanismos de circulación del agua y el sistema sociocultural de uso de este recurso. Luego describe cómo el enfoque de adaptación basado en un diseño urbano sensible al agua puede disminuir la vulnerabilidad que genera la contaminación de las riberas del principal río de la ciudad. A partir de esto se busca debatir los retos que para la agenda local implicaría la recuperación integral de riberas y ríos a través de procesos de restauración ecológica y mejoramiento paisajístico. Abstract This article identifies the conditions of vulnerability and risk to climate change presented by the city of Pedernales (Ecuador) in relation to water. It characterizes these problems according to four axes: the state of water resources, the forms of occupation on riverbanks, the mechanisms of water circulation, and the sociocultural system of use of this resource. Then he describes how the adaptation approach based on an urban design sensitive to water can reduce the vulnerability generated by pollution of the banks of the main river in the city. From this, it is sought to discuss the challenges that for the local agenda would imply the integral recovery of banks and rivers through processes of ecological restoration and landscape improvement.

scholarly journals Cities under Pressure: Strategies and Tools to Face Climate Change and Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Moraci ◽  
Maurizio Francesco Errigo ◽  
Celestina Fazia ◽  
Tiziana Campisi ◽  
Francesco Castelli
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Urban System ◽  
Focal Points ◽  
Historical Trends ◽  
Health Factors ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
The City

This paper investigates the problems and stresses of the contemporary city, mainly due to natural and health factors, related to climate change and the pandemic COVID19. Besides highlighting the characteristics of climate change and the ongoing pandemic, this study focuses on the analysis of the main effects and consequences that these phenomena have produced on the city and the vulnerabilities of the urban system. To understand how these events have impacted the urban environment, directly and indirectly, this research undertakes to define some specific indicators capable of comparing the phenomena and assessing their repercussions. The Methodology is based on the following focal points: on the analysis of the urban shocks that have affected the cities in the last decade, on the comparison between contemporary survey data and those relating to historical trends, on the definition of the main urban sectors particularly affected by the onset of urban shocks, and on the definition of strategies, actions, and tools deemed to be effective in the implementation of a post-pandemic and climate-proof city. These results were achieved through complementary urban design and tools capable of creating a post-pandemic and climate-proof adaptive city, within a cross-disciplinary approach.

scholarly journals INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME 16, ISSUE 1 : 2018

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Nurul Mardiah Wan Mohd Rani
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Collaborative Effort ◽  
Social Infrastructure ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Related Research ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
The Future ◽  
The City

Our environment today is changing because of the rapid urbanization and this scenario has intensified as we face the climate change affect. The challenges and issues that we experience today are more complex, multifaceted and are becoming more visible and frequent. Cities are vulnerable and at the same time have to play significant roles in tackling climate change through various actions of preparedness, mitigation and adaptations. Cities are complex systems combining spatial and non-spatial elements. A system, which consists of interconnected and interdependent elements, can only function well if these elements interact with each other. These elements comprise physical environment, social, infrastructure and economy. The interaction among the elements enable the city to function as a whole. In this context, to achieve a sustainable and resilient city requires a collaborative effort from various disciplines and interrelated expertise to address each element. The increase on the awareness and interest in the related research areas have witness the upsurge on the efforts towards achieving sustainable and resilient cities. Every day new studies and findings emerged from scientists, researchers, academics and scholars deliberating on ways to mitigate, prevent and prepare for the future risks that may pose impact to our cities either physically, socially or economically.

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