Nature-based solutions for urban resilience

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Kalantari ◽  
Andrea Gadnert ◽  
Carla Sofia Santos Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Urban Resilience ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Total Investment ◽  
Global Population

<p>Nature-based solutions have the potential to provide a wide range of essential ecosystem services as well as water management goals. As the majority of the global population lives in cities, NBS for addressing water management in urban areas is of great importance. Despite the recent advances and growing experiences with the implementation of NBS, there is still below 1% of the total investment in water resource management infrastructure that is dedicated to NBS in urban areas? One of the current obstacles for implementation is the lack of knowledge, data and information about the design and implementation of NBS for water management. Although there has been a growing interest in NBS in recent years, there are still a large need for a comprehensive evidence based on the effectiveness of NBS. Therefore, there is also a need for monitoring both the process of implementing NBS as well as the outcomes, including the final benefits of the NBS<strong>, </strong>how the NBS is perceived and how it responds to the challenge for which it was implemented.  The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of nature-based solutions (NBS) for urban resilience in particular for water management in different climate zones, focusing on cities that have worked or are planning to work extensively with NBS. This study explores which opportunities and barriers current regulatory frameworks and management practices imply and how the former can be reaped and the latter overcome, for implementation of effective NBS. The study focuses on the analysis of available data bases of NBS in different cities This study also creates an inventory of indicators used to assess the NBS effectiveness, covering a range of social, economic and technical aspects.</p>

scholarly journals Welcome to the Ziggurat Journal of Materials Technology - a New Open Access Journal

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Bast
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Technological Progress ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
Open Access Journal ◽  
Human Society ◽  
New Materials ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Global Population

Dear readers, authors and colleagues, Technological progress plays an essential role in the development of human society. The increasing global population and its mobility, the expansion of urban areas, climate protection and the conservation of fossil resources present challenges that can only be overcome by the improvement of existing resources and the development of new components, materials and production processes. Conventional materials have quickly reached their limit as new mechanisms are developed. These fields of application require the supply of new materials working in aggressive environments at extreme temperatures and high stress. These new materials are also expected to automatically alert us when critical loads are reached to avoid accidents caused by failures. This is the first issue of the Ziggurat Journal of Materials Technology, and we hope that you are satisfied with the content. The title of the journal primarily suggests materials technology; however, we strive to present a broad range of topics, including questions about the interaction between design, material, manufacturing and energy. The efficient interaction between these parameters results in components that are optimally designed and economically feasible. The idea for this journal resulted from the editors' realisation of the large knowledge potential that is being developed at colleges and universities around the world by scholars and PhD students. These clients must have the opportunity to publish their work and get in touch with other scientists. We want to reach out to young researchers and encourage them to present their work to a wide range of readers. Furthermore, a scientific career today requires evidence of publications that withstand the corresponding assessments of specialist colleagues and meet the criteria of good scientific work. In this context, the submitted articles will be subjected to a strict review. The principal objective is not to criticise work but rather to provide advice on how to improve the quality of the work presented. With this in mind, we would like to invite you to submit articles and use this journal as a reference for your ongoing scientific work.

scholarly journals Present challenges for future water sustainable cities: a case study from Italy

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-166
Author(s):  
L. Bonzanigo ◽  
G. Sinnona
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Sustainable Cities ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
The Future ◽  
Italian Context ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The global population is increasingly concentrated in cities. Cities and urban areas face many challenges – economic, social, health and environmental – which are often exacerbated by an increase in the frequency of natural disasters. Together, these challenges call for a shift towards sustainable cities which reduce their impact on the surrounding environment, whilst at the same time succeeding to make resources available to their increasing number of inhabitants. This article explores the state of the art of water management practices of the highly urbanised Northern Italian region and plans and scope for the future development of water management. Although the region is at present not under severe water stress, recently some cities faced water scarcity problems and were forced to implement water rationing. We assessed the vulnerability of Parma and Ferrara to a water crisis, together with the regular and emergency adaptation measures already in place, and the forecast for the near future. In two workshops, the authors adapted the Australian concept of Water Sensitive Urban Design for the Italian context. Although the population remains generally unaware of the impact of the two latest severe drought events (2003 and 2006/7), many adaptation measures towards a more sustainable use of the water resource are already in place – technically, institutionally, and individually. Water managers consider however that the drastic and definite changes needed to integrate the urban water management cycle, and which minimise the ecological footprint of urban spaces, lay far in the future.

Scope/need of soft path water resource management in developing countries

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 185-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.T. Amin ◽  
M. Han
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Efficient Technology ◽  
Environmentally Sound

The goal of this paper is to identify the major outlines of innovative, integrated and decentralized water management practices, training, research, and development needs in various aspects of soft path water resource management in developing countries of Asia. The decentralized water strategies including science, regulations, training, government policies, and funding for some of the developing countries in Asian region are reviewed. There are two primary ways or paths of meeting water-related needs; one the “hard” path, and the other “soft” path that complements mainly decentralized and open decision-making, application of efficient technology, and environmental protection. One of the soft path decentralized solution being implemented in many developing countries of Asia is small scale rainwater harvesting and management and both government and non-government sectors are promoting the practice on a regional community and family basis. Overall, the paper aims to contribute to the ongoing development of environmentally sound and economically viable approaches to water management in the developing world.

Water Story

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Beeson
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Urban Water Supply ◽  
Australian Water ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Quality Water

Freshwater scarcity is a critical challenge, with social, economic, political and environmental consequences. Water crises in Australia have already led to severe restrictions being applied in cities, drought ravaging farmlands, and the near-terminal decline of some rivers and wetlands. A Water Story provides an account of Australian water management practices, set against important historical precedents and the contemporary experience of other countries. It describes the nature and distribution of the country's natural water resources, management of these resources by Indigenous Australians, the development of urban water supply, and support for pastoral activities and agricultural irrigation, with the aid of case studies and anecdotes. This is followed by discussion of the environmental consequences and current challenges of water management, including food supply, energy and climate change, along with options for ensuring sustainable, adequate high-quality water supplies for a growing population. A Water Story is an important resource for water professionals and those with an interest in water and the environment and related issues, as well as students and the wider community.

scholarly journals Contemporary Water Management Issues in Thailand in Comparative Perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 218-228
Author(s):  
Alin Chintraruck
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
Cultural Conditions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Management Issues

Water management is a complex and multifarious issue that joins together a wide range of different problems and approaches. Since water is essential to human life, governments must make efforts to ensure that everyone receives the water necessary but, at the same time, they have to wrestle with the fact that water is a scarce resource that must be priced for consumption under conditions of constantly increasing demand from cities, industry, agriculture and tourism. Examination of three case studies, Australia, Singapore and Japan, indicates that contemporary water management issue may be considered in a number of categories and analysis has taken place on four such categories. These are global climate change, disaster mitigation, political and legal modernization and allocation of water resources. The case studies inform the discussion of water management practices and prospects for Thailand and it is shown that the country is progressing towards the examples represented by the more developed and advanced countries insofar as it is ever possible to import a water management solution into the very specific geographical, hydrological, social, political and cultural conditions in effect in a specific location.

scholarly journals A comparison between the European and the Brazilian models for management and diagnosis of river basins

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-76
Author(s):  
Pedro Bettencourt ◽  
Claudia Fulgêncio ◽  
Maria Grade ◽  
Julio Cesar Wasserman
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Water Management System ◽  
Management Policies ◽  
Water Quality And Quantity ◽  
Agricultural Demand

Abstract Water management is assuming more and more importance as freshwater resources are becoming scarce, both in quality and in quantity, across many developed and developing countries. This trend can be attributed to population growth, industrialization, growing agricultural demand, poor water management practices and climate change. In attempting to deal with the intensification of water quality- and quantity-related problems in recent decades, many countries have revised their water resource management policies and legislation, introducing new institutional frameworks and management instruments. Considering regional geographic and cultural distinctions, the present article aims at comparing the models of water resource management in the European Union (EU) and in Brazil. Institutional and legal arrangements currently in place, water planning and management instruments currently in use, assessments of water body status and watershed diagnoses were analysed. Main strengths and weaknesses of each water management system are pointed out in the conclusion. Main challenges for the water sector, and highlights of the converging and diverging points concerning water resource management systems, in each region, are discussed.

scholarly journals Exploring the role of City Networks in supporting urban resilience to COVID-19 in conflict-affected settings

Open Health ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Kristen Meagher ◽  
Nassim El Achi ◽  
Gemma Bowsher ◽  
Abdulkarim Ekzayez ◽  
Preeti Patel
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Urban Resilience ◽  
Global Challenges ◽  
Conflict Settings ◽  
A Minor ◽  
National Governments ◽  
Global Population

Abstract Background: It is estimated that by 2050, almost 70 percent of the global population will be residing in urban areas. In recent years, cities have become central in tackling key urban challenges and have demonstrated greater flexibility in policymaking and innovation than national governments. Cities are currently more inclined to learn from each other via networks, partnerships, and pairings to develop solutions to many global challenges including pandemics such as COVID-19. Aim: To explore the role cities and city networks present in supporting urban resilience to pandemics focusing on conflict-affected settings. Methods: A desk-based literature review of academic and grey sources was conducted followed by thematic analysis. Results: Although most COVID-19 response plans have been developed and implemented by governments, the pandemic has revealed the significant potential for city networks in providing platforms for knowledge sharing and coordination of mitigation plans to address pandemic-specific interventions. We found that in conflict settings, city networks continue to play only a minor role, if any, compared to humanitarian and informal actors. Conclusion: City networks have the potential to contribute to strengthening global collaborative approaches to pandemic responses, but this has not been given sufficient investment and even less so in conflict-affected settings. It is essential for these networks to be integrated within a wider multidisciplinary and multisectoral platform that includes academics, humanitarian and informal actors.

scholarly journals The Role of Nature-Based Solutions for Improving Environmental Quality, Health and Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10950
Author(s):  
Hai-Ying Liu ◽  
Marion Jay ◽  
Xianwen Chen
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Resilience ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Health And Well Being

Nature-based solutions (NbS) have been positioned and implemented in urban areas as solutions for enhancing urban resilience in the face of a wide range of urban challenges. However, there is a lack of recommendations of optimal NbS and appropriate typologies fitting to different contexts and urban design. The analytical frameworks for NbS implementation and impact evaluation, that integrate NbS into local policy frameworks, socio-economic transition pathways, and spatial planning, remain fragmented. In this article, the NbS concept and its related terminologies are first discussed. Second, the types of NbS implemented in Europe are reviewed and their benefits over time are explored, prior to categorizing them and highlighting the key methods, criteria, and indicators to identify and assess the NbS’s impacts, co-benefits, and trade-offs. The latter involved a review of the websites of 52 projects and some relevant publications funded by EU Research and Innovation programs and other relevant publications. The results show that there is a shared understanding that the NbS concept encompasses benefits of restoration and rehabilitation of ecosystems, carbon neutrality, improved environmental quality, health and well-being, and evidence for such benefits. This study also shows that most NbS-related projects and activities in Europe use hybrid approaches, with NbS typically developed, tested, or implemented to target specific types of environmental–social–economic challenges. The results of this study indicate that NbS as a holistic concept would be beneficial in the context of climate action and sustainable solutions to enhance ecosystem resilience and adaptive capacity within cities. As such, this article provides a snapshot of the role of NbS in urban sustainability development, a guide to the state-of-the-art, and key messages and recommendations of this rapidly emerging and evolving field.

The Politics of International Freshwater Resources

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Bernauer ◽  
Anna Kalbhenn
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Freshwater Resources ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
International Water

Freshwater is one of the most valuable natural resources on Earth. However, many of the more easily accessible freshwater resources at local and regional levels have suffered from overexploitation due to increasing population density, economic activity, and unsustainable water management practices. Sustainable management of domestic water resources is a challenging task mainly due to water allocation, pollution, and other problems on international rivers. Social science research has contributed in a variety of ways to identifying sources of international conflict and cooperation, water management options, and institutional solutions for achieving sustainable international water management. The scholarly literature has tackled a wide range of crucial questions arising from the politics of international freshwater resources, such as: whether there is sufficient evidence for the “water wars” claim—that is, whether water-related factors influence the probability of armed conflict; the determinants of international river basin cooperation, in terms of policy output and policy outcome or impact; how we can determine whether international water management efforts are successful in terms of solving problems that motivate cooperation; and the extent to which the literature offer insights into institutional design options that are effective in terms of problem solving. These studies have produced a considerable amount of policy-relevant analytical concepts and empirical findings. For example, fairness (equity) is one of the key concerns of all governments when they engage in international water cooperation, and integrated water resources management may look nice on paper but does usually not produce the desired results.

Substance flow analysis as a tool for urban water management

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 1341-1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Chèvre ◽  
C. Guignard ◽  
L. Rossi ◽  
H.-R. Pfeifer ◽  
H.-P. Bader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Substance Flow Analysis ◽  
Urban Water Management ◽  
Substance Flow ◽  
Wide Range

Human activity results in the production of a wide range of pollutants that can enter the water cycle through stormwater or wastewater. Among others, heavy metals are still detected in high concentrations around urban areas and their impact on aquatic organisms is of major concern. In this study, we propose to use a substance flow analysis as a tool for heavy metals management in urban areas. We illustrate the approach with the case of copper in Lausanne, Switzerland. The results show that around 1,500 kg of copper enter the aquatic compartment yearly. This amount contributes to sediment enrichment, which may pose a long-term risk for benthic organisms. The major sources of copper in receiving surface water are roofs and catenaries of trolleybuses. They represent 75% of the total input of copper into the urban water system. Actions to reduce copper pollution should therefore focus on these sources. Substance flow analysis also highlights that copper enters surface water mainly during rain events, i.e., without passing through any treatment procedure. A reduction in pollution could also be achieved by improving stormwater management. In conclusion, the study showed that substance flow analysis is a very effective tool for sustainable urban water management.

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