Implementation of Almada s Adaptation Strategy: a multi-level approach. Nuno Lopes, Sara Dionísio, Patrícia Silva & Catarina Freitas Head of the Environmental Studies and Management Division Sustainable Environmental Management and Planning Department City Council of Almada, Portugal
Topics... a glimpse of Almada... adaptation in Almada s Strategy for Climate Change... boosting resilience through ecosystem based adaptation Final remarks
Almada Coastal southern European city Lisboa 1 of 18 municipalities in Lisbon Metropolitan Area Area ~ 70 km 2 Almada Tagus River 175 000 inhabitants Atlantic Ocean 35 km Waterfront
White sandy beachfront, fisherie community
Topics... a glimpse of Almada... adaptation in Almada s Strategy for Climate Change... improving resilience through ecosystem based adaptation Final remarks
Almada s starting point on adaptation South bank of Tagus river across Lisbon urban pressure Highly populated and dense territory Vulnerable coastal and riverfront areas to sea level rise, with high tourist value Abusive occupation of high value natural areas, rich Mediterranean ecosystems at risk Ageing society Long term vision on sustainability from our political leadership More informed community Landuse plans under development
Mitigation Agenda energy consumption and GHGs emissions Energy efficiency, renewables, smart mobility... low carbon city... but even with drastic mitigation, accumulated CO 2 will change the climate until 2040 (climatic system inertia) Adaptation Agenda Allowing the resilience of our natural, social and economic systems, providing our communities an healthy and safe environment to live and work.
Mitigation Agenda energy consumption and GHGs emissions Energy efficiency, renewables, smart mobility... low carbon city... but even with drastic mitigation, accumulated CO 2 will change the climate until 2040 (climatic system inertia) Adaptation Agenda Means to allow the resilience of our natural, social and economic systems, providing our communities an healthy and safe environment to live and work.
Methodology Almada s Strategy for Climate Change ECCA, Conferência European Roteiro Local Climate para Change as Alterações Adaptation Climáticas: Conference Mobilizar, Planear 2013 e Agir Hamburg Almada, Portugal 18 20 28 March - 29 Maio 2013 2009
Adaptation in Almada s Strategy for Climate Change Downscaling Climate Evolution Scenarios Monitoring climate change impacts (ex:, floods, landslides, heat waves, oceanic overwashes) Vulnerability Diagnosis (coast, riverfront, ecosystems, urban water cycle, urban services), existing and amplified Modeling Urban Heat Island Effect Design Risk Maps Definition of adaptation goals and measures Integrating adaptation goals and measures in land use planning: Urban Plans and Master Plan of Almada (currently under revision)
Precipitação (mm) Temperatura ( o C) Almada s Climate Evolution (2070-2100 scenarios) Temperature - Annual mean: increases 2,5 ºC 50 45 40 35 Anomalia das temperaturas para 2070-2100 em Almada +4,25 o C +5 o C 2000-2006 2070-2100 Variação dos modelos - T máx Summer, Winter: rises 4,0 to 5,0 ºC 30 25 - Nº of Days/year with >35 ºC: 20 +2,5 o C 5-10 20-30 15 10 5 +4 o C Precipitation - 55% reduction in Summer precipitation - 12,5% increase in Winter precipitation 0 10,0 9,0 8,0 7,0 Maior temp. máx. registada Média temp. máx. Verão Média temp. diária anual Média temp. mín. Inverno Evolução da precipitação mensal com alterações climáticas 2000-2009 2070-2100 - Decrease of 15 to 55% in Autumn and Spring - increase of heavy rainfall events 6,0 5,0 4,0 3,0 2,0 1,0 0,0 Jan Fev Mar Abr Mai Jun Jul Ago Set Out Nov Dez
Almada s vulnerability to Natural Hazards Mass Wasting (rock falls, rock topple, landslides) Sea Level Rise (coastal erosion) Storm Surges/overwash Droughts Flooding Salinization of Coastal Aquifers Forest Fires Biodiversity loss Heat waves Mass Wasting Coast Erosion
Improving resilience through land use planning Boost resilience in land use planning Multi-dimension, integrated and multi-level approach: Detail scale: integration of specific adaptive solutions (smart urban design) in the development of Local and Urban Plans (1:1.000) Municipal scale: define a global territorial adaptation strategy and establish solutions + regulations for Almada s Master Plan (1:10.000)
Land use plans are the most strategic compulsory plans that can be develop at a local level! F2 - New approaches to resilient urban planning and design 3 levels of land use planning: Master Plan (1:10.000) Urban Plans (1:1.000) + Local Plans (1:1.000)
boosting resilience through land use planning Examples Adaptative Measures (Detail scale) Smart urban design to improve natural cooling and the use of solar energy in buildings Conservative average sea-level rise limits incorporated in urban design Development of urban green corridors Coastal dune restoration Promotion of water infiltration and the use of permeable pavements Protection of people and property from flood risk with the construction of terrace defenses and retention basins Rehabilitation of streams with riparian vegetation (green and blue infrastructure)
Example: Developing Local Plan of Fonte da Telha Coastal Adaptation Measures incorporated in the Plan REMOVE ACCOMMODATE PROTECT urban perimeter reconfiguration with retreat from the risk areas define a new ground level: 11 m (landfill) building on stilts elevated pathways recover of the dune ecosystems dune reconstitution: minimum level 12 m sediment trapping erosion and slope deposits control with native plants
Topics... a glimpse of Almada... adaptation in Almada s Strategy for Climate Change... improving resilience through ecosystem based adaptation Final remarks
Ecosystem based adaptation 1º Identify different types of hazards in Almada 2º Evaluate how the current hazards will be amplified by climate change impacts 3º Assess how GI s environmental services can respond and mitigate to current and future hazardous/ vulnerabilities 4º Spatial representation of GI s environmental services 5º Designed ecosystem based projects to address the hazardous/vulnerabilities
Types of hazards in Almada GI s environmental services
GI s environmental services
Nature conservation Food Aquifer recharge Carbon sequestration Erosion control Rain water Microclimatic Adaptación (floods, marine a los efectos del cambio climático: Marco europeo, sectores estratégicos y políticas municipales washover, land Bilbao slides) 15 September permeability 2015 regulation ) Disease plagues control, seed dispersal
Multifunctional Map of Green Infrastructures Network Environmental services Multifunctionality (nr. of services)
Example of Almada s GI application Mitigation of the Urban Heat Island Effect (~ 4ºC)
Example of GI application High vulnerability to heat waves: evaluate mortality rate increased in Lisbon Area for the period of the heat wave in 2013 (June 23 rd to July 14 th ) Number of heat wave days for June-July- August 2013 (NACLIM FP7 Project) Mortality rate in Lisbon Area (June 23 rd and July 14 th )
Example of GI application Mitigation of Heat Island Effect ( temperature; humidity) Hazards Heat island Effect Heat waves Drought Fires Green Infrastructure Major GI Vegetation of conservative value Water course (bed and banks) Areas of highest infiltration Cliffs (protection belts) Soils of high ecological value Areas at risk of erosion Urban GI Gardens and parks Retention basins Wooded areas and streets, Vegetable gardens c Green Infrastructure services Microclimatic regulation and reduction of heat island effects on cities Flood mitigation during rainfall peaks Nutrient recycling and groundwater supply Erosion control Food production Recreation, Education,
Smaller green areas and corridors within the urban areas / native tree species
Vegetable Gardens; Green roofs Green and walls Roofs; at the Vertical most dense Gardens areas
Example GI + BI multifunctional project Boosting territorial resilience Present Problem: Erosion events caused by flooding during heavy rain periods; soil and infrastructure losses; biodiversity lost; demand for vegetable gardens Objectives: Mitigation of flood/erosion hazards; enhance biodiversity; promotion of local food production food, biodiversity, runoff water; water infiltration ICLEI World Congress 2015 Urban Nature: Provisioning Services - Water for life Seoul, South Korea 11 th April 2015
Example GI + BI multifunctional project Hazards GI + BI ICLEI World Congress 2015 Urban Nature: Provisioning Services - Water for life Seoul, South Korea 11 th April 2015 Boosting territorial resilience How can GI + BI and their ecosystem services respond to current and future hazards/vulnerabilities? Flooding Erosion Soil loss Biodiversity loss Water course Water course margins High permeability areas Soils of high ecological value Vegetation with conservative value Vegetable gardens Wooded areas Gardens and parks GI + BI Ecosystem Services Erosion control Flood mitigation during rainfall peaks Food production Adaptation water cycle and other urban services Microclimatic mitigation and reduction of heat island effect Improve air and water quality
Example GI + BI multifunctional project Solution: Natural stream restoration (riparian vegetation) + Retention basin (accommodate stormwater) + Vegetable garden ICLEI World Congress 2015 Urban Nature: Provisioning Services - Water for life Seoul, South Korea 11 th April 2015
Example GI + BI multifunctional project Meadow Fruit farm Riparian vegetation Vegetable plots Fruit farm Hydraulic surface Picnic Park discharger ICLEI World Congress 2015 Urban Nature: Stream Provisioning Services - Water for life Seoul, South Korea 11 th April 2015 Stream
Combining green and blue adaptive solutions Water Retention Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Flooding area Volume Water capacity 75,00 m 3 1.152,55 m 3 3.460,55 m 3 Bacia de retenção Bacia de retenção Área inundável Nível 1 Nível 2 Nível 3 Nível 4 ICLEI World Congress 2015 Urban Nature: Provisioning Services - Water for life Seoul, South Korea 11 th April 2015 Retain basin Retain basin
Example GI + BI multifunctional project Present Problem: High coast line regression; degradated dunes; no vegetation; beach sand nourishment required for inland protection; biodiversity loss Objectives: Mitigation of coastal erosion, restore dune ecosystems and enhance biodiversity biodiversity, sediment loss; sedimentary balance Boosting territorial resilience ICLEI World Congress 2015 Urban Nature: Provisioning Services - Water for life Seoul, South Korea 11 th April 2015
Example GI + BI multifunctional project Hazards GI + BI ICLEI World Congress 2015 Urban Nature: Provisioning Services - Water for life Seoul, South Korea 11 th April 2015 Boosting territorial resilience How can GI + BI and their ecosystem services respond to current and future hazards/vulnerabilities? Adverse weather conditions (storms, strong winds) Storm surge Shoreline retreat Coastal flood Overwash Loss of Biodiversity Saline intrusion Dune relief (beaches, sand dunes) Vegetation of conservative value Areas of highest infiltration GI + BI Ecosystem Services Flood mitigation during storms Resilience to disasters Erosion control Nature conservation Genetic resources Water availability/quality Tourism Cultural inheritage
Example GI + BI multifunctional project Solution: ReDuna Project Soft measures (ecological restoration of coastal sand dunes) + Heavy coastal protection measures (beach sand nourishment) Boosting territorial resilience ICLEI World Congress 2015 Urban Nature: Provisioning Services - Water for life Seoul, South Korea 11 th April 2015
ICLEI World Congress 2015 Urban Nature: Provisioning Services - Water for life Seoul, South Korea 11 th April 2015
ReDuna Erosion control Resilience to disasters Nature conservation Tourism sand fences made of permanent fences to regulate the elevated pathways for dune dry willow branches or wicker pedestrian access to the dune protection plantation of native species on mobile dunes
Topics... a glimpse of Almada... adaptation in Almada s Strategy for Climate Change... improving resilience through ecosystem based adaptation Final remarks
Conclusions Final remarks Climate Change is a Global phenomena with Local impacts: adaptation must be addressed at a City level Adapt Cities to climate change, means addressing the uncertainty of its impacts (different nature, type, magnitude) and take decisions, act now But Cities are extremely complex systems (mass, energy, momentum flows ), difficult to manage So, flexibility and creativity are required in any adaptation strategy (local management with a global knowledge )
Final Remarks Final remarks Green Infrastructure as a planning tool is an effective way to build natural and urban resilience, with short term benefits with a lower cost than grey infrastructure. Private engagement should be promoted e.g. economic valuation of environmental services. Multi-dimension provision of ecosystem services can tackle different hazards, with several benefits from win-win solutions However, ecosystem based adaptation implies a deep transformation in urban planning practices
Future challenges Future challenges It is important for Cities to rely on robust ( translated ) data to useful information, benchmarking studies and practical solutions. (R&D) more regional data about the economic value of environmental services provided by ecosystems evaluate the limits for adaptation (what is the tolerable risk?) more comparative studies on investement and cost benefits of ecosystem based adaptation
Thank you for your attention! nlopes@cma.m-almada.pt