65359 v1 Guide to Climate Change Adaptation in Cities Executive Summary Guide to Climate ChanGe adaptation in Cities Cities face significant impacts from first responders to climate impacts. cities are challenged by rapid urbanization, climate change, both now and into Because cities are dynamic systems that expansion of informal settlements, sub- the future. These impacts have face unique climate impacts, their adapta- stantial poverty, inadequate infrastructure, potentially serious consequences for tion must be location specific and tailored and environmental degradation. These and human health, livelihoods, and assets, to local circumstances. The starting point other concerns (the “development deficit�) especially for the urban poor, informal in managing risks and building long-term constrain cities’ ability to grow and prosper. settlements, and other vulnerable resilience is for a city to understand its Many of these same conditions also limit groups. Climate change impacts range exposure and sensitivity to a given set resilience to current climate variability (the from an increase in extreme weather of impacts, and develop responsive poli- “adaptation deficit�). events and flooding to hotter temperatures cies and investments that address these Climate change considerations can be and public health concerns. Cities in low- vulnerabilities. integrated with disaster risk reduction elevation coastal zones, for instance, face A resilient city is one that is prepared (DRR) in cities. DRR efforts—already the combined threat of sea-level rise and for existing and future climate impacts, familiar to many—may be used as a plat- storm surges. The specific impacts on each thereby limiting their magnitude and form from which to develop climate change city will depend on the actual changes in severity. Once an impact occurs, a resil- adaptation plans. In practical terms, disaster climate experienced (for example, higher ient city is able to respond quickly and ef- risk reduction and climate adaptation can temperatures or increased rainfall), which fectively, in an equitable and efficient way. be integrated in many instances, although will vary from place to place. Building resilience requires not only robust cities should also consider incremental Climate change will increase the fre- decision making by those in positions of or gradual changes in climate that affect quency at which some natural hazards formal authority, but also a strong web of government operations or community life in occur, especially extreme weather institutional and social relationships that less immediate and visible ways than con- events, and introduce new incremen- can provide a safety net for vulnerable ventional disasters. Entry points other than tal impacts that are less immediate. populations. Through both formal planning DRR, such as development planning, can However, few climate impacts will be truly activities and informal preparations, cities also be used for adaptation efforts in cities. unfamiliar to cities. Cities have always lived can build their capacity to adapt effectively Approaches to collecting information with natural hazards, such as earthquakes, to existing and future climate impacts, on climate change impacts in a city tsunamis, hurricanes, and flooding. In some while also experimenting and innovating can range from highly technical and situations, cities will experience an increase in policy making and planning. resource-intensive, to simple and in the frequency of existing climate-related Increasing resilience in cities inexpensive. Technically complex as- hazards, such as flooding. involves addressing basic poverty re- sessments are likely to require collabora- Climate change adaptation is the duction and sustainable development tion with external experts, if a city is not process of preparing for, and adjusting goals. Instead of seeing vulnerability large or well-resourced with sufficient proactively to, climate change—both to climate impacts as an additional in-house capacity. Cities can look to local negative impacts as well as potential concern, cities can mainstream re- universities or regional collaborations, opportunities. Cities are often the silience into existing efforts. Many supplemented by international expertise, 3 exeCutive summary if needed. Community-based participatory decisions today that will have long lega- Green building investments, for instance, approaches can integrate community per- cies, offering important and time-sensitive provide natural cooling to occupants in spectives and priorities, improving under- opportunities to adapt. Addressing climate times of extreme heat, while also reducing standing of the social and locally specific change adaptation through the formal greenhouse gas emissions and offering consequences of climate change. Taking planning or policy-making process can benefits in terms of energy efficiency and a combined or tiered approach can yield make an effort more durable in the long cost savings. More broadly, adaptation assessments of impacts that are grounded term, especially for a city in which a com- investments in cities, such as those that in community priorities and supported by mitment to addressing climate change increase the resilience and reliability of sound science. is largely based on a few public officials. urban infrastructure, can improve broader Informal efforts, as well as initiatives that economic performance by increasing city An increasing number of cities around do not address climate change explicitly competitiveness and attractiveness for the world have begun to plan for but still contribute to resilience, can also investors and the private sector in general. climate change by developing stand- be valuable starting points. alone climate plans or incorporating Cities can identify simple and low- climate considerations into existing Adaptation efforts in cities offer co- cost (or no-cost) actions that can be plans, policies, and projects. City benefits for climate change mitigation implemented to increase resilience officials are making major development and for local economic development. in their day-to-day operations. At the photo: Baloncici / iStockPhoto.com 4 cover photo: Agosto / WorldBank Guide to Climate ChanGe adaptation in Cities same time, given resource constraints organizations that already work with the challenge for cities. Opportunities that and competing priorities, many cities vulnerable groups; and 5) strengthen land cities can consider include the following: may be able to pursue only a few administration and regulation, including 1) existing own-source revenues and tools large investments in climate change considering the benefits of improving and national sources of municipal finance; adaptation. This makes the evaluation security of tenure and service provision 2) grant resources and concessional and prioritization of potential adaptive in informal settlements. In pursuing such finance from multilateral or bilateral insti- responses all the more important. Cities efforts, it is important to fully recognize tutions; and 3) market-based mechanisms can apply tools to identify and prioritize the resourcefulness of the informal sector to increase efficiency and the involvement which proposed adaptive actions to pursue, in cities. of the private sector. Cities can use funding as well as to evaluate the effectiveness for adaptation to pilot new tools, scale up Climate change adaptation in cities of these actions once implementation is and catalyze action, and leverage more requires collaborative problem solv- underway. Based on these analyses, cit- funding from other donors or the private ing and coordination across sectors. ies can identify “no-regrets� actions that sector. Cities are well positioned to act as generate net social or economic benefits conveners of a wide range of partners. In summary, adaptation is not a one- independent of climate change. Low-cost Climate change will have impacts on many time effort but an ongoing cycle of actions can include short-term clearing of sectors: land use, housing, transportation, preparation, response, and revision. solid waste from urban waterways to pre- public health, water supply and sanitation, It is a dynamic process, and one that vent localized flooding because of clogged solid waste, food security, and energy (see should be revised over time based on new drains and public awareness efforts to the table below for a sample of climate information. Underpinning the strongest share information about emergency evacu- impacts and corresponding adaptive adaptation processes will be leadership ation and public health risks. responses in cities). Adaptation efforts and commitment to measuring progress Climate change will place unique in any of these sectors will often involve and assessing effectiveness. This will help burdens on the urban poor, residents multiple government agencies, as well ensure that cities invest scarce resources of informal settlements, and other as broad partnerships that include other in truly adaptive ways and achieve the vulnerable groups, such as women, governments, local communities, nonprofit maximum cobenefits, while avoiding children, the elderly and disabled, and organizations, academic institutions, and unintended consequences. Those cities minority populations. To build resilience the private sector. that are able to integrate adaptation well among these vulnerable groups, a city with a broad spectrum of existing planning Financing adaptation in cities will can do the following: 1) raise awareness processes and goals—including priorities involve drawing upon a combination about specific climate change impacts on in disaster risk reduction, sustainable of sources. Climate finance is a complex the most vulnerable; 2) include vulnerable development, and poverty reduction—will field, and adaptation-specific funding is still groups in the adaptation planning and be best positioned to thrive in this new era relatively limited. Sources of concessional policy-making process; 3) incorporate of climate change. finance are mostly structured for access community-based adaptation into city at the national level, posing an additional plans, when appropriate; 4) support 5 exeCutive summary Sample of Climate HazardS and adaptive reSponSeS aCroSS SeCtorS Projected Change in Drivers of Urban Consequences Climate Phenomena Exposure and for Cities, if Sample Adaptive Responses Relative Investment (Likelihood) Vulnerability Unaddressed Sectors Involved (not an exhaustive list) Level / Cost Warmer with fewer Urban heat island effect. Exacerbated air pollution Transportation, housing, Green infrastructure, including Medium to high with cold days and nights, private sector building improved vegetation and green building significant economic and Heat-induced illness and more hot days and Lack of electricity industry, public health investments for natural cooling. sustainable development death and cooling systems, cobenefits nights (virtually certain) especially in many informal settlements. Retrofit of existing bus fleet with Low to medium Hot spells/heat waves white roofs to reduce solar heat gain —increased frequency and ventilation to ensure adequate air (very likely) circulation. Undertaking public relations campaigns to encourage passengers to carry water with them to avoid heat stroke. Lack of diversified Energy shocks and Energy Investment in clean energy and energy Low to high, depending energy supply and disruptions because of efficiency. on the specific energy substandard energy increased demand investment; significant infrastructure. cobenefits for economic prosperity and “green growth.� Heavy precipitation Rapid urban growth Exacerbated flooding and Land use, housing, solid Development and enforcement of a High, involving events—increased leading to informal landslides waste, public health, sound land use plan that a) is based significant political and frequency (very likely) settlements on marginal emergency management on understanding of climate change staff investment land with no roads or vulnerabilities, b) effectively encourages drainage systems, or dense, mixed-use development Intensity of tropical drains that are clogged in resilient areas, and c) engages cyclone activity with debris and silt. ecological planning approaches outside increases (likely) of city limits (for example, village-level watershed management on the outskirts Rising sea level of a city or protection of mangroves and (virtually certain) wetlands on nearby coastline). Contaminated waters Improved solid waste handling practices Medium to high and spread of disease in (for example, proximity to drinking water stagnant waters supply or corrosive-resistant containers) to prevent leakage and contamination. Short-term clearance/disposal of solid Low waste from drains to prevent clogging. Public health engagement and risk Low prevention around likely flood-related diseases. Nonexistent Blockage of emergency Transportation, Investment in roads and other Medium to high or substandard routes because of road emergency management, transportation choices for informal transportation flooding, resulting in private sector settlements. infrastructure. delayed emergency evacuations Green infrastructure. Medium to high with significant economic and Losses in commercial sustainable development activity cobenefits Relocation of storage yards for buses High and train cars out of flood-prone areas to reduce the risk of damage or loss of this equipment. continued on next page 6 Guide to Climate ChanGe adaptation in Cities Sample of Climate HazardS and adaptive reSponSeS aCroSS SeCtorS Projected Change in Drivers of Urban Consequences Climate Phenomena Exposure and for Cities, if Sample Adaptive Responses Relative Investment (Likelihood) Vulnerability Unaddressed Sectors Involved (not an exhaustive list) Level / Cost Storm water Increased runoff in Sanitation, solid waste Short-term clearance/disposal of solid Low infrastructure absence of vegetated waste from drains to prevent clogging. Natural resources unable to deal with land management Investment in “green infrastructure� Low (localized planting) current or future Increased flooding and ecosystem planning to improve to high (large-scale runoff, compounded by deforestation / natural storm water function (for infrastructure or degradation of natural example, contour planting, terracing, and afforestation) with storm water filtering afforestation for erosion control). significant economic and functions. environmental cobenefits. Already high population Loss of property Private sector Relocation of facilities out of flood-prone High densities and and infrastructure, areas. concentrated commercial potentially before the activities (for example, end of their useful life Sea walls or other structural investments High ports and industry), to protect against coastal flooding. located in coastal cities or in river deltas. Lower structural quality Loss of property and life Housing, emergency Retrofit of old buildings and improved Medium to high of homes, especially in management design of new buildings (if residents informal settlements. remain in vulnerable location). Stricter risk disclosure requirements for Political and staff housing developers. investment for sound enforcement Public awareness / emergency Low preparedness initiatives to educate residents on flooding risks. Location of aquifers, Saltwater infiltration Water supply Modification of pipes. Medium wastewater treatment of infrastructure (for Wastewater treatment plants, and other example, potable water infrastructure in coastal supplies and wastewater areas or on river deltas. treatment) Areas affected by Existing water scarcity Exacerbated water Water supply (with Utility piped water supply (assuming Medium to high drought increase and competing pressures scarcity and competition implications for energy water supply is resilient). (likely) for water use (for sector in areas of example, potable water, hydropower generation) Reclaimed wastewater (resilient if High irrigation, wastewater, properly managed). or hydropower). Long-term demand management and Low to medium water use efficiency programs. Food shortages or higher Food and agriculture Raising public awareness and Low; with staff food prices because of developing municipal competency about investment impacts in other parts of food supply. the region or world. Promotion of urban agriculture. Staff investment and potential high costs, if involving land purchase Development of city-level food storage High infrastructure. Sources: IPCC 2007; Foster and others 2011; Horton 2009; Action Aid 2006; UN-Habitat 2011; Simply Green 2009; Henriques 2009. See end of Chapter 6 for full list of citations. 7 photo: John Isaac / WorldBank This guide has benefited from the support of the Trust Fund for Environmentally & Socially Sustainable Development (TFESSD) made available by the governments of Finland and Norway. It was developed as part of the UNEP - UN-HABITAT - World Bank joint work program on cities and climate change, through the Cities Alliance. The full guide, including an interactive online version, is available at go.worldbank.org/EEBXSYRPR0 and www-esd.worldbank.org/citiesccadaptation. For more information, contact: Urban Development and Local Government Unit Sustainable Development Network The World Bank | 1818 H Street, NW | Washington, DC 20433 | USA Email: urbanhelp@worldbank.org Website: www.worldbank.org/urban