addressing climate change

Addressing Climate Change

• Major Consequences of Climate Change:

  • Temperature increases

  • Melting polar ice

  • Urban heat increases

  • Rising sea levels

  • Intense droughts

  • Flooding

  • Water scarcity

  • Wildfires

  • Catastrophic storms

  • Declining biodiversity

Flood

• Flood Types:

  • Shallow-river flooding

  • Flash floods (resulting from thunderstorms)

  • Coastal flooding

• City Approaches to Address Climate Change:

  • Flood Hazard Mitigation Approaches:

    • Structural/Flood Control: dams, reservoirs, levees, channel modifications

    • Non-structural/Planning: vacant land acquisition, floodplain management, greenways

  • Examples:

    • Fontana Dam, NC

    • Sea Walls

Restoring Ecosystems and Greening the City

• Goals:

  • Promote biodiversity, defined as the variety of life on earth

• Components of Biodiversity:

  • Connectivity between biodiverse areas to enable mobility of animals and propagation of fungi/plants

  • Cycles of water, nutrient, and energy to sustain ecosystems

  • Interactions including competition for resources and pollination

Major Approaches to Promote Biodiversity

• Preservation:

  • Focus on preserving certain habitats, species, and resources, e.g., Earth First

• Conservation:

  • Wise usage of natural resources for the benefit of future generations, e.g., the Sierra Club

Restoration of Damaged Ecosystems

• Methods:

  • Clean up contaminated sites (brownfields)

  • Replant native vegetation

  • Restore wetlands and streams

• Planning for Biodiversity:

  1. Examine current conditions

  2. Adopt Preservation, Conservation, and/or Restoration approaches

  3. Locate new developments

  4. Add green infrastructure

  5. Incorporate existing vegetation during development

• Goals:

  • Promote biodiversity conservation; understand Greyfield vs Brownfield concepts

Wetlands

• Definition:

  • Areas where water covers the soil either year-round or for varying periods, including the growing season (EPA)

• Functions:

  • Control floods

  • Improve water quality

  • Provide recreational opportunities

• Adoption of Approaches:

  • Preservation, Conservation, and Restoration

  • Example: Jackson Lane Preserve (265 acres of wetland habitat in MD)

Urban Forestry

• Definition:

  • Woody vegetation within urban areas (trees, forests)

• Benefits:

  • Municipal trees, parks, tree planting programs, community participation

• Challenges:

  • Long-term funding needs (planting, maintenance, storm clean-up)

• Tools for Biodiversity:

  • Green roofs (for buildings <5 stories)

  • Green walls with low irrigation needs

  • Stormwater management (permeable pavements)

Biophilic Cities

• Principles:

  • Focus on nature integration into city planning

  • Biodiverse elements (parks, trees, plants)

  • Use of renewable energy sources, green buildings, and developments

  • Promotion of walkability, cycling, and public transit

Biophilic Design Elements

• Design Elements:

  • Buildings:

    • Green roofs, gardens, green walls

  • Streets:

    • Green streets and sidewalks, urban trees, permeable pavements

  • Neighborhoods:

    • Stream restoration, urban forests, parks, greening brownfields

  • Blocks:

    • Green courtyards, clustered houses around green areas, native species yards

Urban Planning Sub-Fields

• Relevant Sub-fields:

  • Land Use Planning

  • Environmental Planning

  • Economic Development Planning

  • Transportation Planning

  • Housing & Community Development Planning

  • Urban Design (Focus for creating Biophilic Cities)