This week we start Module 3, which will focus on improving resilience in
the built environment. We shall kick off the module with a discussion
about infrastructure. Infrastructure is affected by extreme events, by
slow-onset climate change, and city dwellers without access to
infrastructure may become further marginalised as climate challenges
increase. Please read this week's post and engage in an interactive
discussion with fellow participants.
This week, we will be looking at the impacts of infrastructure on urban
climate vulnerability and risk. Infrastructure plays a vital economic
and social role in cities. Infrastructure in the broad sense is what
allows people access to water, sanitation, electricity, communication,
transportation and other services. This infrastructure is important for
economic development because sections of cities cease to function, and
livelihoods are jeopardised, when these services are unavailable; from
the social perspective access to these services are fundamental to
improving quality of life. We have attached a very interested, very
detailed document entitled Paving the Way for Climate Resilient
Infrastructure, which provides in depth analysis of the importance of
infrastructure for climate resilience.
Climate change poses a series of challenges to infrastructure, both direct and indirect. There are several ways in which cities can invest in infrastructure, these include:
- Investing in upgrading inefficient infrastructure, adapting it to cope with potential climate challenges
- Building specific infrastructure to protect from potential climate challenges
- Including climate considerations when investing in any kind of infrastructure: so called ‘no-regrets’ investments
- Building climate-resilient, low-carbon, infrastructure to both respond to potential threats, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve quality of life at the same time
Later on in Module 3 we will look specifically at low-carbon development strategies in cities, specifically focusing on waste disposal and transportation. This week we would like to focus on how improvements in infrastructure are necessary as city populations continue to grow and put increasing pressure on existing services, and how slow-onset climate change exacerbates bottlenecks (such as inefficient provisions for water and sanitation). Additionally we would like to think about how infrastructure is affected by extreme climatic events. When extreme events hit, infrastructure can be severely damaged leading to, among other things, loss of lives, required investment in recuperation operations and loss of productivity. We would like to invite you to view the short UNEP document entitled Municipalities Adapting to Climate Change, to get an overview of the effects of climate change on infrastructure and some brief Latin American solutions.
Due to the sheer enormity of this week’s theme, for the Latin American case studies, we have focused on water and waste-water treatment and management strategies. We would like to invite you to read the news article about how water management is strong in Latin America, but how water access and waste-water treatment remains weak. This week we have an Interview with Fernando Rodrígez from Bajo Carbono, Mexico, talking about good, low-carbon, waste-water treatment practices from the region and the importance of showing the profitability of such systems. As we have seen already in the Learning Alliance, one of the major barriers to improving climate resilience is how to engage and acquire commitment from local governments– Fernando's experience points to the need to direct the attention of local governments to the profitability of infrastructure upgrades and investments.
Finally, our interview with Rossana Poblet of Peru details the distinct climate change and water stresses that exist within the megacity of Lima, as well as the concerted efforts taken to address these challenges in the city by using an integrated approach to water and wastewater infrastructural management.
This week we would like to invite you to take part in an interactive discussion with one another around the following themes:
1) What infrastructural improvements do you think are necessary in your city in order to improve climate resilience of vulnerable communities?
2) How is existing infrastructure being managed in the face of climate challenges?
3) How might it be possible to encourage ‘no-regrets’ investments in infrastructure in your city?
Climate change poses a series of challenges to infrastructure, both direct and indirect. There are several ways in which cities can invest in infrastructure, these include:
- Investing in upgrading inefficient infrastructure, adapting it to cope with potential climate challenges
- Building specific infrastructure to protect from potential climate challenges
- Including climate considerations when investing in any kind of infrastructure: so called ‘no-regrets’ investments
- Building climate-resilient, low-carbon, infrastructure to both respond to potential threats, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve quality of life at the same time
Later on in Module 3 we will look specifically at low-carbon development strategies in cities, specifically focusing on waste disposal and transportation. This week we would like to focus on how improvements in infrastructure are necessary as city populations continue to grow and put increasing pressure on existing services, and how slow-onset climate change exacerbates bottlenecks (such as inefficient provisions for water and sanitation). Additionally we would like to think about how infrastructure is affected by extreme climatic events. When extreme events hit, infrastructure can be severely damaged leading to, among other things, loss of lives, required investment in recuperation operations and loss of productivity. We would like to invite you to view the short UNEP document entitled Municipalities Adapting to Climate Change, to get an overview of the effects of climate change on infrastructure and some brief Latin American solutions.
Due to the sheer enormity of this week’s theme, for the Latin American case studies, we have focused on water and waste-water treatment and management strategies. We would like to invite you to read the news article about how water management is strong in Latin America, but how water access and waste-water treatment remains weak. This week we have an Interview with Fernando Rodrígez from Bajo Carbono, Mexico, talking about good, low-carbon, waste-water treatment practices from the region and the importance of showing the profitability of such systems. As we have seen already in the Learning Alliance, one of the major barriers to improving climate resilience is how to engage and acquire commitment from local governments– Fernando's experience points to the need to direct the attention of local governments to the profitability of infrastructure upgrades and investments.
Finally, our interview with Rossana Poblet of Peru details the distinct climate change and water stresses that exist within the megacity of Lima, as well as the concerted efforts taken to address these challenges in the city by using an integrated approach to water and wastewater infrastructural management.
This week we would like to invite you to take part in an interactive discussion with one another around the following themes:
1) What infrastructural improvements do you think are necessary in your city in order to improve climate resilience of vulnerable communities?
2) How is existing infrastructure being managed in the face of climate challenges?
3) How might it be possible to encourage ‘no-regrets’ investments in infrastructure in your city?
Related materials:
Paving the Way for Climate Resilient Infrastructure by Daisy
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