Tuesday 26 February 2013

Summaries of Discussions from Module 1

Week 4: Summary and Conclusion of Discussion on Integrating Climate Change Considerations into Urban Land-Use Planning

Sunday 24 February 2013

Week 4: Exercise

1) How are your cities addressing land-use planning issues in the light of climate variability?


Current urban development in Ho Chi Minh city shows a lack of effective planning and plan enforcement mechanisms. According to DONRE, by the year 2025, on the basis of the current HCMC urban development master plan, one-third of the available agricultural land would be rezoned as construction land and becoming available for new developments.  Alongside this ongoing urbanisation, comes the loss of valuable surrounding multi-functional green and open spaces, which are not only important for agricultural production but also for the regulation of both the urban climate and urban water balance. Lots of channels and lakes in the city have been filled up or cleared out. Thus, water retention capacity of the city has reduced 10 times within less than a decade, and the number of flooded locations, the flooding frequency and its duration has increased continuously in the city.

Recently, the Megacity Research Project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research  has organized the conference "Megacity Research Dialogue Ho Chi Minh City: Planning for a Changing Climate." Main findings and recommendations for integrative urban and environmental planning such as sustainable strategies for climate-oriented urban structures, energy-efficient housing typologies and comprehensive environmental protection have been presented to assist DONRE with administrative policy making. In their recommendations for land use planning, protection of low-lying open spaces, reserving rooms of urban open spaces, natural landscape for water retention, flood water management and urban agriculture are highlighted. In addition, keeping areas to generate and transit cool and fresh air lowers and offsets the energy demands for cooling in this hot tropical climate.

2) How might an integrated interdisciplinary approach to land-use planning, such as those outlined in the interviews with our Latin American experts, help overcome specific challenges in your cities?

Climate change is a complex issues which affects and involves all sectors and a system approach is needed. Therefore an integrated interdisciplinary approach to land-use planning as outlined in the interviews would be very helpful in facilitating the cooperation between related departments (for example the Department of Planning and Architecture, Dep. of Transportation, DPI... and DONRE). Also it enable local participation, local and expert knowledge combination, assisting well-informed and high consensus decision-making.


References

Comments

Jyotiraj Patra, India
Posted February 24 at 21:42 (GMT-6)
Dear Thuy,
Thanks for sharing the case of Ho Chi Minh city. 10 fold reduction in water retention capacity is quite significant and most of these have been because of filling up of the city's lakes and water channels. The new project envisages a 'comprehensive environmental protection' strategy for a changing climate. Does this include restoration of the lakes and channels? I am interested to learn more about this as this presents a case of ecosystem-based approach to urban resilience. Secondly, how has been the participation of the public and other stakeholders in this 'research dialogue'? And how is the existing planning strategy or the overall institutional framework adapting to these recommendations and the time frame for it?
Could you please share about the 'inter-disciplinary' nature of research and who all were involved in this research?
Regards,
Jyotiraj


Thuy Duong Pham, Viet Nam (Vietnam)
Posted February 26 at 07:35 (GMT-6)
Dear Jyotiraj,
Thanks for your comments! I would like to make it clear a little bit. The Megacity Research Project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research is a research project and the results/findings mean to assist the city as land use recommendations for adaptation to climate change. So they are recommendations from the research, but ultimately, it is the city and DONRE has responsibility to integrate these recommendations in its land use planning and enforcement.
I attach here links to the 2 publications from this research: The Handbook for Green Housing (is the result of the working group on climate-adapted housing and energy-efficient buildings) and the Community Based Adaptation Handbook. There will be the publication on Land Use Recommendations uploaded to the website in the future (I attended the conference so i got the internal version). In the Land Use Recommendations, protection of low-lying open spaces, reserving rooms of urban open spaces, natural landscape for water retention, flood water management have been included. More information on the research projects and research team you can see at the link http://www.megacity-hcmc.org.
With my best regards.





Tuesday 19 February 2013

Week 4: Integrating Climate Considerations in Urban Land-Use Planning



This week we will be looking at land-use planning, a topic which was raised by many of you in the introductory week. As we have seen, many vulnerabilities exacerbated by the changing climate are a result of poor city planning. This week we will be looking at the importance of integrating climate considerations into urban plans, and how to involve communities in this planning effort. We have one written interview with Paula Sierra-Correa and Francisco Arias Asaza from Cartagena, Colombia and one video interview with Ignacio Lorenzo Arana from Montevideo, Uruguay. Please consider these two cases and engage with each other in a discussion about this key issue. 

This week we will be looking at land-use, territorial and urban planning given the changing climate. Many of you commented that many vulnerabilities felt by city populations are a result of poor city planning. This week we will be looking at whether your cities are now actively changing land-use plans and practices according to local climate risks.

Our cases from Latin America this week come from the coastal city of Cartagena in Colombia, and the capital city of Uruguay, Montevideo. Paula Sierra-Correa and Francisco Arias-Isaza from the Marine and Costal Research Institute (INVEMAR) have been kind enough to share their experiences with us from the city of Cartagena. INVEMAR took a lead role in integrating climate considerations into Cartagena’s urban planning. Ignacio Lorenzo Arana, from the Ministry of Housing, Territorial Planning and Environment, who is an active member of this Learning Alliance, has taken the time to join us for an interview on Montevideo’s Territorial Approach to Climate Change Planning.

Please review these two cases – which are quite distinct, but converge on their multi-sector, interdisciplinary, participatory approach – and engage in a discussion with each other around the following questions:

1) How are your cities addressing land-use planning issues in the light of climate variability?

2) How might an integrated interdisciplinary approach to land-use planning, such as those outlined in the interviews with our Latin American experts, help overcome specific challenges in your cities?

As always, please share your experiences and engage with others in a fruitful discussion about this week's theme.
 







Week 3: Summary and Conclusion of Discussion on Urban Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessments

We had a very interesting discussion this week about climate vulnerability and risk assessments in cities across our regions. I would like to thank you once again for sharing your experiences and interacting with others. If you did not yet have a chance to take part in this discussion, please visit the site and add your comments to this post.

We saw a range of responses to the question on whether or not exercises like the climate vulnerability mapping of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo were being implemented in your countries. We saw that some cities had indeed carried out specific climate change vulnerability mapping exercises, some cities had carried out a range of mapping exercises but without a climate change focus or without covering the whole city, others still showed to have no signs of meaningful mapping.

From what participants shared with us this week we could see that:
- The cities that showed clear climate vulnerability maps were: Guwahati, Indore and Surat (India), Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Kampala (Uganda), La Paz (Bolivia).
- The cities that had maps in some regions were: Chennai (India), and Harare (Zimbabwe).
- The cities that had maps for certain issues were: Dhaka (Bangladesh), Kathmandu (Nepal), Khulna (Bangladesh), Lusaka (Zambia), Makurdi (Nigeria), Sekondi & Accra (Ghana).

A large proportion of participants converged on the suggested components necessary for successful climate assessments in cities:
- Involvement of multi-stakeholder groups
- Involvement of local communities
- Mobilisation of policy makers to support such exercises
- Inclusion of results in climate change plan for the city
- Public-private funding mechanisms
- Constant updating of climate vulnerability and risk maps

A very interesting discussion occurred regarding the utilisation of quantitative or qualitative data. Many participants stated that there is often lack of quantitative data coming from communities in very academic studies. Some participants gave examples of cases that utilised purely qualitative data- such as cities in the Caribbean. It was generally agreed that a mixture of both quantitative and qualitative data would lead to the most meaningful maps. Quantitative data is helpful when it comes to monitoring and evaluation, and is the kind of data that is best received by local authorities; qualitative data is necessary because the local communities are the ones that best understand the reality of risks, and local knowledge is highly valuable.

The barriers to risk assessments being done, or to risk assessments being translated into meaningful actions were generally attributed to the following:
- Lack of political concern for climate change (Ghana, India, Mozambique, Nigeria)
- Lack of climate change funding from local authorities (Bangladesh, India, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria)
- Lack of expertise/capacity (Bangladesh, India, Mozambique, Nigeria)
- Lack of interaction between institutions and agencies (Bangladesh, Brazil, India)
- Studies are seen as academic exercises, and are not put to practical use (Brazil, Ghana, India, Nepal, Nigeria, Uganda)
- Informal settlement dwellers do not follow advice of resultant plans
- Climate change is considered a rural issue and mapping is more common in rural areas (Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Nepal, Zambia)

It was interesting to see that once again this week the fact that rural areas are more commonly mapped for climate vulnerability. The impacts of climate variability are certainly different in cities and due to increasing urbanisation, these kind of mapping exercises might be considered increasingly important for urban areas.

It was very encouraging to see some specific examples of cities that have used climate vulnerability mapping to implement specific programmes and actions to increase urban climate resilience. The ACCCRN and TERI initiatives in India, are particularly interesting, as is the example of Ho Chi Minh city, and we would encourage you seek more information on these. Additionally we saw a very interesting example from the Caribbean that was not city specific, but spoke of a participatory approach to mapping climate vulnerability. Our participants kindly shared various links and documents – some of which are annexed here below.

If you would like to comment upon, or add to this summary, we would like to encourage you to do so.

Thanks once again for the fruitful discussion!
Charlotte and the ELLA Team



Sunday 17 February 2013

Week 3: Exercise

1) Are similar climate vulnerability and risk assessments being developed or undertaken in the cities that you live and work in? If so, how might the results being utilised to improve climate resilience in cities?

2) If climate vulnerability and risk mapping is a new concept for you, how might your city go about carrying out such an exercise? What might be the assist or hinder the undertaking of such an exercise?


Yes, in preparation for the Climate Change Action Plan, the study on climate change impact and vulnerability in Ho Chi Minh city was included (more details can be seen in the attachment, which was the 4th draft of the study on Ho Chi Minh city adaptation to climate change). Climate threats have been studied through modelling climate change and its consequences on the climate and hydrology of HCMC in 2050. Then, climate impacts and vulnerability have been assessed by linking estimates of threat to potential socioeconomic and environmental impacts of climate change on areas, sectors and communities in the city, identifying those which are vulnerable and undertaking an economic analysis. Areas, sectors and communities were identified as being affected by flooding and/or increased salinity.

The results of these impacts and vulnerability assessments were used for identifying adaptation options and priorities, defining what needs to be done, where, by whom and when to reduce the risks of climate change.

Attachment:  Ho Chi Minh city adaptation to climate change

Comments

Charlotte Heffer, Brazil
Posted February 17 at 17:55 (GMT-6)
Thank you very much Thuy. It is great to see an example of a city that did a climate vulnerability and risk mapping exercise in preparation for a city climate plan! Do you feel that Ho Chi Minh city suffers from the same issues that many of the participants (and indeed our 2 Latin American experts) referred to, the problem that risk areas are identified but that the communities are not necessarily involved in this mapping or aware of the risks and thus continue to settle in high risk areas? 


Thuy Duong Pham, Viet Nam (Vietnam)
Posted February 18 at 17:25 (GMT-6)
Dear Charlotte, yes, that's true! I do feel the same. The study has not reached most of the people but more still in academic circle. Communities have not been well informed. And in reality even development projects are approved to be located there. Somehow i feel that it is a persistent conflict between economic development and climate resilience/environmental protection... 


Wednesday 13 February 2013

Week 3: Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessments at the City Level



This week we will be looking at urban vulnerability and risk assessments in the light of climate variability and climate projections. Arguably in order to make effective plans and implement actions to increase climate resilience in cities it is necessary to understand which risks pose the greatest threats and which areas of the city, and thus portions of the population, are most vulnerable to climate change. The reason for this is that risks and vulnerabilities differ massively between cities, and in order for local solutions to be developed a firm understanding of the local reality is invaluable. Areas at risk are not merely those located on hillsides, river banks or coast lines, components of risk include poverty levels, access to health facilities and quality of housing, to name but a few. In cities in Latin America there is an increasing trend to map risks and weaknesses geographically, to understand where to focus attention.

This week we have an interview with Dr Martha Barata, from the city of Rio de Janeiro, who was a key player in the climate vulnerability mapping done in the State of Rio de Janeiro; and Dr Andrea Young has shared two documents with us, one on environmental-risk mapping in 4 cities in Brazil, and one on Climate Risk and Vulnerability Mapping in São Paulo. In addition to the material posted here below you will find a UNDP guidebook on mapping climate change vulnerability, and a World Bank risk mapping toolkit in the Resource Library.

We would like to invite you to please view these files and take part in the following discussion:

1) Are similar climate vulnerability and risk assessments being developed or undertaken in the cities that you live and work in? If so, how might the results being utilised to improve climate resilience in cities?

2) If climate vulnerability and risk mapping is a new concept for you, how might your city go about carrying out such an exercise? What might be the assist or hinder the undertaking of such an exercise?

If you have any particular questions for Dr Martha Barata, you will be pleased to hear that she will be joining us for this week’s discussion.














Tuesday 12 February 2013

Week 2: Summary and Conclusion of Discussion on City Level Climate Change Plans and Policies

Dear Participants,

Thank you to those of you that participated in the discussion last week on city level plans and policies. Participation in these discussions is very valuable, even if the cities that you live and work in do not show clear signs of implementing the climate resilience strategies under discussion. As a community is it interesting for us to understand the realities across all of our countries, please do not shy away from taking part in the discussion – even if your contribution is merely to state that your cities have not implemented such practices. It is our hope that we can match up our strengths and weaknesses and help each other see different approaches to addressing similar needs. Another comment, before moving on to the summary of this week’s discussion is that in this Learning Alliance we are focusing specifically upon climate resilience at the city level – and not at the national level. There are of course very important links between the two, and we will certainly mention national strategies from time to time, when they directly affect city responses, however, our focus is upon cities because arguably it is location specific strategies and actions that will improve climate resilience in urban areas. In the following discussions we would like to encourage you to share practical local experiences.

Last week’s discussion about city level policies and plans showed that very few cities across Africa and Asia have developed city level strategies to improve climate resilience. We heard about national climate change plans, policies and strategies in existence or in development in Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ghana, India, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Plus, we know from the Week 1 discussion that many other countries throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America have national climate change strategies, plans and policies.

Several reasons were given as to why city level plans do not exist:
- Many participants attributed the cause to the fact that other development issues are further up the agenda.
- A participant from Zimbabwe stated that city level climate change plans would more likely be developed after the national plan is complete.
- Participants from Bangladesh and Ghana explained that a the lack of city level climate change strategies may have to do with the fact that there are no city governments as such.
- Participants from India and Zambia explained that climate change is seen as more of an agricultural or rural concern that an urban one.

Aside from the two cities featured in our discussion material – Mexico City and Quito – some other cities with specific climate change plans were introduced to us, along with other cities with uncoordinated programmes to improve climate resilience. From what participants shared last week we can see that:
In Bangladesh – the cities of Khulna and Dhaka have a series of initiatives to improve climate resilience, but no central city plan.
In Bolivia – La Paz has a plan for climate change, which focuses on early response to hazards.
In Ghana – the city of Accra has a plan to deal with flooding, and participants mentioned that byelaws are being passed in cities to improve climate resilience.
In India – Surat, Indore and Gorakhpu have specific climate change plans, and Visakhapatnam city is developing a plan now. Delhi has no specific plan, but is apparently very well organised and increasingly green.
In Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh city has a Climate Change Action Plan 2015-2025

Given that most cities do not have climate change plans the discussion on financing city level plans was largely combined with the discussion on whether or not cities could become resilient to climate change without a central city level plan. Many participants understood this question to be about whether it was necessary to have support from the central government, and as such we did have two similar but distinct discussions going on. On the whole, participants felt that the chances of success would be higher with support from city level administration. Most participants felt that cities would improve urban climate resilience if national governments gave political, economic and technical support – but many felt that power should be passed on to the city authorities.

Two additional, very interesting, recurrent comments that we saw throughout last week’s discussion were: 1) the view that it is necessary to have a multi-stakeholder group working on city level strategies, and, 2) that public-private partnerships would be necessary to fund such initiatives.

We would like to welcome comments on this summary, and invite those of you that have anything additional to add to the discussion to please do so here.

Thank you so much!
Charlotte and the ELLA Team


Friday 8 February 2013

Week 2: Exercise

1) Does your city have a government mandated climate change strategy?
If yes, how was it developed (who was involved) and how successful is it in achieving its mandate?
If no, what do you perceive to be the barriers for developing one?

Yes, Ho Chi Minh city has just recently (in January 2013) promulgated the Climate Change Action Plan for the period of 2015 - 2025 (by DONRE). As requested from the People's Committee of HCMC, in 2009 DONRE and DOST (Department of Science and Technology) had organized workshops on the Action Plan on Climate Change for Ho Chi Minh city. In 2011, the Action Plan was evaluated by Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) and the Ho Chi Minh city Climate Change  Steering Board (involving leaders of HCMC People's Committee and directors of departments and districts) was established. In May 2012, the Climate Change Office, which is directly belong to this Steering Board, was established and located in DONRE. 

Some pilots projects had been implemented such as replacing high efficiency public light in Go Vap districts, tree planting and greenery on the streets, environmental campaigns for awareness raising (recycling day), etc...

2) To what extent do your city governments invest in improving climate resilience?

According to the Action Plan, in terms of urban planning, HCMC will direct towards planning residental/industrial and agricultural zones to ensure food and social security in the context of climate change; integrating water management planning, flood prevention. 

In terms of energy, HCMC will direct toward efficient use of energy in industry, public lighting, commerce and services, particularly in increasing use of green and renewable energies.

In terms of waste management, the domestic waste separation at source will be implemented in the city and try to complete by 2020; as well as policy and market development for re-use and recycle wastes, for reasonable consumption, reduction in consumption for reduction of wastes.

In terms of security and public health, HCMC will increase in public health care, climate-sensitive disease control...

3) Can cities become resilient to climate change without centralised support?

Yes, they can, however centralised support is very important as it has system and national view to integrate cities into the   harmonious picture of the whole country. On the other hand, cities need to be active itself in climate change adaptation. 

Comments


Luciana Maia, Germany
Posted February 11 at 05:28 (GMT-6)
Dear Daisy, thanks for you contribution, very interesting to know more about HCMC institutional setting (CC Steering Board, etc); As in regard to the Action Plan: do you know if there is a cost estimation for the different measures, and how the city plans to finance them? (how are donors support being included in this financing?)
Thanks, kind regards. 


Charlotte Heffer, Brazil
Posted February 11 at 12:04 (GMT-6)
Dear Thuy, thank you for your contrubution. It is wonderful to hear about examples of cities with climate change plans! I noticed that the plan date is from 2015, does this mean that the majority (beyong pilot projects) will be implemented post 2015? Or does this mean that targets are set from 2015 to 2025? Also, in line with the second question, how is the city of Ho Chi Minh funding these initiatives? Thanks so much! 


Thuy Duong Pham, Viet Nam
Posted February 13 at 02:03 (GMT-6)
Dear Luciana, dear Charlotte, thank you very much for your comments!
About the Action Plan time frame, I did some research and found out that HCMC has prepared the draft action plan for the period of 2011-2015. The financing will come 50% from foreign support, 30% from the central government, 10% from the city’s budget and the remainder from the private sector and others. The budget will cover mostly for infrastructure (99%), and the rest will be for research on climate change adaptation as well as for capacity building, policy development and institutional improvement.
And about the recently approved Action Plan for 2015-2025, I think this mean the targets are set from 2015 - 2025.
Many thanks again and with my best regards!