Adaptation to Climate Change in Developing Country Urban Deltas (Working Paper)

Issues and Approaches

Author(s): Sierra, Katherine
Publication Date: May 2011

20 pages; Inventory ID WP11KS1; English

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Abstract

This working paper expands on a presentation given at the April 2011 American Planning Association meeting’s Urban Delta Track. It synthesizes ongoing research as well as recent practice in East Asian delta cities on climate change adaptation. It presents a brief overview of the challenge of adapting to a changing climate, outlining the evidence on the particular vulnerability of coastal and urban deltas. The paper also presents recent findings on the costs of adaptation, and outlines the expected international financial resources. It reviews recent studies that expand on the link between growth, development and climate change adaptation, finding that while growth is essential, strategies and modalities will need to be changed to factor in uncertainty. Dynamic strategic planning processes that integrate climate concerns into urban development planning will be important. Investment in physical infrastructure measures will need to be accompanied by policy and institutional measures, like land use planning, protection of eco-systems, and utilization of community-driven solutions. The paper discusses how new planning approaches are being implemented in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The importance of international cooperation in knowledge sharing and research, and in particular peer-to-peer learning is discussed, with Jakarta as an example. Finally, a research agenda for the future is offered which emphasizes development of planning tools for uncertainty, institutional analysis, more focus on autonomous adaptation by citizens and businesses, and metrics to benchmark, promote learning, and assess results.

Key words: climate change adaptation; urban adaptation; urban deltas