Climate Change and Adaptation of the Built Environment

 

Coordinators:

Claude Ngomsi, UN-Habitat

Yangfan Li, Xiamen University, China

 

In light of Climate Change trends projections and all the accompanying negative effects that possible impacts will bring, urgent actions are recommended by the most notable specialists of the world. There are two main lines of measures that can be implemented in the built environment to tackle issues. The first line consists of measures, designed to prevent the further rise of greenhouse gas emissions and therefore the worsening of Climate Change effects. These are measures such as the conversion to renewable sources of energy production, construction and promotion of mass public transport systems, promotion of cycling and walking as the means of urban mobility and construction of the required accompanying infrastructure, construction of energy and water efficient housing, etc. The second line of measures consists of measures designed adapt to those climate change impacts that we can expect. These are measures such as the construction of enhanced drainage in case of severe flooding events, rainwater-collection facilities in case of severe draught, disaster management centres, etc. How could the built environment be designed in order to be more resilient / adaptive to climate change and more efficient and sustainable? How could we reduce the carbon footprint of urban areas?

 

Sub-questions:

• What are the best and promising policies, rules and regulations, and practices fostering resilience of communities and build environment at local and national levels?
• How could developing countries avoid making the same past mistakes as the now developed world had made?
• How could urban mobility be transformed in order to be efficient and less polluting?
• How could scientific research, policy making, and construction skills be streamlined to increase people resilience to climate change in urban landscapes and human settlements?
• How could urban areas in the developing countries gain electricity without the use of fossil fuels?

气候变化与建成环境应对

在气候变化背景下，国内外知名专家提议应采取紧急行动以应对气候变化趋势及其可能产生的所有负面影响。在建成环境中，主要可采取两类措施以应对气候变化及影响。第一类措施旨在防止温室气体排放量进一步增加以避免气候变化的负面影响进一步加剧，包括使用可再生能源、建设和推广公共交通系统、推动自行车和步行成为城市居民的主要交通方式以及建设配套基础设施、建设节能节水型住房等。第二类措施旨在提升建成环境对可预料的气候变化影响的适应性，如建设排水设施以预防严重水灾、建设雨水收集设施以预防干旱、建设灾害管理中心等。城市建成环境应当如何设计以更能适应气候变化、更加有效率和可持续？城市地区应如何实现节能减排？

 

主要探讨的问题：

• 在地方和国家层面，提升社区和建成环境韧性的最佳、最有前景的政策、法律、规则与实践有哪些？
• 发展中国家如何避免重复发达国家曾经犯下的错误？
• 城市交通应如何转型以提高效率、减少污染？
• 如何优化科学研究、政策制定和建造技术，以提升人民在城市景观和人居环境中对气候变化的适应能力？
• 在不使用化石燃料的情况下，发展中国家/地区的城市如何获取电力？