C-Change Project Final Report

The C-Change Partnership

C-Change Project Groundwork London 18-21 Morley Street London SE1 7QZ

www.cchangeproject.org

C-CHanGE PRojECT 2009 - 2012 FinaL REPoRT

Frankfurt am Main

CHANGING CLIMATE CHANGING LIVES

CONTENTS inTRoDUCTion

1-4

BUiLDinG STRonGER CoMMUniTiES

5-12

PRaCTiCaL RESPonSES To CLiMaTE CHanGE

13-20

aDaPTinG SPaTiaL PLanninG STRaTEGiES

21-24

ConCLUSion

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The Climate Path, Saarland

Introduction

T

he C-Change vision is to achieve a fundamental change in attitudes and behaviours regarding climate change, and to demonstrate practical responses to the

challenges it presents for city regions. C-Change has aimed to do this by working with politicians, planners, practitioners, communities and citizens, and in particular young people to inform and empower them to take action. Together with these people C-Change has developed creative solutions to the sustainable design and management of open spaces that increase resilience to climate change and act as tangible evidence of collaborative approaches to planning that go beyond the traditional parameters of land use planning. in parallel, regional spatial plans and strategies have been “climate-proofed” by review followed by introducing and embedding planning policies that address climate change.

C-Change has been active over the period from 2009 to 2012, with a total budget of over €7 million. it sits within and is partfunded by the EU’s interreg iVB programme for north West Europe (running 2007-2013), a financial instrument of the European Union's Cohesion Policy supporting transnational cooperation. The interreg iVB programme seeks innovative

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ways to make the most of territorial assets and tackle shared problems of Member States, regions and at the local level.

The EU Policy Context

C-Change has responded to those aims, and in particular to Priority 4: Promoting strong and prosperous communities at

The C-Change partners commenced work at a time when

transnational level, through a programme of activities related

climate change adaptation and mitigation were already high

to climate change. C-Change projects include both actions

on the European Union’s policy agenda – as demonstrated

(supporting activities and staff costs) and investments

by the EU White Paper adapting to climate change: Towards a

(involving the creation of material assets).

European framework for action (CEC, 2009). Recognising that over forthcoming decades climate change is likely to have

C-Change has brought together nine partners across nW

“profound effects” on economic sectors and that it will affect

Europe, including national, regional and local government

households (with particular effects for vulnerable groups in

players representing seven major city regions. The Lead

society) as well as businesses, the framework for action

Partner – Groundwork London – is an nGo with expertise in

focuses on building a strong knowledge base, mainstreaming

engaging communities in sustainable development using the

climate response across policy sectors, and working not only

environment as a catalyst for practical action. Some of the

internationally but also at all levels of governance structures

partners also previously cooperated in the interreg iiiB SaUL

(national, regional and local), to put into place policies and

project (Sustainable and accessible Urban Landscapes, 2003

actions which address the issue through both mitigation

to 2008), which has meant that C-Change has been able to

(reducing green-house gas emissions) and adaptation

build on that work and the established partnership.

measures. Since early 2010 the Directorate General for Climate action (DG CLiMa) has been responsible for EU climate change policy, leading international negotiations on climate, helping

The C-Change Partnership

the EU to deal with the consequences of climate change and to meet its targets for 2020, as well as developing and implementing the EU Emissions Trading System.

1.

Groundwork London, UK

2.

The Greater London Authority, UK

3.

Ministerium für Inneres und Sport des Saarlandes (Saarland Ministry of Interior and Sport), Germany

in response to the decline of the EU’s economic conditions a

Regionalverband FrankfurtRheinMain

new strategy: EURoPE 2020: a strategy for smart, sustainable

(FrankfurtRheinMain Regional Authority), Germany

and inclusive growth (CEC, 2010), was adopted, which aims to

Ministère du Développement durable et des

bring the EU economy out of the current crisis, transforming it

Infrastructures (Ministry of Sustainable

via three mutually reinforcing priorities. These are: smart growth

Development and Infrastructure), Luxembourg

– based on knowledge and innovation; sustainable growth,

Amsterdam Dienst Ruimtelijke Ordening (Physical

which is both more resource efficient and greener, and thirdly

Planning Department), The Netherlands

inclusive growth, with targets for employment and educational

7.

Forestry Commission, UK

achievement. The second of these priorities – sustainable

8.

Provincie Gelderland (Province of Gelderland),

growth - encompasses the EU’s “20/20/20” climate and energy

The Netherlands

targets (for emissions reduction, increased use of renewable

Région Île-de-France (Ile-de-France Regional

energy and improved energy efficiency) but is also designed

Authority), France

to prevent environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity

4.

5.

6.

9.

and unsustainable use of resources whilst at the same time underpinning the other priorities and promoting economic, The partners reflect much of the diversity within nW Europe in

social and territorial cohesion. The EU Committee of the

terms of economic, social and demographic factors and the

Regions has published a handbook for local and regional

on-going changes within these spheres. Regions with strong

authorities (Delivering on the Europe 2020 Strategy, CoR,

population growth over recent years include ile -de-France,

2012), which provides guidance on ways of achieving the

FrankfurtRheinMain, London, Luxembourg and amsterdam.

strategy aims in a changing climate. Some of these include

Gelderland (arnhem-nijmegen), shows moderate growth whilst

better protection for ecosystems and more use of green infra-

Saarland is shrinking economically and demographically.

structure (set out under the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy

Within each of these regions there are also striking differences

European Commission, 2011), as well as developing and

in economic prosperity and in social and demographic

implementing new green technologies (such as eco-innovation)

characteristics, and all C-Change actions and investments

and helping consumers make well-informed choices.

were designed to be adaptable to all of these.

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The Background The C-Change project responds to the likely impacts and

These interactive transnational groups have been central to the

consequences of climate change upon north West European

working of the project, enabling all partners to learn from each

city regions and explores ways to address those effects; the

other’s experiences and so contribute to practical and strategic

majority of EU citizens live in urban areas, so these are priority

responses to climate change.

areas for both emissions reduction and adaptation. The project recognises that the measures necessary include not only policy

The array of options available to address climate change is

and technical approaches but also entail changing mindsets

wide and complex and the measures are inter-linked. Three

and behaviour across society: from policy-makers and planners

objectives were selected for C-Change to provide an integrated

to businesses and nGos, from whole communities to families

structure within which targeted efforts could be made to

and individuals. Fundamental to the C-Change approach,

engage the right people, offer practical ways forward and then

therefore, has been an emphasis upon collaborative working

enable those empowered to do so to embed these in future

with all stake-holders. From its initial development, C-Change

policy and planning. The three principal objectives and how

proposals have been as inclusive as possible, drawing equally

they would be explored are set out below:

on professional, technical expertise and local knowledge.

The seven partner city regions were at different stages of awareness of and planning for adaptation to climate change; the socio-economic and geographic situation of each contributes to its likely future experience of climate impacts.

But much information, learning and response development can be shared, and this is what C-Change has aimed to facilitate.

Before there can be consultation and partnership-based delivery, there must be engagement with the necessary range of institutions and individuals, bringing them into the process.

This has been done at the level of each city region and locally within it, and also between the regions taking part, putting in place a transnational structure, the network of Expert joint Planning Groups (EjPGs), to develop shared learning for dissemination within and beyond the project. The four EjPGs, made up of partners staff and external experts from each region, met at regular intervals to discuss projects, issues and solutions, bringing in other experts and casework as necessary.

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Objective 1 Building stronger communities - how can stakeholders from different social, demographic and economic strata be engaged in joint practical activities addressing climate change?

Objective 2 Demonstrating practical responses to climate change - how can the potential of multi-functional urban open space be developed for practical responses to urban living in a changing climate?

Objective 3 Adapting spatial planning strategies - how well do they prepare city regions economically, socially and environmentally to adapt to climate change and mitigate their contribution?

The Climate Path, Saarland

a significant contribution of the C-Change project is the integration of these three strands, not only bringing them together within individual projects, but also providing a space for them to connect and interact during opportunities for reflection on potential approaches and issues. all C-Change partners have been actively involved in each of the three themes, both through their actions and investments and through the transnational EjPG process. a Transnational Peer Review (TPR) was carried out to consider and evaluate the project at an interim stage and at the end.

This systematic TPR was conducted by a team of reviewers from across the EU and informed by visits to partners and projects, interviews with project personnel and online resources and documentation.

This Final Report presents an overview of the work and findings of C-Change, structured by the three objectives. as most actions and investments relate to two or more objectives there is some overlap between sections, but this has been simplified here as far as possible. Results and findings from the project work are summarised, and EjPG work is outlined.

The following C-Change resources are available to download as electronic annexes from the C-Change website: www.cchangeproject.org/resources •

C-Change Messages for Europe

•

The Expert joint Planning Groups Report and case studies

•

Partner’s Regional Reports

•

The Transnational Peer Review Report

•

The C-Change Film

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Building Stronger Communities

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How can stakeholders from different social, demographic and economic strata become engaged in joint practical activities addressing climate change?

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Groundwork’s north London Eco-Estates

i

ndividual and collective behaviour change at all levels and across all sectors holds the key to tackling climate change. National, regional and local government as well

as non-governmental and business actors recognise that “business as usual” is no longer a valid approach.

Communities may be identified not only in terms of living in a specific locality, but also in terms of the membership of professional, recreational, educational, health or age-related groups such as the elderly or the young. action by such communities of interest has increasingly been seen as a standard component of policy related to quality of life and environment, as a means of doing more than can be achieved by individuals acting alone. Under this approach, the role of government becomes that of creating the environment for change, promoting innovation and supporting more sustainable lifestyles. The nature of community engagement - how a community is engaged and the response to its expressed wishes - is a further area of research. a hierarchy of engagement may be distinguished, from simply providing information to the community, to progressively higher levels of consultation, deliberation, collaboration, and partnership (Wilcox, 1994). The selected level in the engagement hierarchy will often be determined by the issue at hand. Spatial planning policies and specific land use plans, for example, may require formal consultation by the planning authority with relevant communities, businesses and other stakeholders, but this often results in limited responses from only some parts of the community. Engagement which merely aims to meet an “information deficit” will be criticised as inadequate and a more deliberative style with better communication between decisionmakers, technical experts, other stake-holders and the public is recognised as having greater value and likelihood of success (owens and Driffil, 2008). Higher levels of engagement (deliberation, collaboration, partnership) are likely to require new types of relationships and their success will depend on the capacity of the community and other stakeholders to respond (i.e. their knowledge about the issue and their skills in formulating responses).

The ways in which stakeholders are approached is evolving.

Traditional consultation relied on formal routes of notification to defined stakeholders whereas newer modes of engagement range from using trusted intermediaries within communities, including local political leadership, or - within peer groups through to the use of social media. in some cases it is necessary to sustain engagement over time. This may be particularly important for spatial plans and changing land use with significant periods between initial formulation and implementation, during which time people’s status as local residents, children, parents, local businesses etc. may well change. Disadvantaged communities often do not see climate change adaptation and behaviour change as a priority due to

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the multitude of social, economic and environmental pressures they are having to cope with in their daily lives. Yet, evidence suggests that socially and economically deprived areas are

Lycée ECO-responsables, Region Ile de France

also disproportionately vulnerable to climate events (Lindley et al., 2011). Developing tailored approaches for engaging

Region ile de France developed a community engagement

these communities therefore needs to be a priority in order

approach targeting students in the region’s high schools.

to mitigate the risks associated with climate change. another

The Lycée ECo-responsables programme raises awareness

barrier to engagement in relation to climate change messages

of climate change issues and promotes the implementation

is often that people believe that, by accepting that climate

of practical responses and solutions in the schools.

change is a reality, they must reject comfort or consumerism or confront disturbing messages about the future of the planet.

Central to this action was the development of five eco-

nevertheless, Soper and others (2009) have argued that it is

themed Lycée ECo-responsables toolboxes. The toolboxes

possible to make alternative forms of consumption pleasurable

provide both the equipment and guidance needed for

and appealing. other researchers have attempted to

students to measure and record current energy, water

characterise which people are more likely to change their

and other natural resource use in their schools and to then

environmental behaviour (Milfont and Sibley, 2012 and

implement real energy saving measures while promoting

Semenza et al, 2008). Working with objective 1, C-Change

behaviour change. The benefits to the school and to the

has explored the range of approaches to engagement.

environment become tangible results that can be easily demonstrated, understood and communicated to other

Whilst all C-Change actions and investments are underpinned

pupils, teachers and the wider community.

by the concept of behaviour change, for almost half of them the finding, testing and demonstration of ways of engaging

The students documented the Lycée ECo-responsables

with individuals and communities was their prime aim. in

process by producing a series of web reports, including

many instances, engagement methodologies were using multi-

films and web-radio reports that are now accessible in

functional open spaces as conduits and tangible showcases

470 high schools in the Region through the ile de France

for the impact meaningful engagement can have. This topic

Education authority’s intranet and through the network

is explored further in Section 2, addressing objective 2.

of C-Change Partners.

C-Change objective 1 has focussed on exploring ways of working with all stakeholders (citizens and communities but also businesses, planners and policy-makers) in practical responses to climate change - responses which limit Co2 emissions and those which facilitate adaptation to changing conditions. These groups of stakeholders are empowered to go on to champion these approaches more widely and so build communities which are more resilient to climate change.

Engaging with people on their own territory is one of the approaches tested: for example engaging students through their schools - Lycée ECO-responsables and Healthy Climate WeZt. another is using technology, including social media (i.e Facebook, Twitter, QR codes) demonstrated in amsterdam’s natural Playground, Saarland’s Climate Path and the Brent Climate Change Social Media Project in London. By starting from people’s personal interests, better contacts could be made, whilst links to local spaces which are valued as part of local identity - such as Saarland’s traditional energy region (coalfields), or a river (here, the Main or the Wandle) can be used to open eyes to the global issues. Many projects have harnessed people’s interest in nature, as described in Section 2, and others set out to help people enjoy even otherwise unappealing work such as litter-picking along riverbanks by emphasising the power of communities organising themselves to promote more sustainable lifestyles.

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Promoting engagement in joint activities is a way of

neighbours in designing gardens and food growing food sites.

empowering, strengthening and integrating communities.

Elsewhere (South London Green Doctors) households have

as noted above, this is an approach increasingly accepted as

received free advice about reducing their energy use and with

necessary to reinforce or replace top-down governance models

that the cost of their bills. in most C-Change regions the

with methods that meet the multiple challenges now faced:

investments took the form of multi-use outdoor classrooms

incorporating local knowledge into planning can be part of this.

(Sloterplas Sustainable Urban Meeting Place - The natural

The various projects have engaged with people on topics that

Playground, Park Lingezegen Outdoor Classrooms and

are most relevant and interesting to them and through means

Summer Schools and Brent River Park Climate Pavilion) or

that are attractive to them – through training, meetings, home

interactive thematic walking or cycling routes (Saarland Climate

visits and events, and through social media, where appropriate.

Path and FrankfurtRheinMain Klimaroute) designed to provide

Projects in London and amsterdam, for example, have

some tangible learning experiences including using low carbon

focussed on raising interest in environmental matters by

construction materials.

enabling local communities to meet and work with their

Park Lingezegen Outdoor Classrooms and Summer School, Gelderland The developing Regional Park Lingezegen covers an area of 1500 hectares that separates the cities of arnhem and nijmegen.

The challenge is to create an inspiring multi-functional Regional Park for recreation, biodiversity and agriculture to thrive in a sustainable and mutually beneďŹ cial way. as part of the C-Change programme in the Region, the Park Lingezegen authority hosted a Climate Change Summer School during the summers of 2008, 2009 and 2010. The students undertook a multi-disciplinary programme including workshops in sustainability, climate change, art history, philosophy, architecture, art and geography to inspire them to meet their challenge.

The challenge was to engage residents and businesses from the surrounding area and to encourage them to think about how both the Park itself and people’s own behaviour can help the Region cope with climate change. as part of this action a permanent outdoor classroom has been built in the Park, designed by the Summer School participants and used by two local foundation schools for environmental education activities. in addition, a more formal classroom facility has been introduced in the Park, a mobile classroom named the Lingemobiel. This facility will enable the C-Change messages to reach many more young people and adults in the unique and inspiring setting of Park Lingezegen.

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Brent River Park Climate Pavilion in London / interpretation signage created by the young people (above)

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The C-Change engagement and behaviour change projects

another group with a stake in the local environment is the

have targeted people from all sections of society and of all

corporate sector, which has the capacity to strongly influence

ages and abilities, and have aimed to stimulate their interest

the local environment but also has an interest in maintaining a

and involvement by giving them a real opportunity to contribute

good environment for its employees, its neighbours and for its

creatively ro the actions and investments. Young people have

own prestige. now that the principles of corporate social

been a particular focus of C-Change, promoting their

responsibility (CSR) are increasingly adopted by firms, from

enthusiasm and creativity through art, music and drama.

large corporations to SMEs, there is a greater opportunity to

Young people have designed materials used to publicise and

work with the private sector. Businesses may be encouraged,

interpret the projects and have helped design the spaces and

for example, to develop or use new technologies to reduce

facilities that have been created. This level of engagement

environmental impacts and energy use, or to adopt local

(especially, for example, in the case of Amsterdam Healthy

projects and provide either human resources – for example by

Climate WeZt where students known as the ‘Creative Urbans’

encouraging their staff to volunteer – or financial resources.

who were given special training by renowned experts as part of

Recruiting respected business leaders into a project role also

their school curriculum) has enabled students to gain a better

makes possible networking through local and wider business

under-standing of climate change, its impacts and range of

communities. Examples of links with business include the

urban development responses to it. These students are now

Forestry Commission’s Woodfuel Supply Chain and Tree

taking what they have learned back into their schools and

Station Project in London, sponsorship by a local bank to

communities as “climate champions”. C-Change has taken

build an additional, mobile classroom for Park Lingezegen and

young people seriously, giving them real opportunities and

the involvement of local businesses in the Gelderland Climate

sparking a sense of responsibility. “Eco-school” projects in

Change action Days.

ile-de-France, FrankfurtRheinMain, Gelderland and amsterdam have demonstrated this in innovative ways, including climate

C-Change actions have identified that communications with

change “toolboxes” full of practical experiments to visualise

stakeholders should be flexible and transparent: a two-way

climate change, sustainable design competitions and school

flow of open learning, providing opportunities for input and

web-radio reports with environmental messages. importantly,

feedback from stakeholders who can then influence decisions,

the use of social media also offers the possibility of trans-

whilst gaining access to new ideas and research information

national exchange of information and experiences by

and technology. an engagement framework that offers and

messages and video as well as social interaction. C-Change

meets stakeholders’ very varied motivating interests, without

has shown clearly that the engagement of young people,

raising unwarranted expectations, will be better trusted and

enabling them to contribute creatively and actively, offers a

more successful. in FrankfurtRheinMain an interactive “green-

most important way forward towards addressing the challenge

themed” opinion survey under-pinned later work.

of climate change.

Healthy Climate WeZt / Creative Urbans Amsterdam in 2009-10 a group of 30 students came together in amsterdam to form ‘The Creative Urbans’. over the course of a twenty-five week curriculum-based programme the students were introduced to the subject of climate change and sustainable urban development and given the support and training to develop their own designs for sustainable urban areas; buildings and open spaces. This was an intensive and focused programme that included twenty one workshops, seven excursions, four debates and two master classes, ten lectures and two public exhibitions.

The students’ designs incorporated innovative and creative solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change at the neighbourhood level. To showcase their work the students produced a report and a series of films and were also invited to present their designs to City of amsterdam’s alderman and Urban Planners.

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Woodfuel Supply Chains and Tree Stations, London The Forestry Commission’s aim was to promote and develop the use of wood fuel, an emerging alternative energy source that also diverts waste wood from landfill. a key objective was to develop partnerships with the commercial sector to promote wood fuel as a viable alternative energy source.

The project has allowed the FC to establish wood fuel supply chains in the north London area, from landowner to biomass end user. This has been enabled by the development of the north London Wood Fuel Processing Hub that will have a lasting impact on waste reduction and the uptake of wood fuel energy in London. This process has been supported and endorsed by a variety of reports, toolkits and workshops that include; woodland supply resource mapping studies in a number of London Boroughs, a wood fuel and air quality report, a feedstock producer pack and toolkit for landowners and feasibility reports on six potential biomass user sites.

© 2012 TagTour BV.

Climate themed story telling built into amsterdam’s natural Playground - using QR codes and smart phones

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2

Practical Responses to Climate Change

How can the potential of multifunctional urban open space be developed for practical responses to urban living in a changing climate?

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amsterdam

reen open spaces within cities have been widely

G

recognised as valuable for their aesthetics, their contribution to quality of life and other attributes since

Ebenezer Howard wrote Garden Cities of Tomorrow in 1898 and Le Corbusier described LaVilleRadieuse in 1935. Research evidence of green space benefits is accumulating, covering physical and mental health benefits (Tzoulas et al., 2007), environmental quality expressed as clean air and water and

thermal comfort (Gill et al, 2007, EEa 2011) and more recently, economic benefits (TEEB, 2010). increasingly, awareness of climate change risks underlies research into the importance of green spaces in enabling urban planners and urban residents both to reduce emissions and also adapt to climate change. Multi-functional open spaces are spaces of varying size and at different scales (from neighbourhood to regional and national), from large parks and urban woodland to far smaller “pocket parks”, avenues, domestic gardens and green roofs and walls. in recent years there has been increasing use of the term green infrastructure to describe the role of connected green urban spaces in achieving these benefits, as research has highlighted that it is not only the size of individual spaces but also the connectivity between them that is important: a linked network of open spaces may offer similar functions and better benefits than a large single open space (Wilson and Piper, 2010).

Several interreg-funded projects have explored topics connected with green spaces, spatial and urban planning and climate change (e.g. ESPaCE, SaUL and BRanCH). Early plans for the C-Change project recognised the value of appropriate management of open spaces in the process of adaptation to unavoidable climate change, and developed this as objective 2. This objective needs the support envisaged in objectives 1 and 3, that is: empowered communities and changed behaviour, institutional and legislative frameworks plus new and innovative design features and maintenance regimes. innovative ways of creating urban green space include green roofs and walls - once seen as of mainly aesthetic interest, are now increasingly appreciated for their technical capacity in terms of water retention and temperature regulation. other approaches include removing hard standing where possible, creating sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) and returning urban front gardens and other spaces to open green space through planning controls and incentives. These spaces also respond to other needs, such as the recreation, access and educational functions of sites where food can be grown.

C-Change actions and investments include all types of urban open spaces; regional parks, urban parks and gardens, woodland, river corridors, sports fields, cemeteries, street trees, green roofs and areas of open space on social housing estates, some of them quite small.

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The KLiMaRoUTE, FrankfurtRheinMain

C-Change projects have shaped the master-planning for and

areas such as islington in north London where small pockets of

the implementation of climate-resilient features in regional

under-used land on social housing estates have provided local

parks (Wandle Valley, Park Lingezegen), linear open spaces

people with everything necessary to grow food and plants.

(FrankfurtRheinMain Klimaroute and Saarland Climate Path) and local parks (Brent River Park, London and Sloterplas

By exploring possibilities for greater use of urban trees for

Natural Playground, Amsterdam), building community

wood fuel in London, an emissions reduction option which uses

gardens (East London Eco-hub and South London inter-

urban biomass has been investigated, whilst educational routes

generational Eco-Centre) and green roofs (ile de France Lycée

in FrankfurtRheinMain and Saarland have demonstrated how

ECo-responsables). C-Change has also added additional green

multi-functional open spaces can promote healthy recreation

space to the list through work completed in highly urbanised

and outdoor learning.

Klimaroute, FrankfurtRheinMain and The Climate Path (Tour d’énergie), Saarland C-Change Partners in Saarland and FrankfurtRheinMain

reduce the risk of flooding along the river. The Kilmaroute

developed Climate Route models tailored to the landscape

aims to raise awareness of the global and regional impacts

in each Region.

of climate change.

in FrankfurtRheinMain the Klimaroute includes eight climate-

in Saarland a climate change-themed cycle and walking path,

themed river stations located on the banks of the River Main

branded Tour d’énergie has been established in the former

in Mühlheim, offenbach, Frankfurt and Kelsterbach.

industrial landscape connecting two former mining towns.

The route makes use of QR codes and smart phone

Each river station is different, twinned with eight rivers in other

technology to create an interactive experience. Users can

parts of the world. Each station features a unique sculpture

find out about the Region’s former industrial past and

and Klimaroute flag, permanent information panels and some

importantly the future sources of renewable energy being

stations also incorporate practical adaptation measures to

established in the area.

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The KLiMaRoUTE, FrankfurtRheinMain

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Sloterplas Natural Playground, Amsterdam The development of the natural playground De natureluur

promotes healthy life-styles and produces renewable

by C-Change is the first major attempt to upgrade the

energy. The playground not only showcases solutions for

under-used green and blue space in the Sloterplas area in

climate proofing green and blue urban areas, it encourages

amsterdam nieuw-West. The playground was designed with

parents and children to learn about climate change and to

local residents and stakeholders to incorporate climate

take action, using a unique system of smart digital story-

change themes. The playground is truely multi-functional; it

telling. The playground is an example of how a multi-

is an attractive meeting place that challenges visitors to get

functional urban space can contribute to climate-proofing

active and play, it educates visitors about climate change,

and economically strengthening the city.

© 2012 TagTour BV.

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    

 

               

Lycée ECO-responsables Green Roof, Île-de-France

            

The development of a new high school in the town of

    

Chevilly-Larue on the outskirts of Paris presented Île-de-

             

 

range of innovative climate change adaptation measures.

 

  

France Regional authority with the opportunity to test a



They constructed a 1,800 m2 green roof on the new school laid with low maintenance vegetation which promotes

     

biodiversity, improves air quality and helps alleviate the



urban heat island effect. The roof also retains rain water

   

         

which is reused as part of a complex rainwater harvesting

    

system in the school, combined with energy efficiency

    



measures and on-site renewable energy production.

                   

Green roof at Chevilly-Larue



                      

   

      Chevilly Larue.                                                                     

  

   

                



                       

  

                         

       

 

  

   

19

East London Greenspace Doctor The Greenspace Doctor action delivered by Groundwork London implemented ten ‘micro-green infrastructrure’ sites across East London. Working in partnership with the Environment agency the scheme has been implemented to reduce surface water flooding and improve water quality in the Lower River Lea area by incorporating Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) at these sites.

These SUDS site include rain gardens and food growing plots, providing accessible open spaces for local residents with the important function of reducing surface water run-off by using techniques such as replacing impermeable concrete and paved surfaces with water retention basins, soil planting and other permeable surfaces.

Through the analysis of existing flood mapping data the sites were selected based on their susceptibility to surface water flooding. in each site a programme of community engagement was also implemented including events inviting all residents to learn about the importance of future-proofing their environment against climate change and the opportunities for involvement.

Local residents became actively involved in creating the SUDS gardens, supported by Groundwork’s community gardeners.

The View Tube Rain Garden in the olympic Park, London

20

3

adapting Spatial Planning Strategies

How well do spatial planning strategies prepare city regions economically, socially and environmentally to adapt to climate change and mitigate their contribution?

21

Luxembourg City

ities and other urban areas can be particularly

C

Climate Proof Spatial Planning Luxembourg

human health as well as impacts upon infrastructure. it is

The Ministry of Sustainable Development and infrastructure

across the built environment that we see the greatest output

in Luxembourg focussed on how their regional spatial plan

of greenhouse gases: from homes, businesses, transport and

could be adapted to respond to the challenges presented

institutions such as hospitals and schools. Consequently the

by climate change.

vulnerable to some aspects of climate change, particularly heat waves, surface water flooding and

drought (EEa, 2007) with impacts upon quality of life and

built environment and its surrounding green and open spaces have a significant role to play in both mitigating and adapting to

Workshops were held to identify the specific vulnerabilities

climate change. The process of spatial planning is important in

of the Luxembourg DiCi-City Region and the potential for

responding: adapting our urban spaces and the way we move

climate change adaptation measures to respond to these

across them and use them (Wilson and Piper, 2010). This role

vulnerabilities.

for spatial planning, which can balance competing demands for land use, set local targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The Ministry’s Department for Spatial Planning have

and energy consumption, promote climate-friendly urban

published a report containing recommendations for climate-

design and limit urban sprawl, has been widely recognised

proof spatial planning instruments tailored to the Region

(EEa, 2009; CEC, 2009; Carter, 2011). The potentially unequal

with a toolbox of planning options. The report provides an

impact of climate impacts upon vulnerable populations is also

overview of the essential features of climate change and its

of interest to spatial planning.

expected consequences in Luxembourg and introduces methodologies for vulnerability analysis that can highlight

Spatial planning acts as a catalyst in inspiring action on climate

to what extent regions or cities will be affected by climate

change: interpreting scientific evidence, assessing local

change. The report, which will guide future development

impacts and proposing adaptation and mitigation measures to

in the Region, also recommends a range of potential

counter adverse effects and, where possible, to take advantage

adaptation measures and the predicted effectiveness of

of beneficial effects that may arise. Spatial planners plan the

these measures.

allocation of land for development and the regeneration of existing urban areas, and work with infrastructure providers transport, roads, water, drainage, communications and energy. at a strategic national or regional level, mitigation policies influencing transport and energy policy can aim to reduce the national carbon footprint. adaptation actions and initiatives on the other hand are often defined and implemented at subregional and local levels, as the impacts and vulnerabilities are specific to each location. Thus at city level, planners work to produce spaces which respond to the needs of people and businesses – whilst reducing waste and unsustainable demands on resources, and protecting ecosystem services provided by natural areas and biodiversity. in doing this, spatial planners implement European policies (e.g. EURoPE 2020: a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, CEC, 2010), national and local policies, and also meet local needs.

City spatial planners thus affect urban structure for decades through strategic urban plans, and can incentivise sustainable land development. it is in cities and urban areas that most energy is used and Co2 generated, and it is here that adaptation is most needed to counter climate-related risks such as flooding, loss of biodiversity and the heat island effect.

Through spatial planning it is possible to create synergies between adaptation and mitigation measures and to avoid maladaptation which may occur, for example where inappropriate transport infrastructure is built, or where urban design causes people to use more air-conditioning.

23

it has been argued that in order to meet the challenges of

climate proofing of the Park Lingezegen masterplan.

growth and climate change, “spatial planning needs to become

Vulnerability assessment (assessing exposure not only to

part of a broader governance approach that includes

short-term and highly likely impacts but also longer term, more

participation, mediation and changing lifestyles, and balances

uncertain impacts) has also been used in Luxemburg and

the economic, environmental, social and cultural aspects”

Saarland, whilst in ile de France a Climate Plan that included

(EEa, 2009). Various authors have indicated that knowledge

a focus on the urban heat island effect has been developed.

of climate change policies in cities remains limited (e.g. CorfeeMorlotet al., 2010).

as a result of the C-Change work, planning strategies in Saarland are being re-drafted to demonstrate new ways of

Under objective 3 the C-Change project has attempted to

responding to climate change, for example by examining the

contribute to the development of governance style by providing

value of open space development amongst other forms of

opportunities for partnerships to be formed, for the exchange

adaptation and, more broadly, by adapting some of the formal

of knowledge about both mitigation and adaptation measures

planning instruments at State, regional and local level. in

to address climate change, and the creation of demonstration

amsterdam, Economically Strong and Sustainable: amsterdam

sites for these measures.

2040, has been approved in the light of the C-Change work. it is a strategic vision with ambitious Co2 reduction targets,

Within C-Change, various activities related to spatial planning

together with sustainable development planning that addresses

have been undertaken: plan review, identification of practical

climate change whilst also revitalising the economy. Work in

measures, identification of appropriate spatial planning tools

Luxemburg started from an assessment of likely climate

and instruments, and promotion of resilience through local

change impacts and their implications at local levels, leading

engagement. The London Plan, London’s Spatial Development

on to a review of the national planning system, helping to

Strategy and its associated Supplementary Planning Guidance

identify necessary planning and adaptation measures and

documents provide detailed adaptation and mitigation priorities

options in view of vulnerabilities. Using an area of the city of

and measures. The Plan acted as the benchmark to inform the

Luxembourg as a pilot, with workshop inputs and expert help,

review of the other C-Change regions’ spatial plans against

information and experience have been exchanged as a basis

a number of criteria for climate-proofing them. in Frankfurt-

for recommendation of specific instruments and a “tool box” of

RheinMain C-Change has informed the process of addressing

options. This process has helped achieve a realistic evaluation

climate change through the on-going development of the

of the effectiveness of measures, and the interaction with

Regional Land Use Plan by the Regional authority, in part

on-going development. They have also made a robust case

through transnational exchange and learning. in London

for the integration of “quality of life” considerations in planning

Groundwork has led a working group with the remit of

processes.

developing climate change resilience within the Wandle Valley Regional Park via its spatial plan.

Where new development is planned and where redesign and remodelling of urban areas offer adaptation potential, it is good

The Province of Gelderland used C-Change to develop a new

practice initially to review planning provisions and building

mechanism for collaboration with a range of partners including

regulations. EjPG 3 also investigated planning tools for use

Regional authorities, Government Ministries and Universities to

in planning for climate change (e.g. mapping, environmental

highlight climate change in spatial planning and progress the

assessment and climate scenarios).

Fond de carte : Carte topographique/orthophotos 2010      

24

The Climate Path, Saarland

Conclusions

C-Change has identified and engaged with stakeholders

C-Change has clearly demonstrated the central role that

of all types and has encouraged them to play specific

spatial planning can play in addressing climate change

leadership roles. People and organisations need to be

in our city-regions: spatial planners have the tools and

contacted and engaged using approaches suited to their

approaches which, with continuing development, can assist

needs. all stake-holders benefit from appropriately delivered

with both mitigation and adaptation, better design of our

forms of guidance, information and encouragement in order

cities and the ways in which we use and move through

to overcome myths, prejudices or uncertainties. C-Change’s

them. The C-Change project has demonstrated, however,

process of consult - engage - empower has been effective

that to achieve this spatial planners and other experts and

in building real community involvement; a thorough analysis

stakeholders with whom they interact will need on the one

of demographic and socio-economic characteristics of local

hand guidance and skills development, and on the other

neighbourhoods underlies this process.

hand committed leadership.

Multi-functional open spaces can be a catalyst to climate-

The project partners have shown that organisational

proofing cities and communities, making a significant

learning has been achieved by linking these three themes

contribution to greater resilience to climate change impacts.

of engagement, multi-functional spaces and spatial

C-Change offers evidence of what can be achieved by

planning, through objectives integrated into project work

implementing natural green infrastructure measures, such

and the transnational EjPG process. Moreover, the partners

as sustainable urban drainage systems, which can sit

believe that C-Change demonstrates an approach that has

alongside, support or even replace traditional grey

wide application across city regions beyond Europe. it is

infrastructure. These new types of green spaces can also

important that the C-Change casework, findings and

help to create new urban landscapes, whether these are

conclusions continue to be available to others working

formal parks, spaces for recreation and learning, or small

to reduce emissions and to adapt city regions to climate

neighbourhood sites for food growing and reducing local

change.

flooding.

25

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The C-Change Partnership would like to thank Dr Jake Piper for her expertise in preparing this report.

Photography: Kirsten Bucher FrankfurtRheinMain, Nathanael Dimitriadis MDDI-DATer. Rﾃｩgion ﾃ四ede-France, Amsterdam Dienst Ruimtelijke Ordening, Regionalverband FrankfurtRheinMain, AGL, Ministerium fﾃｼr Inneres und Sport des Saarlandes, Groundwork London, Provincie Gelderland Design: Rachel Kirk

All the States and Regions together with their agencies participating in C-Change have been strongly committed to the work of the Partnership. At the time of publishing this report it had not been possible for all of them to consider formally whether they wished to adopt all its recommendations as policy. Officers from the GLA (Greater London Authority) contributed to the drafting of this report. ﾂｩ Groundwork London