Cities and climate change

Climate adaptation and mitigation in Rotterdam

Jaap Rozema, PhD

 General content of the session

⚫ Some theory on cities in relation to climate

change – determinants of climate action

⚫ Zooming in on a case study city – Rotterdam

 Climate change shapes urban
agendas
Bulkeley and Betsill (2013):

Cities are potentially highly vulnerable to the

impacts of climate change (geographical
location + population size & density)

Cities hold the key to climate action, if

(inter)national responses are lagging or absent
 The urban context: size + density

Should cities become larger and more dense, or

should we dispense with cities altogether? (from
a CO2 point of view)

The evidence is not conclusive!

 Stern review (UK commissioned,
2006)

“By some estimates, urban areas account for 78

per cent of carbon emissions from human
activities”
Should cities be blamed for climate
change?

David Dodman (2009):

“Cities are often blamed for high levels of

greenhouse gas emissions. However, an
analysis of emissions inventories shows that
– in most cases – per capita emissions from
cities are lower than the average for the
countries in which they are located.”
Findings from a study on size and
density by former IHS student
Findings from a study on size and
density by former IHS student
Findings from a study on size and
density by former IHS student
Findings from a study on size and
density by former IHS student
 Other possible CO2 urban
determinants (1)

Level of GDP (are more effluent cities more

environmentally aware? Does 'clean tech' come
at a price?)

Level of education
 Other possible CO2 urban
determinants (2)

Spatial proximity to other cities (which would

enable a more efficient distribution of economic
functions)

Type of industry (manufacturing or services-

oriented?)
 Question

Should cities be blamed for climate change? Or

should we all live in cities to lower our climatic
impact? Or is there a break-even point?
Urban climate adaptation challenges
⚫ Often delta cities, thus vulnerable to high water
levels
⚫ Compounded by high surface run-off

⚫ And surface run-off causes a suite of other

problems

⚫ The 'concrete jungle' – local warming

 The case of Rotterdam
Both on climate adaptation and climate mitigation

Current city government (2018-2022): two targets

Climate adaptation target:

– At least 90% of built environment 'waterproof'

Climate mitigation target:

– 49% CO2 reduction in 2030 compared to 1990
 Rotterdam
Around 640.000 inhabitants, annually growing by
around 3,000.

Ambitious plans to renew and add new built

environment – 18,000 houses in the period
2018-2022.

Low-lying delta city – lowest point -6 metres!

Rotterdam: direct opening to the sea
Climate adaptation in Rotterdam (1)
White paper on urban climate adaptation: Rotterdams
Weerwoord (loosely translated: 'Rotterdam
Resilient', 2019)

“Climate adaptation is learning by doing. Every

neighbourhood is different, with regards to
vulnerability and opportunities. To be resilient
against high water, extreme precipitation, heat
waves, drought and soil depression, case-by-case
policy implementation is necessary.”
Climate adaptation in Rotterdam (2)
What are the local urban climate-related impacts?

– Temperature rise (e.g. number of +30C days,

number of tropical nights per year)
– Drought (precipitation deficit)
– But also: More extreme participation (seasonal
variability)
– Water levels (river + sea)
 Heat island effect: a structural
problem

Air and surface temperatures in urban environment

structurally higher than elsewhere (up to 8C higher)
• Caused by high concentration of heat-
absorbing materials and sun

'Green' and 'blue' are possible solutions to create the

sponge city, where rainwater is used as an
advantage rather than being a disadvantage.
Climate adaptation in Rotterdam (3)
Policy measures:

– Greening of the city (for natural water retention and

cooling);
– Streaming water and new bodies for additional
cooling;
– Water squares, underground water storage;
– Elevate vital infrastructure
Water squares
 ...and underground water storage
Museumpark
 ...and underground water storage
Museumpark
 Ambitious policy outcomes:
– Climate-adaptive structuring of public space
– Climate-adaptive retrofitting of public buildings
– 'Risk dialogues' between city and citizens
– 150.000m2 of 'green-blue' roofs
– Subsidized private projects to improve climate
adaptation
– Incorporate climate adaptation into urban
planning strategies
 Actionable urban indicators
Flood map
 Actionable urban indicators
Groundwater levels (affecting foundations)
 Actionable urban indicators
Rainwater (ie pluvial flooding)
 Actionable urban indicators
Soil depression
 Actionable urban indicators
Drought
 Actionable urban indicators
Heat
 However...
Rotterdam urban indicators are based on the here
and now.

They fail to take into account climate variables

prognoses, for instance IPCC data.
 And however...
Much action should come from inhabitants,
organizations and businesses to both adapt to
and mitigate climate change → Neoliberal
approach to collective action.

Concrete example: rainwater harvesting.

It is up to inhabitants to take appropriate

measures to use rainwater for irrigation (and
expedite water retention) rather than let it go to
waste as sewage water.
 Question

Where do you think climate adaptation and

climate mitigation converge?