xliii
adapt to climate change and its effects (Doswald and Osti 2011; Naumann et al.
2011).
The ecosystem approach concept is a way of thinking and acting in a sciencebased, ecological way, integrating the biological, social and economic conditions to
achieve a socially and scientifically acceptable balance between the priorities of
nature conservation, the use of resources and the division of benefits (sustainability). This approach attempts to remove the barriers between human economy, social
aspirations and the natural environment, placing humans within the ecosystem models and aspiring to maintain the ecosystem’s natural structures and functions, taking
into consideration the emerging properties from the interaction of these systems.
Given the holistic view, which sees man as an integral part of the natural system,
and the aspiration to integrate policies and measures that affect the system, the use
of this approach is proving to be a promising strategy to increase resilience of the
cities and territories in response to growing pressures. In this perspective, the use of
renewable energy sources and low-carbon transition does not just take on a role in
mitigative strategies for reducing CO 2 emissions, but become key tools in adaptation strategies that follow an ecosystem approach. The measures and actions that are
being taken at a territorial level from an adaptive viewpoint following an ecosystem
approach are manifold. Examples of these are the planning and use of blue and
green infrastructures, river corridors, overflow basins for storage of rain and river
water, containment tanks for the management of river floods, becoming more frequent due to the change in extreme rainfall patterns, living roofs and reconstruction
of ecological corridors.
In this perspective, a reflection should be done about the importance of defining
adaptation plans totally integrated with mitigation strategies, as well as about the
urgent need to provide cities with management and planning strategies to be adopted
after extreme climate events (such as draughts, floods and urban heat waves).
In fact if mitigations reduce the causes affecting climate, adaptation plans are
aimed at reducing the future vulnerability on cities and built environment, thus at
anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and at reducing potential damages
deriving from it. At the same, if potential impacts are not more avoidable, postdisaster planning and management seek to define long-term recovery strategies, and
ultimately to transform cities in more sustainable and resilient places, also through
the direct involvement of local communities.
Re-shaping cities in ways that enable to enhance their adaptive capacity does not
mean to bring them back to the way in which they were before the change and/or the
disaster, nor to modify their deepest nature and raison d’être. Redefining urban patterns in this contexts means to take the opportunities that are hidden behind the
change and use them to rethink a more secure, sustainable and resilient future. For
the development and implementation of adaptation and mitigation including postdisaster recovery strategies, cities must be considered in their complexity, and all
their dimensions (spatial, geographical, environmental, social, economic and cultural) must be addressed.
The adoption of measures and adaptation actions should not, however, be a shortand medium-term response to the negative effects of climate change, but become
Planning and Climate Change: Concepts, Approaches, Design
adapt to climate change and its effects (Doswald and Osti 2011; Naumann et al.
2011).
The ecosystem approach concept is a way of thinking and acting in a sciencebased, ecological way, integrating the biological, social and economic conditions to
achieve a socially and scientifically acceptable balance between the priorities of
nature conservation, the use of resources and the division of benefits (sustainability). This approach attempts to remove the barriers between human economy, social
aspirations and the natural environment, placing humans within the ecosystem models and aspiring to maintain the ecosystem’s natural structures and functions, taking
into consideration the emerging properties from the interaction of these systems.
Given the holistic view, which sees man as an integral part of the natural system,
and the aspiration to integrate policies and measures that affect the system, the use
of this approach is proving to be a promising strategy to increase resilience of the
cities and territories in response to growing pressures. In this perspective, the use of
renewable energy sources and low-carbon transition does not just take on a role in
mitigative strategies for reducing CO 2 emissions, but become key tools in adaptation strategies that follow an ecosystem approach. The measures and actions that are
being taken at a territorial level from an adaptive viewpoint following an ecosystem
approach are manifold. Examples of these are the planning and use of blue and
green infrastructures, river corridors, overflow basins for storage of rain and river
water, containment tanks for the management of river floods, becoming more frequent due to the change in extreme rainfall patterns, living roofs and reconstruction
of ecological corridors.
In this perspective, a reflection should be done about the importance of defining
adaptation plans totally integrated with mitigation strategies, as well as about the
urgent need to provide cities with management and planning strategies to be adopted
after extreme climate events (such as draughts, floods and urban heat waves).
In fact if mitigations reduce the causes affecting climate, adaptation plans are
aimed at reducing the future vulnerability on cities and built environment, thus at
anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and at reducing potential damages
deriving from it. At the same, if potential impacts are not more avoidable, postdisaster planning and management seek to define long-term recovery strategies, and
ultimately to transform cities in more sustainable and resilient places, also through
the direct involvement of local communities.
Re-shaping cities in ways that enable to enhance their adaptive capacity does not
mean to bring them back to the way in which they were before the change and/or the
disaster, nor to modify their deepest nature and raison d’être. Redefining urban patterns in this contexts means to take the opportunities that are hidden behind the
change and use them to rethink a more secure, sustainable and resilient future. For
the development and implementation of adaptation and mitigation including postdisaster recovery strategies, cities must be considered in their complexity, and all
their dimensions (spatial, geographical, environmental, social, economic and cultural) must be addressed.
The adoption of measures and adaptation actions should not, however, be a shortand medium-term response to the negative effects of climate change, but become
Planning and Climate Change: Concepts, Approaches, Design