23
Table 3.1 The classification of EbA measures for urban areas adopted in this research (building on the list proposed by EEA 2012)
EbA Measure
Climate change impact Rationale
References
(a) Ensuring ventilation from
cooler areas outside the city
through waterway and green areas
Heat
If carefully designed, urban waterways and open green areas have
the potential to create air circulation and provide downwind
cooling effect.
Oke (1988)
(b) Promoting green walls and
roofs
Heat
Vegetated roofs and facades improve the thermal comfort of
buildings, particularly in hot and dry climate
Bowler et al. (2010b);
Castleton et al. (2010);
Skelhorn et al. (2014)
(c) Maintaining/enhancing urban
green (e.g., ecological corridors,
trees, gardens)
Heat
Green urban areas reduce air and surface temperature by providing
shading and enhancing evapotranspiration. This cooling impact is
reflected, to some extent, also in the building environment
surrounding green areas.
Yu and Hien (2006);
Demuzere et al. (2014)
(d) Avoiding/reducing impervious
surfaces
Flooding
Interventions to reduce impervious surfaces in urban environments
(e.g., porous paving; green parking lots; brownfield restoration)
contribute to slow down water runoff and enhance water
infiltration, reducing peak discharge and offering protection
against extreme precipitation events.
Jacobson (2011);
Farrugia et al. (2013)
(e) Re-naturalizing river systems
Flooding
Restoring river and flood-plain systems to a more natural state in
order to create space for floodwater can support higher base flows,
reducing flood risk. Restoration interventions include, for example,
the establishment of backwaters and channel features and the
creation of more natural bank profiles and meanders.
Palmer et al. (2009);
Burns et al. (2012)
(f) Maintaining and managing
green areas for flood retention and
water storage
Flooding, Water scarcity Vegetated areas reduce peak discharge, increase infiltration and
induce the replenishment of groundwater. To enhance this,
retention basins, swales, and wet detention systems can be
designed into open spaces and urban parks.
Cameron et al. (2012);
Liu et al. (2014)
(g) Promoting the use of vegetation
adapted to local climate and
drought conditions and ensuring
sustainable watering of green space
Water scarcity
Green space may exacerbate water scarcity in urban areas. To limit
this problem, interventions can be directed at choosing the most
appropriate tree species (that are drought resistant but still suitable
as a part of the urban green space), and designing sustainable
watering systems (e.g., using grey water or harvested rainwater)
EEA (2012)
3.2 Methods to Analyse Urban Climate Adaptation Plans
Table 3.1 The classification of EbA measures for urban areas adopted in this research (building on the list proposed by EEA 2012)
EbA Measure
Climate change impact Rationale
References
(a) Ensuring ventilation from
cooler areas outside the city
through waterway and green areas
Heat
If carefully designed, urban waterways and open green areas have
the potential to create air circulation and provide downwind
cooling effect.
Oke (1988)
(b) Promoting green walls and
roofs
Heat
Vegetated roofs and facades improve the thermal comfort of
buildings, particularly in hot and dry climate
Bowler et al. (2010b);
Castleton et al. (2010);
Skelhorn et al. (2014)
(c) Maintaining/enhancing urban
green (e.g., ecological corridors,
trees, gardens)
Heat
Green urban areas reduce air and surface temperature by providing
shading and enhancing evapotranspiration. This cooling impact is
reflected, to some extent, also in the building environment
surrounding green areas.
Yu and Hien (2006);
Demuzere et al. (2014)
(d) Avoiding/reducing impervious
surfaces
Flooding
Interventions to reduce impervious surfaces in urban environments
(e.g., porous paving; green parking lots; brownfield restoration)
contribute to slow down water runoff and enhance water
infiltration, reducing peak discharge and offering protection
against extreme precipitation events.
Jacobson (2011);
Farrugia et al. (2013)
(e) Re-naturalizing river systems
Flooding
Restoring river and flood-plain systems to a more natural state in
order to create space for floodwater can support higher base flows,
reducing flood risk. Restoration interventions include, for example,
the establishment of backwaters and channel features and the
creation of more natural bank profiles and meanders.
Palmer et al. (2009);
Burns et al. (2012)
(f) Maintaining and managing
green areas for flood retention and
water storage
Flooding, Water scarcity Vegetated areas reduce peak discharge, increase infiltration and
induce the replenishment of groundwater. To enhance this,
retention basins, swales, and wet detention systems can be
designed into open spaces and urban parks.
Cameron et al. (2012);
Liu et al. (2014)
(g) Promoting the use of vegetation
adapted to local climate and
drought conditions and ensuring
sustainable watering of green space
Water scarcity
Green space may exacerbate water scarcity in urban areas. To limit
this problem, interventions can be directed at choosing the most
appropriate tree species (that are drought resistant but still suitable
as a part of the urban green space), and designing sustainable
watering systems (e.g., using grey water or harvested rainwater)
EEA (2012)
3.2 Methods to Analyse Urban Climate Adaptation Plans