Multi-level governance of urban adaptation action 11
I) Flood defence solutions for the Scheldt Quays in Antwerp, Belgium
The aim of the project is to protect population and assets from sea level rising combining also urban renovation. Antwerp stands before the largest renovation project the Scheldt Quays have ever been subjected to, combining flood defence solutions with the renewal of public space and the restoration of the historic quay wall. The first projects have been initiated and the complete Master Plan will probably be realised in 2030. The flooding sensitivity has been reduced from 1/70 years (beginning Sigma plan) up to 1/4,000 years in 2030 (at the end of the renovation). The action implementation costs are about 44 million €.
https://www.covenantofmayors.eu/about/covenant-community/signatories/action- plan.html?scity_id=1586
(181) https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/adaptation-options/adaptation-of-flood-management- plans/#websites
II) Lower Danube green corridor, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Moldova In recent years (e.g. 2005 and 2006), severe floods occurred along the Lower Danube River. Even more frequent flooding is anticipated with Climate Change. A large part – about 80% - of Danube's wetlands has been lost in the past century because of human intervention. The construction of dikes reduced the size of the river’s floodplains considerably. In addition, large parts of the Danube are experiencing river bed erosion due to gravel extraction, dredging and dams, contributing to a lowering of water tables on adjacent agricultural lands. In the "Lower Danube Green Corridor Agreement" it was agreed by the governments of Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine to restore 2,236 km2 of floodplain to form a 9,000 km2 Lower Danube Green Corridor. Once restored, these lands will be of similar scale as the area inundated in the 2005 and 2006 floods. As of 2012, 600 km2 of floodplain has been restored or is undergoing restoration; and enhancing flood protection and local peoples’ livelihoods through the strengthening of ecosystem services and nature conservation. The goal of this action is to protect and restore wetlands along the river and reconnect the river to its natural flooding areas, reducing the risks of major flooding in areas with human settlements and offering benefits both for local economies – e.g. through fisheries, tourism – and for the ecosystems along the river. Most flood plain restorations have been achieved by removing sections of dykes. During the 2013 flood in the Danube along the lower Danube there was no flooding, although the water level was above average. The flood peak decreased downstream of the Iron Gates dam, which was also due to the dam’s operations. The action implementation costs are about 183 million euros.
https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/lower-danube-green-corridor- floodplain-restoration-for-flood-protection/#challenges_anchor
Drought has been a recurrent feature of the European climate. From 2006–2010, on average 15 % of the EU territory and 17 % of the EU population have been affected by meteorological droughts each year. The severity and frequency of meteorological and hydrological droughts have increased in parts of Europe, in particular in south-western and central Europe. Droughts have severe consequences for Europe’s citizens and most economic sectors, including agriculture, energy production, industry and public water supply. Measures aimed at reducing water demand and increasing public awareness are decisive in advancing resilience to future droughts and water scarcity associated with Climate Change (182).
Box 49. Drought and water scarcity in Zaragoza, Spain
Zaragoza stands on a semi-arid region with an average annual precipitation of only 314 mm, with water shortage and drought being a problem (e.g. early 1990’s droughts). In the future, the number of consecutive dry days is projected to increase significantly in southern Europe, in particular in summer, thus possibly exacerbating the problem of water scarcity in this region. With the aim of reducing water demand and the leakage from the distribution networks, awareness campaigns and economic incentives were set up for behavioural change. Water restrictions and consumption cuts and leakages from the city’s aging water supply pipeline were reduced. A progressive reduction of water consumption was obtained: from 180 l per capita per day (lpcd) in 1980, through 136 lpcd in 2000, to just under 100 lpcd in 2010. In terms of the overall water savings, the city exceeded its own target: in 2009 total water consumption was 59.9 Mm3. Thus, 15 years after the start of the campaign, the city achieved a reduction of water consumption by almost 30 %, despite a 12 % population increase in the same time. The approximate cost of the awareness campaigns between 2002 - 2010 was around 2.5 million euros.
https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/zaragoza-combining-awareness- raising-and-financial-measures-to-enhance-water-efficiency
Fire risk depends on many factors, including climatic conditions, vegetation, forest management practices and other socio-economic factors. Climate change projections suggest substantial warming and increases in the number of droughts, heat waves and dry spells across most of the Mediterranean area and more generally in southern Europe.
These projected changes would increase the length and severity of the fire season, the
(182) https://www.eea.europa.eu/
area at risk and the probability of large fires (182). Actions such as reforestation and tree planting can prevent fires.
Box 50. Forest Fires, Cascais, Portugal
Forest Fires are very common in Portugal and in this city. In the future, increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitations can increase the fire danger conditions. To reduce the fire hazard conditions and prevent the occurrence of forest fires, Cascais considered as key measures planting and reforestation actions to prevent the spread of invasive species and reduce fire hazard and implementing fire hazards plans. These measures are ongoing and the approximate investment costs between 2016-2030 should be around 6.8 million euro.
https://www.covenantofmayors.eu/about/covenant-community/signatories/action- plan.html?scity_id=1869
Landslides are a major hazard in most mountainous and hilly regions as well as in steep river banks and coastlines. Their impact depends largely on their size and speed, the elements at risk in their path and the vulnerability of these elements. Every year landslides cause fatalities and result in large damage to infrastructure and property.
Landslides occur in many different geological and environmental settings across Europe, population expansion into landslide-prone areas is raising landslide risk in Europe. In addition, an increase of landslides associated to extreme rainfall events is expected in the future due to Climate Change (183).
Box 51. Multi-Hazard approach to early warning system in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
Sogn og Fjordane is a coastal, mountainous region of Norway that boasts hundreds of thousands of tourist visits annually. Several communities in Sogn og Fjordane are facing numerous hazards such as flooding, avalanches, rock slides and other extreme weather events that might be exacerbated by Climate Change. Great distances between peripheral communities and not accessible transport and communication infrastructure can make accessibility inadequate, thus making communities more vulnerable to extreme weather events. The potential for an effective, reliable and cost- efficient early warning system that has a multi-hazard approach and makes use of location and population-based communication technologies, such as mobile phones and social media has been explored. In order to establish a cost-effective and sustainable early warning system, multi-hazard approach is a prerequisite, to share the costs among different scopes. The system and operational activities must be established within a framework that considers the warning needs of all undesirable events and hazards and the requirements of various end-users. The system is based on already available modern technology and infrastructure, and anchored to existing legislative and institutional frameworks. This project demonstrated how an existing county-encompassing organization could be used to issue the population warning. As this organization is closely coordinated with the police whilst being an inter-municipal organization, it is suited for the issuing of both non-emergency and emergency warnings with a multi-hazard approach. Moreover, it has been investigated how modern technology can help reduce the negative consequences of weather related hazards in current and Climate Change conditions, thus also helping to prevent the loss of lives. The action implementation costs are about 105.000 euros.
https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/multi-hazard-approach-to-early- warning-system-in-sogn-og-fjordane-norway
(183) https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/themes/landslides