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Integrating Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Cities: Approaches, Methods and Tools to Overcome the Implementation Gap in Urban Resilience

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 November 2023) | Viewed by 18469

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mattia Federico Leone

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Guest Editor

1. Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN), New York, NY 10025, USA
2. Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, 80135 Naples, Italy
Interests: sustainable design and technological retrofitting of buildings and public spaces; impact assessment of natural hazard on build environment and communities; environmental design and building technologies for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation; decision support tools for DRR and CCA in cities

Prof. Giulio Zuccaro

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PLINIVS-LUPT Study Centre, University of Naples Federico II, 80135 Napoli, Italy
Interests: structural mechanics; impact assessment of natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanic phenomena, hydrogeological events and climate change) on the built environment; exposure and vulnerability analyses; emergency planning and management; cost-benefit and multi-criteria analyses; decision support system and tools

Dr. Ebru Gencer

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Guest Editor

1. Center for Urban Disaster Risk Reduction + Resilience (CUDRR+R), New York, NY 10038, USA
2. Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
Interests: disaster risk reduction; climate change adaptation and sustainable urban development;urban vulnerability; disaster resilient planning

Dr. Cristina Visconti

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Guest Editor

Centro de Investigación para la Gestión Integrada del Riesgo de Desastres (CIDIGEN), 7500000 Santiago de Chile, Chile
Interests: participatory research methodology to assess the effects of climate change at the local level and co-production of community-based design measures for DRR and CCA in contexts of socio-environmental vulnerability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gaps observed in institutions, operations and research undermine the effective implementation of DRR and CCA measures in cities at international level, despite the fact that their integration is considered an overarching principle in global agendas. Specific strategies for integration between sectors are emerging, but the two areas remain often siloed in urban policy, governance and planning/design practice, resulting in critical implementation gaps in terms of strategies and investments at local level.

The full integration of DRR and CCA represents a paradigm shift, moving from risk assessments and urban strategies focused on single hazards to a systemic approach that aims at increasing the resilience of the various physical, social and functional components that characterize urban systems. Multi-hazard approaches in new developments, regeneration and retrofitting, concurrently addressing multiple geophysical, climate-related hazards, Natech and cascading effects, show a highly cost-effective potential, maximizing the effect of complementary measures and optimizing mitigation/adaptation design techniques within a multi-scale (building/neighbourhood/city) resilience perspective, and delivering social, environmental and economic co-benefits linked to the improvement of urban spaces’ liveability and environmental quality. Exposure, vulnerability and impact assessments represent an essential component of an evidence-based methodology aimed at increasing the potential for use of scientific results by decision-makers, combining dynamic impact scenarios with cost-benefit and multi-criteria analyses to assess the effectiveness of alternative options.

This Special Issue aims at investigating new frontiers in research and experimental applications in the field of DRR and CCA integration in cities, aimed at overcoming the implementation gap in investments and interventions to improve resilience of the built environment and communities. The contributions should focus on multi-disciplinary and interrelated domains, such as multi-hazard/impact modelling; resilient urban planning, building and infrastructure design; improved coordination in policymaking and funding allocation; environmental justice and co-design practices with local stakeholders and communities; resilient design driven by novel technologies and/or Nature-based Solutions; co-benefits and trade-offs assessments; disaster recovery and Build Back Better approaches.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Methods and tools for DRR and CCA integration in planning/design with a multi-hazard and multi-scale perspective (regional to local, city to neighbourhood, etc.);
Multi-hazard probabilistic simulation models, vulnerability analysis and risk assessment methods, including theoretical advancements to align modelling frameworks for geophysical and climate-related hazards (including compound/cascading effects), as well as methods to integrate early warning and real-time simulations into reliable decision-support tools;
Multi-hazard resilient design of buildings and infrastructure through “all-hazards”, “adaptive mitigation” and/or “build back better” principles, exploring methods to support the full disaster risk management cycle through effective planning and design solutions;
Exploring the application potential of innovative technologies and nature-based solutions;
Exploring and measuring the multiple social, economic, environmental co-benefits of integrated DRR and CCA strategies in cities;
Improving current standards and regulations to foster public and private investments in multi-hazard resilience;
Novel policy and governance mechanisms to achieve DRR and CCA integration at the national and sub-national levels, overcoming existing silos in governmental institutions and avoiding the duplication of efforts, the competition for resources and administrative inefficiencies;
Achieving environmental justice by streamlining “top down” and “bottom up” policies, moving towards participatory models that go beyond mere risk awareness and communication, focusing on community engagement mechanisms to foster knowledge-sharing and co-design in multi-stakeholder contexts.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mattia Federico Leone
Prof. Giulio Zuccaro
Dr. Ebru Gencer
Dr. Cristina Visconti
Guest Editors

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Keywords

integrating DRR and CCA
multi-hazard impact modelling
multi-scale resilient design
urban resilience
nature-based solutions
environmental justice

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 4972 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Risk Assessment in the Veneto Region: An Approach to Rank Seismic and Flood Risk

by Gabriella Tocchi, Daria Ottonelli, Nicola Rebora and Maria Polese

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12458; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612458 - 16 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 827

Abstract

Effective disaster risk management in a given area relies on the analysis of all relevant risks potentially affecting it. A proper multi-risk evaluation requires the ranking of analyzed risks and the estimation of overall expected impacts, considering possible hazards (and vulnerabilities) interactions as well. Due to their complex and challenging modelling, such interactions are usually neglected, and the analysis of risks derived from different sources are commonly performed through independent analysis. However, often the assessment procedures adopted for the analysis as well as the metrics used to express various risks are different, making results of single risk analyses hardly comparable. To overcome this issue, an approach that allows for comparing and ranking risks is presented in this study. The approach is demonstrated through an application for an Italian region. Earthquakes and floods are the investigated hazards. First, in order to select the case study area, the municipalities within the Veneto region where both risks could be highest are identified by adopting an index-based approach. Then, the harmonization of seismic and flood risk assessment procedure is performed. Sub-municipal areas are selected as scale of analysis and direct economic losses are chosen as common impact metrics. The results of the single risk analyses are compared using risk curves as standardization tool. The EAL (expected annual losses) are estimated through risk curves and the ratios between EAL due to floods and earthquakes are mapped, showing in which area risk is significantly higher than the other. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrating Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Cities: Approaches, Methods and Tools to Overcome the Implementation Gap in Urban Resilience)

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22 pages, 1025 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Technological Innovations for Enhancing Disaster Resilience in Smart Cities: A Comprehensive Urban Scholar’s Analysis

by Aravindi Samarakkody, Dilanthi Amaratunga and Richard Haigh

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 12036; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151512036 - 06 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3862

Abstract

Despite advancements, Smart Cities encounter hazards. Smart Cities’ higher reliance on interconnected systems and networks makes them susceptible to risks beyond conventional ones, leading to cascading effects. Hence, the effective use of technological innovations is vital. This effective use involves understanding the existing use of technology innovations for resilience making in Smart Cities and the wise utilisation of them as suitable for different contexts. However, there is a research gap for a fundamental study that synthesises the emerging and disruptive technologies that are being used to improve the disaster resilience in Smart Cities and how they can be classified. Therefore, this research aimed to address that need, so that a Smart City evaluating the technologies/tools for disaster resilience could wisely utilise the available resources and prioritise the most suitable for their context-specific needs. Following a comprehensive literature review, the study identified 24 technologies and/or tools for creating, sustaining, and enhancing the resilience within Smart Cities. In doing so, they should collect and manage citywide geodata and foster public participation. While the wise utilisation of the most suitable and feasible tools and technologies is a measure of smartness in a Smart City, the findings suggested four key factors with which these technologies could be assessed. These four factors included impact on society, the adoption speed by Smart Cities, the maturity of the technology, and the capabilities offered to the community. Full article

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19 pages, 3752 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Local Governance Support Tools for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation Strategies: The EU Contribution in the Case Study of the Municipality of Naples

by Marion Eva Pauline Perney and Gigliola D’Angelo

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11716; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511716 - 29 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1014

Abstract

Today’s global context poses ongoing challenges that can be addressed by implementing a systemic and strategic approach directed toward climate-resilient cities. During times of energy and digital transition, managing climate risks involves analysing sector-specific impacts and fostering a shared commitment at the national and international levels; in this sense, European programs promote the dissemination of good practices and implementation of projects and tools to improve the resilience of communities to climate challenges. This paper examines the Naples municipality as a case study within the SEACAP 4 SDG capitalization project in the implementation of innovative governance support tools for hazard and climate adaptation, mitigation, and energy rehabilitation to enhance local governance, planning, and design strategies towards a sustainable and low-emission future. Within the creation of a living lab, tools were selected as part of the project, and training sessions were held targeting key stakeholders. The training aimed to form and inform key players about the tools’ potential, leading to their incorporation into the municipality’s strategic action plan for future implementation. This case study has a high repeatability and stands as a starting point for the implementation of this approach in numerous other local municipalities. Full article

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24 pages, 11689 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coping Capacity, Adaptive Capacity, and Transformative Capacity Preliminary Characterization in a “Multi-Hazard” Resilience Perspective: The Soccavo District Case Study (City of Naples, Italy)

by Agnese Turchi, Rosaria Lumino, Dora Gambardella and Mattia Federico Leone

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10877; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410877 - 11 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1608

Abstract

An innovative methodology for characterizing Coping Capacity (CC), Adaptive Capacity (AC), and Transformative Capacity (TC) resilience determinants in a multi-hazard territorial context is applied to the Soccavo district (Naples, Italy), located in the Campi Flegrei caldera and exposed to volcanic eruptions, ground deformations (bradyseism), earthquakes, geomorphological processes (landslides, rock falls, erosion), and climate change-related hazards (heat waves, pluvial floods). The method allowed for the identification of the CC, AC, and TC parameters that can be easily converted into qualitative–quantitative variables. Among all parameters, the method focused on multi-stakeholder and civil society engagement, which is representative of TC and variable relating to the risk perception and awareness, the urban space perception, or the people’s ability to activate bottom-up urban transformation processes within resilient development pathways. Therefore, qualitative tools such as collaborative mapping and co-design processes, pertaining to the urban planning and design fields, and quantitative tools such as surveys, from the social science field, were harmonized and combined to collect and analyze data on these site-specific topics. Considering people’s priorities and needs, the study was useful to define shared sustainable and resilient solutions in order to holistically integrate Disaster Risk Reduction/Climate Change Adaptation urban planning and design approaches and simultaneously deliver social, environmental, and economic co-benefits. Full article

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24 pages, 3983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Building Resilient Communities: The Environmental Observatory for Mining Projects and Climate Change Indicators

by Kay Bergamini, Piroska Ángel, Vanessa Rugiero, José Ignacio Medina and Katherine Mollenhauer

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6947; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086947 - 20 Apr 2023

Viewed by 2611

Abstract

Public environmental information can improve industry performance, reduce environmental conflicts, and foster informed citizenship. The latter is directly linked to resilience because it is a “process that enables people to learn together, support experimentation, and increase the potential for (social and technological) innovation”. Importantly, the transparency and disclosure of environmental information alone do not have the desired impact; the general public may have access to information but not understand the content. It is necessary to reframe the technical language of information to reach broader stakeholder understanding. The Environmental Observatory for Mining Projects is an applied research project that aims to provide a public information access system for diverse stakeholders. It integrates data from various public services and makes them available to a variety of stakeholders, including the general public, through a web server and application that facilitate accessibility and understanding by using the co-creation methodology for public services. As a result of the project, the authors identified 25 indicators, six of which relate to climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, air pollution, hazardous waste, and tailing deposit locations. These indicators are relevant for decision making through the combined knowledge of public policies, information priorities on the impacts and vulnerabilities of climate change, and more practical issues related to data availability. The authors conclude that environmental information systems must provide people with essential data, but that such information must also be understandable, manageable, comparable, and interoperable so as to promote access to crucial information for resilient communities. Full article

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21 pages, 3123 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Role of Land-Use Planning in Near Future Climate-Driven Scenarios in Chilean Coastal Cities

by Jorge León, Patricio Winckler, Magdalena Vicuña, Simón Guzmán and Cristian Larraguibel

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3718; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043718 - 17 Feb 2023

Viewed by 3477

Abstract

This study reviews the degree to which land-use planning addresses climate change adaptation in Chilean Low Elevated Coastal Zones (LECZ). We first select 12 of the country’s most exposed coastal municipalities using a Municipal Exposure Index (MEI). Then, we conduct a content analysis of the communal regulatory plans (CRPs) using a “presumed exposure analysis”, which assumes that the inventory of assets within LECZ, according to the 2017 census, is a proxy of the exposure. Then, we conduct a more refined “hazard exposure analysis” by comparing changes in flooding levels between a historical period (1985–2004) and the RCP8.5 scenario (2026–2045). Using the latter approach, we show that flooding could affect large portions of the municipalities’ housing areas (3.7%), critical facilities (14.6%), and wetlands (22.7%) in the period 2026–2045. In the presumed exposure analysis, these percentages rise to 7.5%, 23.9%, and 24.9%, respectively. We find that CRPs also allow for a densification of exposed residential areas, whose density would increase by 9.2 times, on average, between the historical period and the RCP8.5 scenario. Additionally, only four municipalities define floodable zones as “risk areas”. Lastly, the difficulty in updating CRPs and their antiquity −21.25 years old on average could explain their ineffectiveness in implementing climate change adaptation strategies. Full article

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19 pages, 5053 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Numerical Experiments on Low Impact Development for Urban Resilience Index

by Hao-Che Ho, Hong-Yuan Lee, Yao-Jung Tsai and Yuan-Shun Chang

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8696; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148696 - 15 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1677

Abstract

Low impact development (LID) has become one of the strategies that effectively mitigate the impacts of climate change. In addition to the ability to reduce nonpoint source (NPS) pollution caused by flash floods from the surface runoff, LID has also been applied to control water quantity under extreme rainfall events. Due to the fact that studies about LID configuration optimization tended to control water quantity and gradually ignored the main functions of water quality treatment, this study aims to consider water quantity and quality to estimate the benefits and optimal configuration of LID by Non-Dominated Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II). In addition, regarding to the outlet peak flow, hydrologic footprint residence (HFR) was considered to be the water quantity indicator due to the ability to represent the dynamics of flow changes, and the modified quality indicator (Mass Emission First Flush ratio, MEFF₃₀) was corrected to represent the pollutant transport process in a large catchment area. The results show that the flood and MEFF₃₀ reduction rate of LID are inversely proportional to rainfall duration and intensity. The benefit of pollutant reduction, which can still be maintained by 20% and 15% under a big return period and the long duration was about three times than the quantity control. Taking the cost into account, although the rain barrel had the best effect of reduction per unit area, green roofs and permeable pavements had a higher unit cost reduction rate due to the lower costs. The upper and middle reaches of the open channel and the confluence of rainwater sewers should be the optimal LID configuration to achieve the benefits of both flood and pollution reduction. Full article

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Review

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23 pages, 4517 KiB

Open AccessReview

From ‘Zero’ to ‘Positive’ Energy Concepts and from Buildings to Districts—A Portfolio of 51 European Success Stories

by Sesil Koutra

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15812; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315812 - 28 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1688

Abstract

Since 2020, Europe has introduced strategies and key policies to promote common efforts on a roadmap toward energy efficiency and decarbonization. From ‘low’ to ‘passive’ and from ‘zero’ to ‘positive’, the concepts have fascinated the scientific community around the globe and promise the deployment of planning responses to the challenges of decarbonization faced by the European and local agendas. This works provides an overview of a comprehensive understanding of emerging concepts with a focus beyond the boundaries of an individual building. The booklet of 51 European projects, firstly introduced in Joint Programming Initiative documents, unveiled the prioritization of energy efficiency and the path for the enhancement of environmentally friendly communities. In this sense, this work presents an overview of the Net-Zero Energy Districts, and beyond, namely through the discussion of different aspects and dimensions. Based on published scientific literature, this work collects, organizes and discusses approaches of European cases, concluding with the knowledge base to support further developments and reinforce an established pathway for future implementations. Full article

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Integrating Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Cities: Approaches, Methods and Tools to Overcome the Implementation Gap in Urban Resilience

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