European patterns of local adaptation planning - a regional analysis

While European regions face a range of different climate hazards, little is known about how these differences affect local climate adaptation planning. We present an analytical framework for evaluating local climate adaptation plans (LCAPs) and apply it to 327 cities in 28 countries across different European regions. To do this, we use statistical methods to identify regional clusters based on overall plan quality, impacts, vulnerable population groups, and sectors addressed by LCAPs. By comparing both geographic and statistical clusters, we found (1) significant spatial heterogeneity across European cities but (2) higher average plan quality scores and more consistent strategies across cities in Central and Eastern Europe. Notably, we found no regional differences regarding (a) the climate impacts and vulnerable communities identified in plans: (b) the most commonly-addressed impacts, which were urban temperature and changing precipitation patterns; and (c) the residents that cities identified as most vulnerable, namely older people, women, infants, and the sick. Our study provides a spatial analysis of European LCAPs to uncover regional policy perspectives on local climate adaptation issues. Such approaches can effectively inform broader EU, national and regional strategies that aim to support local adaptation planning in a context of multilevel governance

Reducing the Impact of Vehicles on the Environment by the Modernization of Transport Infrastructure

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. Along with a positive impact on the economy and social development, motorization has negative consequences, including noise pollution and air pollution from the exhaust gases of the urban environment by vehicles. The state of transport infrastructure and management systems has a significant impact on the parameters of traffic flows and the degree of their impact on the environment. Therefore, the development and applying of science-based methods for improving the road traffic management efficiency in urban areas by up-grading infrastructure facilities in difficult road network sections is an actual problem and is of considerable theoretical and practical interest. The article analyzed the problem areas of the road network of two large cities, similar in scale and planning solution, but with a certain specificity. The authors built simulation models of problem road sections based on a discrete-event approach using a traffic library. Computer experiments on the model showed that the data obtained is consistent with the results of field surveys. Propositions for the reconstruction of these sections were proposed Performing a computer experiment on a model with new parameters showed that in these areas there is considerable potential for improving parameters of the traffic flow, which will help to reduce the negative effect on the environment

Environmental Dimension into Strategic Planning. The Case of Metropolitan City of Cagliari

Global changes in the Anthropocene are unprecedented in history. They are closely linked to the use of the soil, the sea and the exploitation of natural resources and in turn determine important changes in the values and socio-cultural behavior of entire populations. In this context, the focus on the environmental dimension is the main way to govern the city and territory. In this sense, the environmental assets through the criterion of participation in decision-making processes, the identification and assessment of reasonable plan/program alternatives through the construction of forecast scenarios related to the evolution of the state of the environment constitutes the spatial planning paradigm, from the municipal level implementation strategy and the metropolitan level strategic one. Although in fact all Italian metropolitan cities are oriented towards adopting strategic and sustainable development models, capable of fighting the consumption of soil and natural resources in general, these have not always correspondence in an approach that specific environmental assessments part of the plan process and therefore functional for future governance choices. In this context, the objective of this work is to describe the case of the metropolitan city of Cagliari highlighting how the environmental dynamic and assets should be considered into its (actually in defining phase) strategic plan

Smartness, Sustainability and Resilience: Are They Related?

In the imminent future, cities have to face not only an increasing urbanization but also the negative consequences of natural and human disasters. From this point of view, a city should be considered as vulnerable to climate change and other natural negative events. Thus, the challenge of a city consists in remaining on a sustainable development path. To reach this object the concepts of smartness, sustainability and resilience for a city should be intertwined. Starting from the analysis of a bright city as an integrated approach, the aim of this study consists in propose a first framework of an index which should include sustainable, smartness and resilient indicators. Integrating and measuring these three concepts in a unique index allows city’s policy makers to understand and manage natural and anthropogenic risks. Comparing dimensions/indicators with the common characteristics of the bright city concept, efficiency, diversity, and networking are the main characteristics while technology, governance, and social vulnerability are the prevailing dimensions. Flexible and resilient actions should be developed by cities to prevent and implement initiatives against negative environmental events which will be becoming common in the next years