AnnexBR 03: Direct and indirect aspect of Climate Change

Objective

The annex is supposed to give an idea of the direct and indirect aspects of Climate Change. The table below presents the interaction of ‘climate’ and ‘non-climate problems’ that – jointly - pose significant challenges to urban decision-makers. The table is based on work of Ecologic, Berlin, and AEA, London, 2009.

The general aspects of Climate Change in urban areas are widely covered in the literature, largely due to the awareness raised by influential reports such as the IPCC 4th Assessment Report (IPCC, 2007) and the European Environment Agency’s Report ‘The Impacts of Europe’s Changing Climate: 2008 Indicator-based Assessment’ (EEA, 2008).

Find the IPCC report at:

Find the EEA report at:

Find the EU study Ecologic, Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), AEA, Alterra: ‘Design of guidelines for the elaboration of Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies’ at

Climate Problems / Non-climate problems
Sea level rise:
-Storm surge
-Coastal erosion
-Saline intrusion in water table
-Raised coastal water table
-Long-term threat to coastal cities / High population density:
-Concentrated vulnerability
-Overcrowding
-Social problems
-Drives expansion
River flooding:
-Impact financial districts as well as residential areas
-Disruptions and damage to energy, transport and communications infrastructure / Urbanization and expansion:
-In-migration
-Pressure on services (e.g. health, police) and resources (e.g. utilities)
-Urban sprawl: pressure on surrounding ecosystems
Flash flooding:
-Sewer overload/ back-up
-Pollution of groundwater
-Economic and social disruption / Impermeable surfaces
-High run-off rates
-High drainage load
Erratic water supply
-e.g. droughts interspersed with floods / Traffic congestion & poor air quality
Drought
-Temporary loss of water supply/ water rationing
-Increased costs of water supply/ water pricing (affordability concern) / Ageing infrastructure
Impaired water quality
-combination of drought (concentration) and flood (run-off and drain back-up) / Social inequality
Heavy rain
-Physical damage and disruption / Urban Heat Island
Increased wind speeds / Long, global supply chains and just-in-time delivery practices
Heat stress:
-Air quality crises
-Direct health problems
-Waste decay
-Peak electricity demand (cooling demand) / Dependence on electricity supply for most services and security
Disease and pest increases / Pressure to de-carbonise urban settlements and economies

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