My nola

Creating a brighter future for New Orleans Youth

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Most of the Netherlands lies below sea level, this puts The Netherlands at greater risk and exposure to climate change than many other countries. People call the dutch are the worlds go tos water management experts, but why is that? This may have to do with the fact that the Dutch see water as part of their land, they appreciate it and enjoy its benefits. Therefore, they see rising sea levels, as well as climate change as an opportunity to innovate and grow as a country. 

 

Clearly, The Netherlands will get affected by rising sea levels, therefore they figured out a way to live with them and not try to prevent them. By simply opening a dam they are far safer than they would have been if it would be full all the time thanks to the relief in pressure. They also created a special dam, the size of the Eiffel Tower, that opens and closes as needed, making the ocean water come into the city at a slower rate, preventing floods and devastation. This shows how the Dutch understand climate change and are determined to adapting their lives to it instead of stopping it. 

Additionally, one of the most exemplary examples of making a city resilient to climate change is their floating initiative. Rotterdam currently is the host for the first floating pavilion as well as floating trees! and no, they are not mangroves!

 

 

This initiative is not only being implemented in Rotterdam but in Amsterdam as well. the city of Amsterdam is the host for the first community of floating houses, with the count being around 90 houses. These structures are designed to rise according to sea level, making it more resilient to this and other effects of climate change. You can see more in detail this concept on the video below.

 

Now, this does not mean that the only thing we, in America and the rest of the world, have to do is to learn to live with rising sea levels, on the contrary. Drastic changes need to be made in order for climate change to subside and to give the earth the time to recuperate. We need to change our lifestyle, and this is something that the Dutch have already made peace with and have been implementing for years.

Like mentioned in the Child-Friendly City post for The Netherlands, this country is mostly designed with pedestrians in mind, where the main way of transportation is via public transport or bicycles! The Netherlands is home of approximately 800,000 bikes, subsequently, lowering the amount of pollution going into the atmosphere, and contributing to a society where communities feel safe and included. This means that as humans, we should design places that are friendly to both the environment and the people in order to be able to live a truly peaceful and high-quality life.

 

Cardiff, Wales

Last summer, Wales saw record breaking temperatures. The heatwave conditions lasted for much of the warm season and the city experienced roads melting and reservoirs drying up. The rainfall was almost half the average for a Welsh summer. 

New research has shown that Wales could see similar conditions become the norm due to climate change. Experts say that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase everyday life could be severely affected. If greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb, summer temperatures could soar up even rapidly and sea levels could rise up to 1.15 meters by 2100. 

The UK is now to expect hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. 

What to Expect

Temperature

The size of the temperature increase depends on the region, with the largest increases affecting the south. But for all regions, the amount of warming is highly dependent on their emissions scenario. Wales is more likely to see higher average temperatures during the winter. Winter temperature increases are typically smaller than those projected in the summer. By the mid-century, hotter summers could become common -at around a 50% chance. 

 

Rainfall

It is likely that most parts of Wales will experience reduced rainfall in the summer under both high and low scenarios. Small increases are possible, but unlikely. A low emissions future could see summers become 33% drier to 3% wetter. A high emission prediction could see summers 56% drier and 2% wetter. 

 

Sea Levels

The Environment Secretary said that in the UK: “Climate change will manifest itself most acutely when it comes to water -the intense rainfall of the winter, the arid heat of the summer and rising sea levels will be how we experience climate change most immediately in our everyday lives.” In the past, record wet winters have caused flooding and heatwaves have led to wildfires and damage to agriculture. The Met Office say that a rise in sea level is the main factor likely to change flood risk across the UK in the future. The best case emission scenario would see an increase of around 30 millimeters in Cardiff, but the worst case could see a rise of more than 1.1 meter at the turn of the century. Cardiff can expect an increase of water levels as well as a greater risk of coastal flooding. 

 

Young activists are willing the sacrifice their education in order to get action. Recently this past month, many students have missed school to participate in a strike protest against climate change. Hundreds left school and took part in the global climate strike day wanting to end fossil fuels. Wales has declared a climate emergency and has set ambitious low emissions targets but protests are still wanting more action. 

Grandparents joined their grandchildren in the climate change demonstrations

 

The impact of climate change is evident. In Wales, 23% of the coastline is being eroded because of rising sea water. This is also risking the possible loss of 1 in 14 of the wildlife species. 

The UK plans to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2015. Wales has developed plans to tackle climate change by reducing up to 80% of its carbon emissions by 2050.

 

References:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/what-weather-like-wales-decades-15473138

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-49758065

SAN DIEGO, CA

San Diego Fighting Climate Change

San Diego is one of the cities that is getting hit with coastal climate control. San Diego is facing many challenges. Their sea levels are rising, causing pollution in the oceans. There are water shortages and floods constantly. This is because there at 16% fewer rainy days, but there is 8% more rain during storms causing floods. Once the sea levels rise, it takes any chemicals that humans waste causing pollution to our oceans. San Diego is dealing with many heat spells. Which then turn into wildfires. The population seems to be in issue in San Diego due to its popularity in attractions. San Diego is starting to see a high demand for housing, that does not yet exist. Additionally, there are many greenhouse gas emissions that are released into the air from cars and trucks polluting the area.

 

Changes/Solutions

  • Abandon suburban developments in favor of building denser urban communities
    • Very expensive, only 76% out of reach for families making <%95,000
    • Widening highways
    • Large master plan communities far from urban job centers
  • Housing built around transits
    • New rail lines around commuter corridors
  • By 2035 San Diego hopes to use renewable resources for 100% of the city’s electricity

 

 

San Diego Action Plan

The city of San Diego has taken multiple steps in the right direction to combat their climate change problems. In 2006, Former Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger gave an executive order to establish a statewide goal of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions but 2050.

This started the statewide multiyear reduction program where San Diego was taking lead in tackling California’s climate change.

 

Safety as a Priority

Some things that the city of San Diego have identified actions that will contribute to the City’s future prosperity and quality of life include:

  1. Furthering San Diego’s leadership in clean technology industries: renewable energy, information technology, manufacturing, and waste management.
  2. Creating the “City of Villages” come to life with walkable and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, while also revitalizing neighborhoods. All while retaining their individual character.
  3. Promoting active transportation and rapid transit systems to help improve the accessibility of the vulnerable in the city such as children, elderly, people with disabilities, and the economically disadvantaged.
  4. Fostering programs to create well-paying jobs. Implementation of the CAP will increase the demand for high growth “green” industries.
  5. “Building communities that are resilient to climate change through the identification of vulnerabilities and the corresponding implementation of adaptation measures. These measures are intended to protect public health and safety; secure and maintain water supplies and services; protect and maintain urban infrastructure and community services; protect environmental quality; maintain open space, parks, and recreation; support coastal management and protection; promote urban forest management and local food production; improve building and occupant readiness; and enhance community education, knowledge and collaboration.”

 

 

San Diego has come up with 5 Strategies to reduce greenhouse emissions:

        1. ENERGY & WATER EFFICIENT BUILDINGS
        2. CLEAN & RENEWABLE ENERGY
        3. BICYCLING, WALKING, TRANSIT, & LAND USE
        4. ZERO WASTE: GAS A& WASTE MANAGEMENT
        5. CLIMATE RESILIENCY

 

Art and Design in the Solution

There are many things that Art and Design professionals are doing for the city of San Diego. There are several groups in San Diego that have many different types of professionals working together to combat climate change. For example, planners are working with designers to create a climate-friendly city. This involves urban design planners, engineers, and landscape architects to create a space that will not only be resilient but also look aesthetically pleasing.

Below are two groups that focus on the community needs, inform San Diego about Climate Change, and host climate change events:

  • Climate Kids
    • This is a program that educates kids on climate change and is very active in SD
    • Explore Outdoors- Field trips to Cabrillo National Monument, Living Coast Discovery Center, San Diego Zoo, Batiquitos Lagoon
    • Climate artwork shop where art is displayed at the Art of Change art show
    • Hands-on Science lesson with regional scientists and experts from various disciplines; regional research projects
  • San Diego 350
    • Global Climate Walkout
    • Art Climate Walkout- kids, adults, elders make signs to carry for the walkout
    • South Bay Eco Justice on Tap
    • Addressing Climate Crisis through Meditation and Action

 

Sources

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/story/2019-06-22/climate-change-california-affordable-housing-crisis

https://sandiego350.org/

https://www.climatekids.org/san-diego

https://www.climatesciencealliance.org/buildingresilience

https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/final_july_2016_cap.pdf

New Orleans: Climate Change and Child Correlation

What’s At Hand & The Most Recent Catastrophe

The current and even predicted climate changes within the borders of New Orleans have slowly become a new normal for the city.  Whether you believe the changes are due to human interaction or not, the effects have become undeniable. If no action is taken against these detrimental effects, then the city could quite possibly be washed away by 2050.  The fourth to make landfall and most recent storm to hit Louisiana, Hurricane Berry, established an entirely new threat to the City of New Orleans. This is not because it contained conditions never seen in previous storms, but because of the preexisting circumstances surrounding the city.  

                                                      Today Vs. Tomorrow?

Cause & Effect

Increasingly vast amounts of snowmelt within the Great Plains followed by above-normal rainfall has led to an increase in height to the Mississippi River.  Following this, at least 70 percent of the coastal salt marshes that protect New Orleans from the impact of storms could easily be emerged by rising sea levels.  Let alone, there is still the fact of many portions within the city being eight feet below sea level.  All of these factors come into even more extreme accounts once a storm begins to develop near the city simply because it is now nowhere near as tolerable to future storm detriments.  Before we dive into what the youth have to offer and have already contributed to these issues, I would like to brief on what has already been implemented.

What’s Currently Being Done To Help?

The largest implication for the city’s coast has been The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.  This program articulates clear and concise statements of priorities necessary for reconstructing the coast of Louisiana.  Up to the present day, CPRA has developed a 2012, 2017, and 2023 coastal master plan along with a yearly annual plan.  Each plan carefully produces a new strategy for preserving the coast which includes creating marshes, flood-proofing buildings, restoring shoreline ridges, and more.  Looking specifically within the borders of New Orleans; Hydraulic Restoration, Sediment Diversion, and Structural Protection have all been main implications added by the CPRA.

Now that we have a better understanding of what is being done on a larger scale, let’s look a bit deeper as to how much is being done on a small scale.

Community Engagement: All Ages

This past June within the town of Seventh Ward, New Orleans several children of the community had noticed portions of their elementary playground was flooding.  This was then brought up to their parents wondering if there were solutions to the issue at hand. Thus brought forth the creation of a community-driven organization called Healthy Community Services.  The organization alleviates flooding as a neighborhood to provide locals the chance to make a small difference in their environmental status and to become apart of something. Not only does this give back to the community but it teaches all ages about bioswales, rain gardens, urban stall water flooding, coastal land loss, sea-level rise, and more.  

To learn more about Healthy Community Services visit; https://www.hcsnola.org/

More Must Be Done!

As good as this may sound, it is really the only organization within the city limits of New Orleans working against climate change that has had true involvement with children.  Although, it was the children who brought up the idea of the rain garden after learning about them in class. It seems as if the issues of climate change and it’s solutions have been expressed within the classroom, but not much has been offered for them to easily partake in outside of the classroom.  About the only other involvement in the fight against it was the meager group of students who had gathered a few blocks from Lusher Middle – High School to protest the urgency to stop climate change. There are too many many young individuals who know of the issues but don’t have the right kind of accessibility to help, there is too much opportunity at hand.

 

Sources:

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2019/07/12/the-battle-of-new-orleans-climate-change-edition/https://www.markey.senate.gov/GlobalWarming/impactzones/neworleans.htmlhttps://neworleanscitybusiness.com/blog/2019/09/10/louisiana-official-state-adapting-to-new-normal-of-climate-change/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/bjvb84/new-orleans-has-to-work-fast-to-avoid-washing-away-by-2050https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Barry_(2019)https://coastal.la.gov/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/peril-and-promise/2019/06/new-orleans-backyard-flooding-gardens/https://www.desmogblog.com/2019/03/15/new-orleans-student-global-climate-strike-schools

Liverpool, England

Image result for liverpool city

Once a thriving port city, the introduction of containerized shipping to Liverpool crashed the local economy which was heavily based in shipping. This crash in the early 1970s drastically cut the population from around one million to under 500,000, leaving massive sections of the city desolate. There didn’t seem to be a silver lining for the city until early in the 90’s when the economy slowly began to pick up again. Although the city has had nearly three decades to improve, it is still facing issues of low population and subpar living standards.

Throughout the course of the last three decades, Liverpool has attempted multiple times to bring the city back to it’s booming past. One solution to this problem came in the form of environmental reform. In 2009, Liverpool issued a new strategy to both help the city attract more people to live there and become more environmentally friendly. Alongside the environmental aspects, this reform also aimed to help update the city and improve the standard living for it’s residents.

 

Rising Sea Levels

Although Liverpool will only be slightly affected by rising sea levels, a great number of households in England (520,000 Properties) are at risk from coastal flooding and erosion.  While the sea level will rise equally around England, the areas most at risk are those which are heavily developed. This is not just an issue of

Eroded cliffs in Happisburghsaving coastlines; it is also an issue of saving communities. In one town of Happisburgh, entire blocks are vulnerable to cliffside erosion. One block of trailer homes were forcibly relocated in 2018 due to encroaching coastline erosion.  One probable solution to this is to reinforce the cliffs which support these developed areas, but this solution can be expensive and remove important habitats.

An example of eroding England cliff sides


Image result for reinforced cliff walls england

An example of a sea wall, one probable solution to sea-level rise.

 

CO2 Emission in Liverpool

The Liverpool city council calculated that their city emits about 2.8 million tons of carbon emissions each year. Their goal is to reduce this number by thirty-five percent by the year 2024 and by eighty percent by the year 2050. One way which the city plans to reduce their carbon footprint is by creating carbon-neutral homes. Carbon neutral homes are homes which produce no carbon emissions and Liverpool planned to make all new homes carbon neutral by 2016.

A driving force behind this change was air pollution in Liverpool. A report in May of 2018 found that Liverpool was one of the most polluted cities in the United Kingdom. This study found that the majority of Liverpool has air pollution levels at or above WHO air quality guidelines. This is directly related to a high number of deaths in Liverpool which are because of respiratory disease.

Despite the poor levels of air pollution, there is a silver lining for Liverpool. the same article which reported high levels of air pollution also reported that there are more steps actively being taken to mitigate the high levels of air pollution. A proposed ban would start barring busses and cab which run on diesel fuel from entering into the city. The policymakers stated that they wanted to: “explore the introduction of alternative fuels”.

A chart showing Liverpool carbon emission by sector

A chart from the 2009 plan showing carbon emission levels

Liverpool Youth

The current plan of action for Liverpool has no formal inclusion of youth, but it does not mean that Liverpool has forgotten about them. In a recent city council hearing, the importance of young generations was brought to the table. “Our young people have the most to lose. For there to be intergenerational justice, it is vital that we take the radical action needed to ensure that we leave the planet in a better condition than we received it.” This is especially important because Liverpool has a population that is younger than average with 42% of the 550,000 residents being under thirty.

Fortunately, there is a glimmer of hope for Liverpool youth. In March 2019, the Liverpool city council agreed to become a UNICEF child-friendly city. This three-to-five-year plan would have Liverpool officials working closely with UNICEF representatives to help gear Liverpool policy towards the protection and care of those under 18. The initiative is currently in the “discovery” phase, which is where Liverpool representatives work with youth to understand what Children see as needs or where they feel unsafe. It is exciting to see what comes of this phase in the near future.

Substandard Neighborhood Design

Something which is vital to neighborhood health is often the most overlooked. The neighborhood design of Liverpool is horrendous and is not conducive to a healthy community. As pictured in the figure-ground drawing below, much of this Liverpool neighborhood consists of long rows of housing with very few cross streets or alleyways. If a person wanted to go to a house one street over from theirs, the walk is significantly prolonged when compared to a neighborhood with many cross streets.

A figure-ground drawing of a typical Liverpool residential neighborhood.

Sources

https://liverpool.gov.uk/media/9142/liverpool_climate_change_implementation_programme_sept2009.pdf

http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/liverpool-population/

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/top-ten-issues-merseyside-residents-14994173

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/apr/27/capital-itself-liverpool-future-mayoral-election

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-one-most-polluted-cities-14610314

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/26/rising-sea-levels-will-claim-homes-around-english-coast-report-warns

liverpool-waterfront-night.jpg

 

 

 

New York City, NY

Climate Change and Climate Resilience in New York City:

New York City realized its vulnerability to the ocean initially after Hurricane Sandy occurred in 2012. With a large part of the city along the coast, how coastal protection proceeds needed to make a change. Rising sea levels and  increasing storm intensity are two of the highest concerns in responding to the climate change challenge presented to New York City. Rebuild By Design, Bay Street Corridor, The Lower Manhattan Climate Resilience Plan, are all examples outlined by New York City as responses to the looming threat of climate change.


Breakdown of Hurricane Sandy:

 

Planning a Resilient New York City:


This Interactive Map shows the several interventions in New York City, feel free to explore the map and click the links within to see more projects!

The Big U Rebuild by Design: 

 

“The low-lying topography of Lower Manhattan from West 57th St down to The Battery, and up to East 42nd St is home to approximately 220,000 residents and is the core of a $500 billion business sector that influences the world’s economy.  Hurricane Sandy devastated not only the Financial District, but 95,000 low-income, elderly, and disabled city residents. Infrastructure within the 10-mile perimeter was damaged or destroyed, transportation and communication were cut off, and thousands sat without power or running water. “The Big U: Rebuild By Design” is a $335 million dollar design response to the devastation Manhattan dealt with.”

The project is broken into three different phases: East River Park, Chinatown, and Battery to Brooklyn Bridge. The main themes in all of the landscapes are to have them provide a buffering zone between the disaster and the city itself. Berms are an intervention time and time again. The ten continuous mile stretch of protection for the city respond to individual neighborhood typology as well as community-desired amenities. Though the design does capture the community ideals, nowhere in the design has the input of children been involved. Involving the youth of NYC could allow them to help shape the legacy and story NYC is creating right now.

 

The Bridging Berm provides vertical protection for the Lower East Side from future storm surge and rising sea levels. The Berm also offers elevated routes into the park, with many unprogrammed spots for resting, socializing, and enjoying views of the park and river. Both berms and bridges are wide and planted with a diverse selection of salt-tolerant trees, shrubs, and perennials, providing a resilient urban habitat. The video below expands upon how the flood protection for the city is evolving and expanding to make New York City less vulnerable to superstorms and more resilient to climate change. It’s a bit of a long watch (45 minutes) but the information is great on understanding how we can work with communities to protect themselves from the changing climate.

http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/resources/videos/extending-manhattan-for-flood-protection

The Bay Street Corridor:

The Bay Street Corridor a series of land use actions including zoning map amendments, zoning text amendments and a disposition of City-owned property to support the implementation of the Bay Street Corridor Neighborhood Plan. As a neighborhood, it will be more resilient to climate change as well as a more resilient community base with affordable housing and mixed-use development.

Lower Manhattan Climate Resilience Study Excerpt:

In March, 2019, Lower Manhattan released their “Climate Resilience Study” that outlines an overview of Manhattan, a climate risk assessment, a climate adaptation toolkit, and suggests different approaches throughout the city to mitigate the impacts of climate change. This page outlines the different mitigations based upon buildings, streets, utilities, and the edge of the city meeting the water. They are excellent strategies to implement in a city vulnerable to coastal damage from climate change.

Video for Climate-Smart Cities:

Miami, Florida

Climate Change in Miami

Miami’s population has been steadily rising, regardless of the rising sea level.  Since 2016, the population has risen from 441,003 to 473,914 for an increase of  around 7.5% in 3 years.  Around 75% white, the second largest demographic in Miami is black or African American (18% of population).

 

The average age in Miami is 40 years old (39.1 for males, 40.9 for females).  The ratio between women and men is fairly close to 1 (223,998 females:219,009 males).  With 17.9% of the population under the age of 18, 6.2% under 5, around 1 in every 5 people are classified as children.  This is the fifth of the population that will have the most time on this planet and have to deal with the long term effects of climate change.  Educating the youth on why and how climate change takes place is a crucial step in slowing down climate change.  Although this in an important thing to do, Miami has little youth interaction when it comes to developing ways to make the city more climate change resilient.

Efforts to Mitigate Rising Sea Levels

Problem: Flooded Roads

The main issue that Miami has been struggling dealing with climate change is the issue of flooded roads.  This is a common occurrence, especially during the hurricane season and high tides. 

Recently, the city of Miami has created a team called the Blue Ribbon Panel on Flood Mitigation to head the climate change movement in Miami and help come up with solutions to the rising sea levels.  The main goal for this team was to “dry the street up”. One of the solutions that have been implemented to combat rising sea levels and regular flooding of the streets are

water pumps that transport the water from the streets back out into the ocean.  These pumps have had some issues with becoming backlogged and then basically working in the opposite direction, bringing water in from the ocean and dumping it on the street.This issue has been resolved by raising and expanding the pumps themselves, ensuring that the electrical boxes stay dry at all times. There are 60 new pump stations that are scheduled to be installed throughout Miami and Miami Beach over the next 3-5 years.

 

Another solution that is currently underway in Miami Beach is the raising of the roads in the Sunset Harbor and West Avenue neighborhoods.  This began in the Sunset Harbor neighborhood in February 2015 and was 70% completed as of April 2016. In most places, the street was raised 2+ feet.

Sources

Adapting to Climate Change

In recent years, there has been a change in climate patterns. The average global temperature has increased at fast rates due to the high levels of carbon dioxide produced by the constant use of fossil fuels. Today, we are continuing to see the drastic effects this has on our planet and actions are needed to be taken immediately. Some big challenges that cities are facing include traffic pollution, high-rise living and urban sprawl, and inadequate and unequal access to the city. Cities are in need of less cars and traffic, more public spaces, and better air quality from cleaner energy sources. 

 

Adapting coastal cities to respond to climate change not only includes adaptation strategies, but also resilience-based approaches. Popular methods against rising sea levels include sea walls and dam barriers, levees, and the “Sponge City” method. The “Sponge City” method is the concept of creating a city that can take in all the stormwater that comes its way. It is an efficient way of making use of stormwater and controlling where it goes. This method includes replacing concrete pavements with wetlands as well as implementing more green rooftops and rain gardens. In the end, it is all about using a combination of approaches with environmental-based solutions at a lower cost to avoid relocation. 

 

Some other ways to work towards this and against climate change involve implementing more plants and trees, incorporating passive solar design, making more use of natural ventilation, and implementing more stormwater management practices. The advantage of using greenery in a design is not only good for the environment, but also for the mind. The more greenery an urban setting has, the higher effects of a positive health and well-being of the people within the place. Another simple, but big way communities can get involved to help fight against climate change are community gardens. Not only do they reduce the number of errands, but they also increase health and fitness as well as bring together an even stronger community. 

Tampa Bay, Florida

 

  Why does climate change matter to Florida ?

” Florida is in the cross hairs of climate change, which is expected to bring not just more heat but also more   flooding, stronger hurricanes, more toxic algae blooms and other woes to the Sunshine State. ” – Tampa Bay Times (2019)

Tampa Bay is located  on the West Coast of Florida where there are risks of high sea level rises, natural disasters such as hurricanes or tornadoes. Tampa Bay is also that is very prone to storm surges.

Issues with Sea Level Rise 

Currently in Florida the sea levels have rise 8 inches since 1950 and the speed of the rising water has only sped up. As of right now sea level is rising an inch every three years.

credits : sealevelrise.org 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Florida the bed rock is limestone which acts like a sponge which a porous material that allows water to seem through it. The bed rock adds on to the effects caused by sea level rise.

                                    Credits : sealevelrise.org 

Current Situation                                                                               Possible Solution

Tampa Bay has not been directly hit by a major hurricane since 1921 where it  pushed in a flood of 11 feet and took eight lives. Back then the population of  Tampa was about 50,000 and now it is in 3.4 million. What would happen if a category 5 hurricane hit the bay? The results would be catastrophic.

Credits : Vox

 

Storm surges are something that will often hit Tampa Bay here are some maps/data of counties which get affected by storm surges: Link

 

 

 

What is being done about it ?

The city of Tampa Bay  which currently has a population of 3.1 million has begun steps in understanding climate     change and its causes. What can be done? and understanding to move towards a resilient future. Four in every       five people from Florida know about climate change and it’s affects.

The Tampa bay regional planning council (TBRPC)   an association of local governments and gubernatorial representatives has setup a up a number of programs which include: Decision Support, Economic Development, Emergency management, Environmental planing and Resiliency.

Cost-conscious Storm preparation                                                                                                                                                                                The cost-conscious Storm preparation  is essentially a checklist prepared by TBRPC and The Federal Emergency                                                     Management Agency (FEMA) to inform or make the citizens of Florida of what to prepare before a hurricane or                                                       tornado hits. The document also provides information specific to people from different counties and how to get                                                       access to that information.

TBRPC Emergency Management Program

The emergency management program is a program that is part of the official regional awareness program, where                                                    they inform the local community on how to protect themselves, protect their businesses, community protection                                                        and community involvement.

The TBRPC have also come up with an All Hazards disaster planning guide which include hazards, including   floods, tornadoes, hazardous materials, and terrorism which is freely available to anyone both in hard copies (specific locations) and soft copies on their website.

Tampa Bay Catastrophic Plan 

“The Tampa Bay Catastrophic Plan was  a document created  to address the challenges of response and recovery during a catastrophic event in the Tampa Bay area.” – Tampa Bay Catastrophic Plan

Hazard Mitigation

Each county in Tampa develops a Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) These plans are made or developed so as to                  reduce or eliminate risks involving natural or man-made hazards. These plans have to be made in agreement with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) which is a system for collaboration between local and state authorities that understands and encourages the urgency for pre-disater planing, mitigation, and finding funds for projects through grant opportunities by the Federal government.

Agency on Bay Management 

The Agency on Bay Management (ABM) is the committee for natural resources for the TBPRC  which mainly handles the community organization for the protection of the Tampa Bay estuary. The ABM is a compilation of people or individuals from various departments usch as recreation, commercial fisheries, industrial, regulatory, academic and scientific sectors, local, regional, state and federal governments that serves an open discussion panel where issues and opportunities about and for the estuary are discussed.

Bay Surroundings

Bay surroundings is the environmental news group of Tampa Bay. It is a website where one can find information on nature events, festivals and awareness. It is also where one can find articles, journals, books and lots more information on climate change, on going environmental issues.

 

Figure ground study of Tampa Bay, Florida. Source: Mapbox

 

 

  How is the youth integrated into the idea of battling climate change?

About 21.7% of the population is under the age of 18. In a city like Tampa with high risks of natural disasters and climate change, it is important to include the youth as it for their future that everyone is working for and for that exact reason the youth should be educated in climate change.

Tampa Bay Sierra Club 

The Tampa Bay Sierra Club consist of more than 2,700 supporters and members from the main counties all in the same goal of protecting the environment, identifying delicate spots in the environment and surroundings of Tampa.

“Our  mission is to enjoy, explore and protect the natural places in Florida, to teach others to understand and respect the fragile environment in which we live, and to practice and promote the responsible use of Florida’s ecosystems and resources. Our group aims to provide access, education and community support for citizens’ concerns of the environment in the Tampa Bay area.” – Sierra Club Tampa Bay

Youth Climate Strike 

“We, the youth of America, are striking because the science says we have just a few years to transform our energy system, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent the worst effects of climate change. We are striking because our world leaders have yet to acknowledge, prioritize, or properly address our climate crisis. We are striking because marginalized communities across our nation —especially communities of color, disabled communities, and low- income communities—  are already disproportionately impacted by climate change. We are striking because if the social order is disrupted by our refusal to attend school, then the system is forced to face the climate crisis and enact change. With our futures at stake, we call for radical legislative action to combat climate change and its countless detrimental effects on the American people. We are striking for the Green New Deal, for a fair and just transition to a 100% renewable economy, and for ending the creation of additional fossil fuel infrastructure. Additionally, we believe the climate crisis should be declared a national emergency because we are running out of time” – Youth Climate Strike

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stamford, Connecticut

 

 

As a coastal city, Stamford, Connecticut is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The city has already begun to notice more episodes of extreme weather and natural disasters, and will only continue to experience more as climate change progresses. In order to stay afloat, the people of Stamford have to make their city as resilient as possible. 

 

Threats

In the past decade, the effects of climate change have already changed the landscape of Stamford. Heavy events of rain and snow, floods, droughts, and even tropical storms have become more prevalent. The most severe case being record storm surge Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The storm 70 mph winds left over 60 percent of the city without power for a week. Clean up and repair costs from the hurricane cost the city an estimated $7 million. If improvements are not made to the infrastructure and landscape of the city, these costs could become all too common.

 

These maps were created using data gathered by NOAA Technical Report (2017). This data was assembled as part of a larger project, the U.S. National Climate Assessment.

 

Getting Started

After the devastating repair costs in 2012, the city realized how vulnerable they are to climate change, and have been pushing resilient actions ever since. Many of their efforts have gone through the Stamford 2030 District. The districts aim to reduce water and energy use within cities, specifically through transportation systems and commercial businesses. Stamford was the 13th city to join the districts, and many more have affiliated since. 

This interactive map shows a snapshot of the work each 2030 District city is doing. 

 

“Stamford is one of 12 cities to join a North American network of 2030 Districts. Each district is a public-private partnership of property owners, managers, and developers with local governments, businesses, and community stakeholders to provide a business model for urban sustainability through collaboration, leveraged financing, and shared resources. The 2030 Districts are charged with the long-term effort of achievable and measurable goals for renovating hundreds of millions of square feet of existing urban and suburban areas and infrastructure, as well as for infill development and redevelopment.”

–“Collaboration for Climate Resilience in Stamford, Connecticut”

 

This news clip aired in 2013 when Stamford first began to understand the importance of resilience.  –“Conn. DEEP Deputy Speaks in Stamford.”

 

The first step that Stamford took to increase resilience was to find a baseline of how the city was already doing. They began leveraging public-private partnerships to access vulnerability. The real action started in March of 2015 when Stamford partnered with city departments, AECOM and IBM to see how the city was graded on the City Disaster Resilience Scorecard. 

This scorecard provides a way for cities and governments to understand how resilient their city is to natural disasters. The questionnaire was created to help guide cities on how to adapt and become better prepared for natural disasters as climate change affects cause more damage. The goal of the scorecard is to challenge cities, and to let them know there is always more that can be done. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamford,_Connecticut

“The need for cities and companies to address climate resilience is growing. Stamford 2030 serves as an innovative model for cities and companies interested in developing and advancing their resilience strategy.”

–“Collaboration for Climate Resilience in Stamford, Connecticut”

Stamford also held a workshop in 2015 to brainstorm new ways that the city could increase their resilience. Those in attendance were diverse stakeholders from all over the city, including: city officials, non-government organizations, the Business Council of Fairfield County, utilities and hospitality sector, and representatives from the regional planning agency. The workshop made it clear that although Stamford has many strengths, they also have weaknesses. 

The city’s strengths include excellent emergency response and overall safety, good engagement of electric and utility companies in disaster planning, and a strong hazard plan. It was determined that Stamfords key areas to focus on to become more resilient to climate change were: creation of a long-term resilience strategy, establishing better recovery plans, improving existing infrastructure within the city, and increasing involvement and awareness of citizens and business in the use of local climate change data. 

 

“Stamford is going a step further by making resilience a unique focus for the Stamford 2030 District.”

–“Collaboration for Climate Resilience in Stamford, Connecticut”

 

The City Disaster Resilience Scorecard and workshop were vital in identifying the key problems that face Stamford if climate change damage continues to affect their city. By accessing the city’s vulnerabilities, officials became better prepared to help businesses and other stakeholders to create positive modifications in Stamford. 

 

What They’re Doing

After identifying Stamfords weaknesses, the city began to plan and adapt for climate change symptoms. Programs were put in place, grants were applied for, citizens and business communities were pushed to enact change. Below are just a few of the transformations that have begun to take place in Stamford.

Stormwater

“Connecticut Gutter, LLC.”

One exciting approach that Stamford is taking to combat climate change is evaluating and modifying their stormwater systems. Improved stormwater management systems will become extremely important to coastal cities as more effects of climate change are seen. Heavier rains, floods, and intense storms could cause damage to many different parts of the city if not managed in the best ways possible. The city has been adapting a methodology created in Seattle to promote property owners to implement on-site stormwater practices. 

The main idea behind it all is that small changes add up to create a big difference. To help make these goals a reality, Stamford 2030 received a grant that will aid communities in the planning and adapting of best management practices. These adaptations look at the extreme effects that could be heading towards Stamford due to climate change, and how to best prepare for it. They were able to map out predictions of climate change effects such as increased precipitation and sea-level-rise, and hope to start enacting change soon. Stamford 2030 hopes that these evaluations and process will also soon be able to help cities all over Connecticut. 

Promotional and informational video of how the stormwater management systems are installed. 

Infrastructure: Mill River Park

Originally a huge risk in the city, which developed into a major green infrastructure and restoration project, Mill River Park has become a huge success for Stamford. Mill River runs through Stamford, and for years frequently flooded the downtown and other areas of the city due to issues created by dams, pollution, debris, and channelizing. The design team (lead by OLIN) tasked with the project had the challenge of designing a master plan that would both restore the river, and reconnect the city with nature. 

“This green infrastructure project not only provided habitat rehabilitation and reduced risk of flooding, but an opportunity to develop surrounding park space and unite the downtown with the waterfront, offering revitalization to the area as a whole.”

–“2015 ASLA Professional Awards”

“Collaboration for Climate Resilience in Stamford, Connecticut”

Figure-ground drawing of Stamford and Mill River Park.

Overall, the restoration was an $8 million project. First, the two dams were removed and channelization fixed, allowing the river to flow freely for the first time in centuries. Next, hundreds of new native plants were introduced back into the environment, providing habitat for wildlife. Aquatic and terrestrial habitats were also restored. Pools, riffles, and meanders were created to bring the river back to its natural state. The floodplain was also reintroduced, which has drastically reduced the damaging effects of stormwater in downtown Stamford and surrounding areas. The river that used to be a huge threat to the city can now handle a water volume from almost every type of storm event, which will be critical in the years to come as climate change brings more extreme storms. The design has already helped Stamford during the last two hurricanes; there was no significant damage to the park or the surrounding area because the river was able to naturally flood. In the end, the design team was able to create a 28-acre park and 3-mile greenway that highlights sustainability, culture, research, education, and recreation. 

 

“With a design that emphasizes sustainability, recreation, civic engagement, culture and education within an ecologically diverse and lush environment, the green infrastructure will serve the city for generations to come.”

–“2015 ASLA Professional Awards”

 

Government

In 2018, the State of Connecticut created the bill, Connecticut SB 7: An Act Concerning Climate Change Planning and Resiliency (Public Act 18-82). This legislature requires all state and federally-funded coastal infrastructure projects to take sea level rise into account during the planning process. Connecticut coastal cities are now required to take into consideration that sea level will rise by two feet by 2050.

 

This legislature will start affecting Stamford on October 1, 2019. 

The main goals are to:

    1. “take into consideration risks associated with increased coastal flooding and erosion, depending on site topography, based on this sea level change scenario
    2. identify the impacts of increased flooding and erosion on infrastructure and natural resources
    3. make recommendations for the siting of future infrastructure and property development to minimize the use of areas prone to such flooding and erosion
    4. take into consideration the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals”

–“Connecticut SB 7”

To further prepare for climate change affects, other legislation is also underway, including one with a goal to decrease greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030. 

 

Youth Involvement

One of Stanford’s most successful climate change initiatives has been the Mill River Stewards program. This is a summer-long program that is available for high school students in the Stamford area. The stewards go through a field-based internship where they learn valuable lessons about environmentalism, urban park stewardship, successful park design, and careers in conservation. 

 

“The hard skills garnered from these projects improve Stewards’ environmental literacy by allowing them to look at a habitat or site and understand the cause and effects of what is happening there.”

-“Mill River Stewards: Exploration”

 

“These hands-on projects help the Stewards understand and apply design elements that make the park an interesting landscape to enjoy.”

–“Mill River Stewards: Exploration”

Students who participate in the program gain hands-on experience through activities like erosion prevention, soil health improvement, and runoff management projects. One of the goals of the program is that students improve their ability to understand the landscape and its constant changes. Stewards that have completed the program report that they have made a difference in their city and its landscape. 

 

“I’ve definitely gained an appreciation for the environment.”

-Student “Mill River Stewards: Exploration”

 

 Here is another short video about how Stamfod youth are getting involved in their environment. “USA, Nestlé”

 

References

“2015 ASLA Professional Awards.” Mill River Park and Greenway | 2015 ASLA Professional Awards, 2016,    www.asla.org/2015awards/95842.html.

“Climate Change and Historic Preservation – SoundWaters’ Holly House.” GNCB Consulting Engineers, P.C., 2015, www.gncbengineers.com/climate-change-and-historic-preservation-soundwaters-holly-house.

“Collaboration for Climate Resilience in Stamford, Connecticut.” C2ES Solution Forums, 2017, www.c2es.org/site/assets/uploads/2016/03/collaboration-climate-resilience-stamford-connecticut.pdf.

“Come Visit.” Mill River Park Collaborative, millriverpark.org/.

“Conn. DEEP Deputy Speaks in Stamford.” YouTube, It’s Relevant TV, 27 June 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6QpZ0Wzqgs.

“Connecticut Gutter, LLC.” Connecticut Gutter, LLC – Primary Site, www.ctgutter.com/cultec-stormwater-drainage-systems.html

“Connecticut SB 7: An Act Concerning Climate Change Planning and Resiliency (Public Act 18-82).” Connecticut SB 7: An Act Concerning Climate Change Planning and Resiliency (Public Act 18-82) | Adaptation Clearinghouse, 2018, www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/resources/connecticut-sb-7-an-act-concerning-climate-change-planning-and-resiliency-public-act-18-82.html.

“Mill River Park and Greenway.” OLIN, 2016, www.theolinstudio.com/mill-river-park-and-greenway.

“Mill River Stewards: Exploration.” Mill River Park Collaborative, 2019, millriverpark.org/conservation/youth-internships/mill-river-stewards-exploration/.

“See Your Local Sea Level and Coastal Flood Risk.” Climate Central, riskfinder.climatecentral.org/municipality/stamford.ct.us?comparisonType=municipality&forecastName=Basic&forecastType=NOAA2017_extreme_p50&level=6&unit=ft#reducing-your-risk.

“Stormwater Management In Response To Climate Change Impacts: Lessons From The Chesapeake Bay And Great Lakes Regions (Final Report).” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 19 May 2016, cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/global/recordisplay.cfm?deid=310045.

“USA, Nestlé. “#NestléCares National Volunteer Day: Stamford, Connecticut.” YouTube, YouTube, 18 Aug. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s8Anx8kD8k.

Kyoto, Japan

The climate of Kyoto

The climate of Kyoto if often very mind and humid during the spring and summer months. It is also rainy during the summertime because of its tropical location. The heat island effect contributes a lot to the temperature of the city. The maximum temperature that the city will reach it around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and rarely exceeded 100 degrees. The nights are often very high in humidity, and monsoon season adds to that value. The winters are mild with highs over 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Their isn’t a lot of snow, just light flurries and cold rain.

 

The threats that climate change has on Kyoto

Kyoto is a coastal city on the west side of Japan has been around for 1200 years. The main problems that they encounter have to do hurricanes, and the aftereffects of flooding. Some other natural disasters that can happen there are typhoons and occasional earthquakes. Kyoto lies on two fault lines which is the Hanaore fault, and the Nara Basin Toen fault. When they have earthquakes, they are generally rather large ones because of the fact of the location of where the city sits.

Natural disaster public awareness

Japan is prone to natural disasters and has over the years created an advanced warning system that is quick and informs the public. A problem that the old warning system had was to make people think that taking shelter in any infrastructure was safe (false sense of security), but in reality they were not. With the new warning system is can figure out where the best locations are to seek shelter. The improvement of this system has saved countless lives and the social aspect of the communities. In areas severely treated by natural disasters, some of the communities don’t partake in drills to prepare for flooding and major storm events, so Japan is trying to figure out ways to reach out to them and convince those communities that it is in their best benefit to do so. The graph below shows how prepared Japan is for natural disasters compared to other countries.

What steps are the city of Kyoto taking to mitigate?

The City of Kyoto Is proud of its history with dealing with these events. The government is implementing green economy and a city-wide collaboration in dealing with climate change. The country of Japan has always given financial support to all the cities that are in it. Every year Japan puts 500,000 dollars to the IDNDR Trust Fund, and this is to help specifically for any type of natural disaster. The Japan Disaster Relief Program (JDR) is a team funded by the government to go out into major disaster areas to do primarily search and rescue missions. They service Kyoto when these natural occurrences happen. (sources of funding)

Other fundraisers helping in Kyoto include:

               Idro Japan (Accepts Volunteer and donates to the cause)

               It’s Not Just Mud (A volunteer service for disaster relief)

               Japanese Red Cross (Donates a good amount of money, and is always accepting volunteers)

               Japan National Council of Social Welfare (Shows a list of organizations that contribute money and volunteers)

               Donation for Western Japan Heavy Rain (Donations from Rakuten Points, credit card or bank transfers)

               AAR Japan (Has emergency response teams ready and accept donations)

               Yahoo! Japan (Collects donation which is sent directly to disaster relief programs)

               Peace Winds Japan ((Has a Campfire Account (similar to GoFundMe) that goes directly to relevant municipal government))

               Open Japan KEEN Matching Pay (Partnered with KEEN footwear to match all donations for a month. They already have volunteers on ground already)

               Janic (Provides a list of organizations for disaster relief)

 

How Is the city adapting infrastructures to respond to climate change?

Kyoto is considered a pilot study project for Cities Alive and has a section talking about how they are making their buildings more resilient. The city is working on improving their water supply, sewage, and Storm Water management assets to keep the city moving. The 100 Resilient Cities website, they mention that they have 66 projects lined up as of 2016 to improve buildings and create greener infrastructure to use the water to their advantage. The Kyoto Protocol implemented UNFCCC, which is an organization to combat greenhouse gas going into our atmosphere. They plan on being completely free of building and vehicle emissions by the year 2050. It will surely be a challenge, but something they would really like to see done.

 

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement signed by 128 nations around the world to help control climate change and their mission was to reduce greenhouse gasses by 5%. They are most concerned about the rising temperature and how it causes so many deaths worldwide from malaria, malnutrition, and diarrhea, which all together cause 3.5 million deaths a year from temperature and toxic rain changes. The Paris Agreement soon took place after this to continue this global challenge.

How are youth included?

The city is suffering from an aging population where there is a lack of middle age men and woman. So, it is up to the kids to figure out what they need in order to grow. Occasionally the planning committee has events for kids to participate by giving them ideas for what they can improve on. They strongly believe that the future lies with the kids. The Kyoto Protocol addresses this in its statement. They play a crucial role in helping improve the city with climate change in mind. The kids were asked to do a questionnaire-based pilot survey, and the scores were off the chart for what they knew about climate change. Among them; 66% were male, and 33.8% were females in different study areas. Now with these kids, in total 98.5% of the kids said through the survey that they believed climate change is real. Then 95.5% said human activities contribute to climate change as well. These are high numbers, and it means a whole lot that the kids are aware of this so that they can help make these good decisions and are educated enough on the matter. The youth are being educated all throughout their k-12 schooling, and it is a strong tool for combating destructive potential of climate change. The children can make a decision, and when they are older play a huge role in helping these changes come to life. With the declining age population that I said before, there are fewer people to support the economy, and to increase the power of reliance to overcome the climate issue. This was a recent issue that the Mayor, Daisaku Kadokawa addressed in March of 2019 at a climate change conference.