Can innovative approaches on city-level achieve synergies in tackling both climate change mitigation and adaptation goals?

This work supported the development of EEA’s 2016 report on ‘Adaptation in urban areas’. The project not only provided examples of good and bad adaptation practices and innovative adaptation approaches, but also gave an idea on the potential for applying adaptation and mitigation measures in combination. The case studies intended to give an indication whether the combination potential is currently being met.

View of Rambla Prim (Source: Barcelona City Council)
View of Rambla Prim (Source: Barcelona City Council)

The project produced case study reports for the following urban areas:

  1. Barcelona – Trees tempering the Mediterranean city climate
  2. Budapest – Certification as a tool for climate resilient Infopark
  3. Emsch – Flood and heat proof green Emscher valley
  4. Maasbommel – Amphibious housing
  5. Madrid – White roof, innovative solar shadings and bioclimatic design
  6. Rotterdam – Climate-resilient retrofit of a building
  7. Rouen – Multifunctional water management in an eco-district

The case studies were discussed in the Urban adaptation to climate change in Europe 2016. The cases are also published on the Climate-ADAPT website, to enrich the knowledge-base on urban climate change adaptation measures.