Municipal collaborative planning boosting climate resilience in the built environment

Abstract

Purpose A meta-study covering the past decade maps the development of Norwegian municipal planning, climate adaptation and institutional vulnerability towards climate change. This paper aims to explore the implementation of climate adaptive changes in Norwegian legal planning and building framework into municipal practice and policy instruments from 2007 to 2016. The study is planned to answer the question: what drivers ensure increased municipal efforts in their climate adaptive planning and building practice? Design/methodology/approach The paper presents empirical findings from two qualitative research projects, each with nine interviews of municipal key personnel within three municipalities’ planning and building services and an ongoing qualitative, expert interview-based study (eight individual/group interviews). Findings Risk reduction and climate resilience are still unsatisfactorily attended in many Norwegian municipalities. There is a gap between political and administrative levels in communicating bilateral expectations and needs for incorporation of climate adaptive measures. Policy instruments maintaining climate adaptation are in demand by different building process actors. Yet, extreme weather events seem to be the main drivers for actual implementation of climate change aspects into municipal policy instruments. Networking, both within and between municipalities, is an important strategy for learning climate adaptation. Research limitations/implications Both globally and in Norway, the focus on climate change impacts is steadily increasing. Municipal risk and vulnerability analyses are statutory, as is the incorporation of the results into local plans at appropriate levels. Originality/value The originality of this paper is the meta-perspective over the past decade, the qualitative approach and the use of environmental psychology theories.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems: Themes of Public Perception—A Case Study

“…While, the measures within the Norwegian Water Directive should be adequate to safeguard climate adaptation within Norway, at the municipal level, implementation often fails [24] and the adoption of SUDS projects has lagged behind expectation [22]. Klaussen et al (2015) found that in urban planning, climate adaptation occurs randomly, and this is typically due to longstanding, conventional routines, policies, or strategies [25].…”

“…Klaussen et al (2015) found that in urban planning, climate adaptation occurs randomly, and this is typically due to longstanding, conventional routines, policies, or strategies [25]. Identified challenges to implementation have included: conventional attitudes to planning, resistance to change, lack of knowledge and competence, unequal access and engagement with support networks, and a short supply in the recruitment of highly qualified personnel [24]. Additional studies showed that municipalities lack the right kind of competence and expertise to succeed with climate adaptation [26,27].…”

Multilevel networks for climate change adaptation – what works?

“…The need to obtain commitment towards network participation and output among political leaders, and the task of convincing them that the network approach does help to address policy challenges, have also been highlighted by other studies (Sørensen and Torfing, 2017; Torfing et al , 2012). An evaluation of a large network consisting of the 13 biggest cities in Norway (Cities of the Future), showed that endorsement by the mayor of a municipality was pivotal to the ultimate impact of the network (Flyen et al , 2017). This is an argument for addressing the network invitation directly to the mayor.…”

“…In this paper, the term “multilevel network” is used to describe a network that incorporates at least two public sector authority levels within its structure. Multilevel networks have been shown to play central roles ensuring greater awareness and learning (Hanssen et al , 2013; Klaussen et al , 2015; Flyen et al , 2017), but little is known of the mechanisms operating within a network that result in specific actions.…”

Looking back and looking forward—adapting to extreme weather events in municipalities in western Norway

“…New knowledge of risk may also emerge as part of the planning and development process of a new area or housing development; according to the Norwegian Planning and Building Act, evaluation of risk of natural hazards should be undertaken in advance of new developments. In contrast, the last few years have seen the emergence of several adaptation networks that seem to boost collaboration across scales and sectors in the government and increase competence and inspire solutions for adaptation in municipalities (Hauge et al 2018;Flyen et al 2018). Still, municipalities are struggling with proactive adaptation due to a lack of capacity, resources and knowledge of adaptation measures (Aall et al 2018).…”