Retrofitting England's suburbs to adapt to climate change

Abstract

The majority of the English population lives in suburbs and this is where the impacts of climate change will significantly affect people's domestic lives: heat stress, respiratory problems, flooding, drought, deterioration of green spaces and damage from storms. A recognized need exists to adapt suburbs (homes, gardens and public space) physically to mitigate against further climate change and to adapt to inevitable weather patterns. A number of potential adaptation options, addressing different risks, are identified and tested using a range of methods, including modelling, and workshops with residents and professional and institutional stakeholders. The 'best' solutions are those that reduce the climate risk within the context of local adaptive capacity. Solutions are effective, acceptable and feasible given the type of suburb; its location; microclimate; housing type; the climate risk it faces; the socio-economic composition of its residents and their attitudes; resources; and governance conditions. It is essential to consider both the totality of the suburban environment and the combined effects of mitigation and adaptation measures. However, the biggest challenge is implementation which entails a better understanding of the problem by a range of stakeholders, a more supportive policy context, more resources, and clearer responsibilities.La majeure partie de la population anglaise vit dans les banlieues et c'est là que les effets du changement climatique affecteront considérablement la vie familiale des gens : stress thermique, problèmes respiratoires, inondations, sécheresses, détérioration des espaces verts et dommages causés par les orages. Il existe une nécessité reconnue d'adapter physiquement les banlieues (habitations, jardins et espaces publics) afin d'atténuer la progression du changement climatique et de s'adapter aux conditions météorologiques inévitables. Un certain nombre d'options d'adaptation possibles, répondant à des risques différents, sont identifiées et testées en utilisant un éventail de méthodes, dont la modélisation, et des ateliers avec les résidents et les parties prenantes professionnelles et institutionnelles. Les «meilleures» solutions sont celles qui réduisent le risque climatique dans le cadre des capacités d'adaptation locales. Les solutions se montrent efficaces, acceptables et faisables en fonction du type de banlieue; de sa situation; du microclimat; du type de logements; du risque climatique auquel la banlieue est exposée; de la composition socioéconomique de ses résidents et de leurs attitudes; des ressources; et des conditions de gouvernance. Il est essentiel de prendre en considération à la fois la totalité de l'environnement suburbain et les effets combinés des mesures d'atténuation et d'adaptation. Néanmoins, le plus gros défi est la mise en oeuvre, ce qui implique une meilleure compréhension du problème par un large éventail de parties prenantes, des politiques créant un contexte de soutien accru, des ressources plus importantes, et des responsabilités clarifiées.

Lost in Transition or Geared for the S-Curve? An Analysis of Flemish Transition Trajectories with a Focus on Energy Use and Buildings

“…Short term agendas hereby typically hamper the realization of long term goals, even if the vital importance of the latter is being recognized. For our focus on buildings and energy in particular, similar findings have been observed and described for other countries and case studies [6,7,54,56,57,60]. This adds evidence for general tendencies that can be observed independently of local conditions.…”

“…We find support for these findings in the research results of similar contexts [24,54,[56][57][58]. For example, investigating the challenges of up-scaled urban retrofit, Dixon and Eames conclude that "…the biggest challenge for suburban adaptation is implementation.…”

Local governments in the driving seat? A comparative analysis of public and private responsibilities for adaptation to climate change in European and North-American cities

“…Amundsen, Berglund, & Westskog, 2010;Carter, 2011;Nalau, Preston, & Maloney, 2015;Storbjörk, 2007;Termeer, Dewulf, & Breeman, 2013;Wamsler & Brink, 2014), which results in a stalemate and a lack of climate adaptation action (Fünfgeld, 2010;Urwin & Jordan, 2008;Williams et al, 2013). If vague responsibilities hamper climate adaptation, conversely a more explicit allocation of responsibilities could drive climate adaptation.…”

A New Framework to Evaluate Urban Design Using Urban Microclimatic Modelling in Future Climatic Conditions

“…Other future studies should also look at the implication of sustainable urban design on the society. [64] already pointed out that this was crucial for the best implementation of the solutions but that there was a need "better understanding the problem by variety stakeholders". This study hopes to reduce this knowledge gap by providing a new methodology which should be extended in multiple other cities and in different urban configuration and climatic regions.…”