By Gary Thomas
Introduction
Climate Proofing In Holland
Climate Proofing
Innovation in the UK
Further Climate
Proofing Concepts From Around the World
Sources and Further Reading
Introduction
As global warming progresses, the temperature of the planet is
expected to rise by around 4oC by the year 2100. This
increase is not evenly distributed around the globe, with the polar ice
caps experiencing the biggest temperature rise, due in part to local
feedback mechanisms. This increase in temperature is already leading to
the polar
ice caps melting at a faster rate than predicted, and this will
ultimately lead to a rise in sea level, leaving some low-lying
countries in real danger of being destroyed. However, it is not only
sea level that will be affected by a warming planet, as many other
associated changes to precipitation will also occur, leading to
flooding in some areas and droughts in others.
To combat these changes, architects, town planners and engineers are
starting to focus attention on ‘climate proofing’-the practise of
making buildings and infrastructure usable if changes to the
environment continue. For example, by 2080, it is predicted that
southern England will be up to 6.8oC warmer than it is
today, meaning that alterations in infrastructure will need to be made
to cope with this. Of course, there are inherent uncertainties when
predicting how global warming will actually affect the climatic
conditions in a specific area, but many governments and companies are
not taking any chances.
Climate Proofing In
Holland
One place that is in danger of severe flooding if sea levels
drastically rise is The Netherlands. 60% of the Dutch population live
below sea level, and in the second-city of Rotterdam, this rises to
90%.
Traditionally, the country has been kept dry by the famous Dutch
dykes and water drainage mills. However, Holland is beginning to
realise that it cannot keep the water out forever and so Rotterdam has
employed several new climate proofing methods to safeguard against the
rising water.
One novel method of climate proofing are ‘water plazas’, which
collect water during heavy rain, and then release this slowly into the
local drainage system. During normal dry periods, these plazas
double-up as playgrounds. Rotterdam has also invested heavily in
rooftop gardens, which not only absorb rain to reduce the risk of
flooding, but also take in CO2 and can reduce the city
temperature.
.jpg)
The Southern coast of the Netherlands, showing a
complex system of canals and inlets. The coastline has changed
considerably over the history of the nation, due to numerous historical
floods. Image source: CIA
Factbook
Climate
Proofing Innovation in the UK
Britain is also leading the way in terms of climate proofing
techniques, and Defra, the environment ministry, has outlined several
concepts that may be implemented in the future to keep Britain stable.
Road specifications were changed in 2008 to mirror those used in the
South of France, in preparation for higher temperatures. The National
Rail has also invested heavily in raising water defences at the side of
railway tracks, as water flooding on coastal lines is becoming a more
commonplace issue.
Recently, the UK’s first ‘amphibious’ house was finished in
Buckinghamshire, next to the Thames river. The house has a movable
concrete floor, which sits on top of a waterproof basement, or dock. In
the event of a flood, the basement below will fill with water and the
concrete floor rises, allowing the house to float on the water. Whether
this type of housing can survive the very disparate flooding patterns
of the UK remains to be seen.
Further
Climate Proofing Concepts From Around the World
Climate proofing is not just consigned to buildings and
infrastructure however, and the term can be stretched to include any
mitigating action taken in preparation for a changing climate. Listed
below are some more concepts from around the globe that are aiming to
make climate change more bearable.
Canada: In the city of Toronto, emergency ‘cooling centres’ have
been set up in case of extreme heat, with free travel tokens available
to those who need to reach the centre in a hurry.
USA: In New York, generators for the city hall have been moved to
higher ground in case of large scale flooding, and people are being
encouraged to paint building roofs white, in order to increase the
reflectance of the city and hence cool it down.
Peru: In a similar vein, but on a much grander scale, a project to
paint three mountain peaks in the Andes white is set for completion at
the end of 2012. This project, spearheaded by the inventor Eduardo
Gold, is hoped to bring back the disappearing glaciers.
Sources and Further
Reading
Defra's
UK climate-proofing plans unveiled BBC News, 28/01/2011
The
UK's first amphibious house, green futures magazine,
03/08/2012
Car
parks and playgrounds to help make Rotterdam 'climate proof', The
Guardian, 11/05/2012
Climate-proofing
projects: a map, New Internationalist magazine, April 2012