Future-proofing cities against climate change

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There are various ways to incorporate adaptive features in the design of buildings located in areas at risk of flooding, from elevating the structure above flood level, building with water-resistant materials or constructing barriers. At the urban planning level, various cities are implementing large-scale infrastructure works such as sea walls and surge barriers.

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In China, where most large cities are affected by flooding, authorities are implementing a sponge city strategy, which requires 80% of urban land to absorb or reuse 70% of stormwater.

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Similarly, Abu Dhabi launched a design competition to develop localized solutions to urban heat island effects through a network of hubs that act as a refuge. In 2016, the Colombian city of Medellin launched the Green Corridors initiative that created a network of greenery, which helped reduce the average city temperature by 2 degrees Celsius.

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After the 2018 severe drought, Cape Town has reduced its water usage by 38% by implementing behavioural -change programs. Other measures for fighting droughts and water scarcity are monitoring technologies that regulate water consumption and the shift of agriculture towards more drought-resistant crops.

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