Adaptation to Climate Change in Helsinki HENVI-seminar 13.11.2013 Elina Järvelä City of Helsinki
ADAPTATION POLICY
Adaptation to climate change at EU, national, regional and city levels EU EU legislation EU Adaptation Strategy Finland National legislation and regulations Sectoral programmes National Adaptation Strategy Metropolitan area Helsinki Metropolitan Area Adaptation Strategy Helsinki City programmes, plans and strategies
Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Vision: Climate proof city we re building the future now A joint strategy of the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY) and the cities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area The targets are to identify impacts and risks of climate change in the region, prepare for them and to extrenal events and enhance the adaptive capacity of the cities The central issues are: Co-operation between cities and sectors Cross-border impacts and measures
Climate change impacts in Helsinki Background studies 2009-2010 1. Climate and sea level change scenarios for the area (Finnish Meteorological Institute) 2. Modelling the risks of river floods in River Espoo and Vantaa (Finnish Environment Institute SYKE) 3. A study of impacts of climate change in the region and survey of existing preparedness plans, programs, guidelines, legislation and adaptation research (HSY) 4. Experts and planners of the cities were also interviewed on the consequences of extreme weather to their everyday work (LCLIP)
Adaptation in the environmental policy of Helsinki City council strategy 2013-2016: City of Helsinki will adapt to the climate change by improving the flood and storm water management, as well as the snow management preparing for the extreme weather conditions taking into account the needed space requirements in the city planning compensating the GHG emission with diverse green areas In addition Adaptation to climate change will be integrated into the operations of all city departments in order to minimise risks. The effects of climate change and the measures that can be taken to prepare for it will be communicated to municipal residents and companies.
Adaptation related plans and programmes in Helsinki City level adaptation strategy still lacking Other plans and strategies: Contingency plans to secure the energy supply system 2010 Survey of adaptation measures in building and maintaining public spaces 2010 Action plan for a sudden deterioration of air quality in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area 2010 Guidelines for maintenance of forests and green areas 2009 Storm water strategy 2007, storm water risk areas Flood strategy 2008 Coast line of Helsinki is future potentially significant flood risk area (designated by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry)
Storm water strategy Objectives: Improving the management and utilization of storm waters Prevention of storm water damages Measures deal with: Land use planning Building, permit procedures Planning and building of public spaces Planning and building of the sewage network Photo: Jari Viinanen
Flood strategy Objectives: Mainly prevention of flood damages due to high sea water levels Measures deal with: Purchasing of flood protection structures and equipment Alert systems Inventory of flood risk areas and sites Preparation of instructions for flood protection City of Helsinki flood guide for residents How to protect property from flooding and how to prepare for floods. www.hel.fi/tulvaohje
CLIMATE PROOF CITY TOOLS FOR PLANNERS - PROJECT
Officials need for new tools Survey for the officials about the climate change 55 % did not have any tools for the climate work More information is needed Storm water management Land use planning Costs and impacts of climate change Practical tools are needed Best adaptation practices Instructions and guides Planning tools Climate change maps
Climate Proof City Tools for planners 2012-2014 (ILKKA) Project promotes climate-proof urban planning by creating planning tools and instructions about climate-proof planning for urban planners 1. Best urban climate change adaptation practices, synergies and confrontations between mitigation and adaptation measures and peer-review of cities climate measures 2. Carbon sink comparison in cities and carbon sink potential in case areas 3. Climate change vulnerability: mapping of impervious surfaces 4. Mapping of the urban heat islands 5. Use of Green Factor in city planning 6. Natural storm water management in urban areas 7. Costs and benefits of climate change adaptation and sustainable development budgeting in city Partners: Helsinki, Lahti, Turku, Vantaa, HSY, Finnish Meteorological Institute and University of Turku Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund
ADAPTATION MEASURES
BaltCica- project 2009-2012 Identified adaptation measures in Helsinki 24 measures were identified which were new or only partially realized measures Enhancing the advisory role of the building regulation department Investigating the need of cooling public buildings Increasing the number of trees and green areas in the city Incorporating management of storm water into the lease conditions of plots Modelling of flooding in small brooks Evaluation of flood protection structures in valuable buildings and sites Instructions to organisers of public events (storms) Contingency planning for exceptional conditions in road maintenance Evaluating how well tunnels and other sites can withstand flooding Taking into account climate risks in rescue operations and preparedness planning...
Examples of current adaptation measures in Helsinki Green roof strategy Storm water management cases Class-project: Developing permeable paving materials (VTT) Instructions for sustainable construction Mapping the wave heights on the coast of Helsinki Contingency plan for health care sector during extreme weather incidents (floods, heat wave) Construction of flood protection embankment to Vartiokylä (860m)
Prioritization of adaptation measures ILKKA-project 1. Current adaptation measures 2. Updated information about the impacts 3. Risk analysis 4. Multicriteria analysis for prioritization of the measures Linkages to other environmental goals
Examples of weather induced costs Incident Additional cost from heavy snowfalls 2010 Additional cost from slippery conditions 2011 (pedestrian injuries caused by slipping) Additional cost to the health care system from sudden deterioration of air quality Costs of reducing overflowing in the waste water treatment system Replacing old combined sewers with new separated sewers for wastewater and storm water Measures to be implemented according to the flood strategy 2012-2014 (1-2 Me used annually) Cost 11 Me 0.2 Me 40 000 e/day 2 Me/10 000 m3 1 Me/km 4,5 Me
Act now or later? Cities have a major role in the adaptation process Land use planning in new areas Prevention is cheaper Precise cost-benefit analysis Photo: Esko Kuusinen
Natural storm water management and green factor pilot CASE KUNINKAANTAMMI
Kuninkaantammi ecological district 100 ha area in Kuninkaankolmio 5000 residents, 1000 jobs Construction work 2013-2023 Centre with colorful apartment blocks, surrounding with urban low-rise houses Urban city environment is created with network of streets, allies, market places and plazas Parking partly underground Pedestrian district Ecologically sustainable solutions
Kuninkaantammi Goals of the land use plan - Energy effiency, low-energy buildings, wood constructions - Local land mass balance - Climate change adaptation, natural storm water management, greenroofs
Detailed instructions about green infrastructure and storm water management in land use plan
ECOLOGICAL STORM WATER MANAGEMENT Retention of the water in the yards: 0,5m 3 /100m 2 impervious surface Water gardens, green roofs, ponds, brooks..
Storm water management is visible on streets and squares
Helene Schjerfbeck park -Natural storm water management cheaper than the traditional pipe work - Information for the residents
Green factor: background Urban densification is threating green areas of the city Goal of the green factor is to maintain green areas in the newly constructed lots Green areas play vital role in adaptation In addition, other ecological, social and economic benefits
Creating suitable green factor method for Helsinki in ILKKA-project Previous green factors as a base Seattle, Berlin, Toronto, Stockholm, Malmö.. Local planning processes and conditions Pilot quart in Kuninkaantammi
Green factor method Green factor illustrates the green efficiency of the lot Green elements have been scored = factor Ecological, functional, scenery, maintenance Green factor= scored green area lot area
Lähde: (Kazmierczak, A. and Carter, J. 2010)
Green factor Target and minimum levels Selection of green elements Score card
Characteristic of the area will determine the target level
Selection of the green elements
Score card
Green factor: 0,7 1.2 Lähtöaineisto
Green factor: 0,8 1.2 Lähtöaineisto
Green factor: 1,1 1.2 Lähtöaineisto
WAY FORWARD
Research and cooperation Cost-benefit analysis of adaptation measures Vulnerability assessment Adaptation roadmap Educating the officials Cooperation with companies Informing citizens
Elina Järvelä elina.k.jarvela@hel.fi 040 726 4877 www.ilmastotyokalut.fi