Land MDPI’s Post

To all my scientifically enthusiastic friends and of course all other interested people: An article on Local Climate Regulation in Cities by Green Infrastructure has recently been published and I am proud to have been involved as one of the authors. On the topic: Hardly a day goes by without reports on #climate #change and the associated heat stress. Especially in densely populated areas, heat records are regularly broken. The impact on people and the environment is devastating. Therefore #green #spaces such as gardens, parks, forests and water bodies can have the potential to enhance the quality of life for local residents in these areas and promote human wellbeing. Green spaces #mitigate #heat #stress and the urban heat island effect to create a balanced local climate. The article describes the development of a national indicator for specific #measurement and #monitoring of the #ecosystem #service of “urban climate regulation” provided by urban green infrastructure. The #indicator not only measures the supply of climate-regulating services by urban green spaces but also the demand for this service from the residential population, as supply and demand not necessarily match. For detailed insights have a look at the article at Land MDPI #MDPIOpenAccess Thank you Leibniz-Institut für ökologische Raumentwicklung e. V. (IÖR) for your great support on my master thesis and the Co-authorship which I do not take for granted. Authors: Ralf-Uwe Syrbe Sophie Meier Claudia Dworczyk and Karsten Grunewald.

⌛Building for longevity means accounting for climate changes. To ensure success, development projects must secure necessary functions and reduce risk. https://lnkd.in/eBeyHKCr   According to Sweco's Erle Kristvik, finding the balance between resilience and sustainability is crucial. Previously, grey infrastructure was the go-to for reducing disaster risk, but it's not always the most effective or eco-friendly option. Sweco is prioritizing sustainability and urban resilience through projects analysing climate adaptation measures, biodiversity, and recreation. Kristvik stresses the importance of blue-green infrastructure and multi-use of green spaces taking into account, climate adaptation measures, biodiversity, and recreation to increase urban resilience.   “The challenge is related to how we perceive risk. There are many examples of high-risk perception leading to very technically robust measures, such as large-scale, grey infrastructure that are not necessarily the most sustainable ones”. #UrbanInsight #Resilience #SwecoGroup #ClimateChange

Published July 23, 2023 in the journal, Nature Climate Change, the analysis of 54 cities in the EU shows the ways cities can organize and direct implementation of a wide range of NBS solutions such as parks, streets, urban forests, green roofs, and other green infrastructure to not only capture carbon emissions, but help reduce them. The key is that they are cumulatively and urgently important. It is seriously time to advocate for re-organization of local governments to put all aspects of the urban environment into one department of urban ecology that can direct and support all the others to capture and reduce carbon emissions, making cities happier and healthier places for everyone. Compartmentalizing local government functions such as parks, streets, planning, development, engineering (sewer, water, lighting) is anachronistic. #SDG2030 #GRINBC https://lnkd.in/gZ8rXvnu

“There’s a lot of wisdom in those spaces, there’s a lot of wisdom that comes from Indigenous ways of knowing and being.” Please read my article for the very cool people at Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions @PICSCanada about this research project studying climate resilience in rural, remote and Indigenous communities in B.C. by working with those communities on long-term, sustainable solutions. #climatechange #climateresilience #research #freelancewriter #freelanceeditor #openforwork #openfornewopportunities

This paper presents an overview of research into climate-responsive building adaptation, identifying various factors determining a building’s ability to regulate external climatic conditions in providing a habitable indoor environment. #frontiers #builtenvironment #climatechange #indoorenvironment #buildingadaptation

I’ll add to Angela’s post - Washington has lost an enormous amount of productive farmland to sprawl and poor planning. In rural Eastern WA, sprawl is eating farms and habitat McMansions along the Columbia are replacing orchards, and wheat fields. If poorly managed the proximity of those houses (and their lawns and septic systems) could further degrade water quality. Sprawl in these areas also increases potential human and property loss to wildfires. #climatechange #growthmanagementact

🌍 Happy Earth Day! 🌿 Earth Day marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement in the United States; the first Earth Day in 1970 was followed by the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other landmark environmental legislation as well as the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). On Earth Day 2016, the Paris Agreement was signed by over 120 countries. Earth Day reminds us of the significant strides we have taken on environmental action - and the work that lies ahead. At Rhie Planning, we are at the forefront of working with cities and communities to become more sustainable, resilient, and equitable. Here are a few recent projects that we've been working on. - NY-NJ Metro Area Priority Climate Action Plan - Southeast Michigan Climate Action Plan - Climate Resilience Nexus 2024 Outcomes Report - EJNYC Report and Mapping tool This Earth Day, let's acknowledge the pivotal role that cities and urban planning play in environmental action. Our commitment at Rhie Planning is stronger than ever as we continue to innovate and implement solutions that pave the way for a sustainable, resilient, and equitable future. 🌎✨ #EarthDay #UrbanPlanning #SustainableCities #ClimateAction #ClimateResilience #EnvironmentalJustice #CommunityEngagement

"Climate change is transforming the way we design and build our cities!" I just read a fascinating article on how urban planning can help adapt cities to extreme heat waves, a growing concern in our changing climate. The article highlights innovative solutions like green spaces, cool roofs, and smart urban design. But it also emphasizes the need for collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and urban planners to create resilient cities. My thoughts: We can't afford to wait until it's too late. Let's work together to build sustainable, climate-resilient cities that prioritize both people and the planet. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g7espeYJ Any thoughts on this?? #climatechange #urbanplanning #sustainability"

Cities and Climate people – What makes a climate action get approved by City Council? My first big learning from the R and D interviews for Urban Climate Leadership is that when #municipal #practitioners present an action to their Mayors and Council that will reduce green-house gas emissions, they experience a knowledge gap.   We know that over 90% of residents of most of our major cities want action on #climate but many residents and elected officials don’t make the connection between land use planning, parking, heat pumps, waste or building demolition and climate change. Many specific initiatives designed to reduce climate impacts get voted down.   Some of you might say, it isn’t a knowledge gap – when faced with choices that impact the convenience of our lives, we don’t prioritize climate action. I think that may be true but I also think it is true that most residents and some of our elected officials don’t see the link. There is an educational gap.   So what climate actions have you helped bring forward to council that have not gone through? What actions have? What did you think made the difference? Federation of Canadian Municipalities Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) Green Municipal Fund Renewable Cities ICLEI C40 Cities Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement Canadian Urban Institute (CUI)

Climate Change and Urban Resilience: Are We Prepared and how can smart buildings help us adapt to the changing climate? You can learn more about the role of smart buildings in creating a resilient built environment in our newly published article with Ahmed Khoja on this topic! UIRECA - Urban Institute for Regenerative Environments and Climate Adaptation EU Business School Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences #resilience #climateadaptation #smartreadinessindicators #smartbuildings