Topic 2 Impact of climate change on urban areas
Self-Directed Learning Activity
| Items | Items |
|---|---|
| Activity Title/Topic: | Assessment of urban climate vulnerability and identification of solutions |
| Duration of Activity: | 120 minutes |
| Learning Outcome: | At the end of this activity, you should be able to identify the main vulnerabilities of your home, your street and your city to climate and identify adaptation options that can be taken to reduce their vulnerability. |
| Materials Required: | Paper and writing material (alternatively, it can be done on a computer), access to an internet search engine (computer, smartphone, tablet, ...) |
| Aim of Activity: | Assess how the urban environment in which you live (or that is closest to you) is vulnerable to climate risks and how it can be adapted to increase its resilience to current and future climate, identifying the most advantageous and sustainable solutions. |
Step-by-step instructions:
On a sheet of paper, identify with topics which climate hazards the town where you live (or, if you live in a rural area, the nearest town) is exposed to. For example:
For example:
- Heat waves
- Cold jobs
- Heavy rainfall/flooding/flooding
- Water scarcity/drought
- Strong wind
- Sea disturbance
- Coastal flooding
- Landslides
- Forest fires
- Blizzards
Based on what you have already learned and researched about climate change in your region, mark with a symbol how climate change might increase (+), decrease (-), or not significantly (=) change these risks.
For example:
- Heat waves +
- Cold jobs –
- Heavy rainfall/flooding/flooding =
- Water scarcity/drought +
- Strong wind =
- Sea disturbance +
- Coastal flooding +
- Landslides –
- Forest fires +
- Blizzards –
Based on your memory or a brief news search for extreme events related to these risks in your region, highlight the three types of risks that could currently be most dangerous for your safety.
For example:
- Heat waves +
- Cold jobs –
- Heavy rainfall/flooding/flooding =
- Water scarcity/drought +
- Strong wind =
- Sea disturbance +
- Coastal flooding +
- Landslides –
- Forest fires +
- Blizzards –
- Thinking first about your home, identify what the potential climate impacts are, and identify solutions that can be implemented. To do this, start by creating a table with two columns. In the left-hand column, identify, in each row, the potential climate impacts. In the right column, based on your knowledge and internet research, identify possible adaptation options that prevent or minimise the respective potential impacts.
- For example:
- Now thinking about your town (or, if you live in a rural area, the nearest town), also identify what the potential climate impacts are and identify solutions that can be implemented. As in the previous step, start by creating a table with two columns. In the left-hand column, you identify, in each row, the potential impacts. In the right column, based on your knowledge and internet research, identify possible adaptation options that prevent or minimise the respective potential impacts.
- For example:
Based on the elements you have collected in the previous steps, conclude your analysis by answering the following questions:
- Taking into account the potential climate impacts that you have identified, do you consider that your home and your city are currently very vulnerable to the climate?
- And in the future, will climate change increase the vulnerability of your home and city?
- Considering the urban climate adaptation options, you have identified, which are nature-based adaptation solutions, and which are technological or infrastructural solutions?
- In your opinion, which adaptation options are more effective, more sustainable and offer more advantages?