Urban ecosystem-based adaptation: lessons from Urban ecosystem-based adaptation: lessons from the land of drought, fire and flooding rainsthe land of drought, fire and flooding rains

Alexei TrundleAlexei Trundle

Ecosystem services in support of livable citiesEcosystem services in support of livable cities

November 2014November 2014

The short of itThe short of it

1. Melbourne’s 3 changing climates

2. Understanding the urban system: growth & efficiency

3. Beyond livable cities: desirability, equity and functionality

Q: What principles underpin the use of ecosystem services to make cities Q: What principles underpin the use of ecosystem services to make cities more livable under a changing climate? more livable under a changing climate?

Q: What principles underpin the use of ecosystem services to make cities Q: What principles underpin the use of ecosystem services to make cities more livable under a changing climate? more livable under a changing climate?

Source: Chris Hadfield - YouTubeSource: David Latimer, Dailymail.co.ukSource: Crowded House album cover, Wikipedia

Four Seasons in One DayFour Seasons in One Day

1. Melbourne’s 1. Melbourne’s ThreeThree Changing Climates Changing Climates

1. Global Climate Change1. Global Climate Change

Sources:, Melbourne Water Annual Report, 2014 State of the Climate Report; own work based on BoM data

Source: 2014 State of the Climate Report

Source: CAWCR 2011

Source: Own analysis based on BoM weather station data

MelbourneMelbourne

Mean Rainfall Change 1950-2009Mean Rainfall Change 1950-2009

MelbourneMelbourne

Mean Temperature Change 1910-2014Mean Temperature Change 1910-2014

Melbourne Average Annual Rainfall1914-2014Melbourne Average Annual Rainfall1914-2014

Melbourne Excess Heat Factor Days p.a.1856-2014Melbourne Excess Heat Factor Days p.a.1856-2014

2. Urban Climate Phenomena 2. Urban Climate Phenomena

Wind

Urban Boundary

Layer

Sources: US EPA (2009), City of Melbourne (2011), Lougnan et al. 2007, Fairfax 1999

3. Existing climate variability: temporal 3. Existing climate variability: temporal

Source: climatehistory.com.au – Federation Drought circa 1900 Source: climatehistory.com.au – Melbourne CBD 1860

Source: heraldsun.com.au – Melbourne CBD 2011Source: theage.com.au – Sugarloaf Reservoir 2009

Spatial ScaleSpatial Scale

Lougnan et al 2009

City-Wide / Metro Suburban / LGA Streetscape / Lot

City of Melbourne 2012 City of Melbourne 2012

3. Existing climate variability: spatial 3. Existing climate variability: spatial

““Increasing canopy Increasing canopy coverage is key”coverage is key”

““Increasing canopy Increasing canopy coverage is key”coverage is key”

Melbourne Water 2010

Tem

pora

l Var

iatio

nT

empo

ral V

aria

tion

Tapper et al 2009

Tapper et al 2009

““Our whole locality Our whole locality is a hotspot”is a hotspot”

““Our whole locality Our whole locality is a hotspot”is a hotspot”

““It’s an inner city It’s an inner city problem”problem”

““It’s an inner city It’s an inner city problem”problem”

Spatial VariationSpatial Variation

Balance and BoundariesBalance and Boundaries

2. Understanding the Urban System2. Understanding the Urban System

A theoretical overviewA theoretical overview

Familiarity with Extreme Heat

Multiple Thresholds: Climate ResilienceMultiple Thresholds: Climate Resilience

In theory, an efficient economy optimally produces the things people want and value. However, the paradox of optimization is that optimization is often applied too narrowly.

- Dr Brian Walker Stockholm Resilience Institute

Bushfire Risk?Bushfire Risk?

Linking Public Benefits to Public Funding Linking Public Benefits to Public Funding

GreenspacesGreenspacesGreenspacesGreenspaces Public spaces, Public spaces, mitigated flash mitigated flash

flooding, reduced flooding, reduced urban heaturban heat

Public spaces, Public spaces, mitigated flash mitigated flash

flooding, reduced flooding, reduced urban heaturban heatCool roofsCool roofsCool roofsCool roofs

Walkable 20min Walkable 20min neighbourhoods, neighbourhoods,

improved transport improved transport links, reduced open links, reduced open space CBD demandspace CBD demand

Walkable 20min Walkable 20min neighbourhoods, neighbourhoods,

improved transport improved transport links, reduced open links, reduced open space CBD demandspace CBD demand

Liveable city Liveable city objectives, urban objectives, urban climate resilience, climate resilience,

building design building design exemplars, enhanced exemplars, enhanced

biodiversitybiodiversity

Liveable city Liveable city objectives, urban objectives, urban climate resilience, climate resilience,

building design building design exemplars, enhanced exemplars, enhanced

biodiversitybiodiversity

Policy & Decision-makers: Targeting BenefitsPolicy & Decision-makers: Targeting BenefitsWhole-of-Govt.Whole-of-Govt. Health SectorHealth Sector Transport PlanningTransport Planning Urban PlanningUrban Planning

Linking benefits and costs to stakeholders and sectors is central to creating Linking benefits and costs to stakeholders and sectors is central to creating change and understanding the urban (or any other) system.change and understanding the urban (or any other) system.

Stakeholder ‘definitions’ of key concepts can have long-term and wide-Stakeholder ‘definitions’ of key concepts can have long-term and wide-reaching implications. reaching implications.

Understanding and integrating both climatic and non-climate shifts spatially Understanding and integrating both climatic and non-climate shifts spatially and dynamically is central to measuring vulnerability and risk.and dynamically is central to measuring vulnerability and risk.

Linking benefits and costs to stakeholders and sectors is central to creating Linking benefits and costs to stakeholders and sectors is central to creating change and understanding the urban (or any other) system.change and understanding the urban (or any other) system.

Stakeholder ‘definitions’ of key concepts can have long-term and wide-Stakeholder ‘definitions’ of key concepts can have long-term and wide-reaching implications. reaching implications.

Understanding and integrating both climatic and non-climate shifts spatially Understanding and integrating both climatic and non-climate shifts spatially and dynamically is central to measuring vulnerability and risk.and dynamically is central to measuring vulnerability and risk.

Sitting in a tin canSitting in a tin can

3. Beyond Livable Cities3. Beyond Livable Cities

Livable for who, where and how?Livable for who, where and how?

Images: google; youtube; flickr; wordpress

Mapping Benefits, Beneficiaries & OptionsMapping Benefits, Beneficiaries & Options

UHI Mitigation Approaches

CCAP 2012

City of Liverpool 2010

GI Implementation Benefits

UHI

UHI reduction for climate change adaptation UHI reduction for climate change adaptation through Green Infrastructurethrough Green Infrastructure

UHI reduction for climate change adaptation UHI reduction for climate change adaptation through Green Infrastructurethrough Green Infrastructure

A Public-Private Precinct PlatformA Public-Private Precinct Platform

RMIT: 6% of CBD’s GFA, more roofspace than local or state governmentRMIT: 6% of CBD’s GFA, more roofspace than local or state government

Students/staff use CBD for food services, recreational space, transport routes .. Students/staff use CBD for food services, recreational space, transport routes .. but campus can reduce heat, stormwater runoff & activate rooftopsbut campus can reduce heat, stormwater runoff & activate rooftops

RMIT: 6% of CBD’s GFA, more roofspace than local or state governmentRMIT: 6% of CBD’s GFA, more roofspace than local or state government

Students/staff use CBD for food services, recreational space, transport routes .. Students/staff use CBD for food services, recreational space, transport routes .. but campus can reduce heat, stormwater runoff & activate rooftopsbut campus can reduce heat, stormwater runoff & activate rooftops

Key PointsKey Points

Urbanisation is a dynamic process which interacts with Urbanisation is a dynamic process which interacts with climate change as well as local climatic conditions. However climate change as well as local climatic conditions. However a more fundamental function is the interaction between the a more fundamental function is the interaction between the

human behavioural and socio-cultural patterns that underpin human behavioural and socio-cultural patterns that underpin urbanisation, and the environment surrounding them. urbanisation, and the environment surrounding them.

Urbanisation is a dynamic process which interacts with Urbanisation is a dynamic process which interacts with climate change as well as local climatic conditions. However climate change as well as local climatic conditions. However a more fundamental function is the interaction between the a more fundamental function is the interaction between the

human behavioural and socio-cultural patterns that underpin human behavioural and socio-cultural patterns that underpin urbanisation, and the environment surrounding them. urbanisation, and the environment surrounding them.

Strategies to improve the urbanisation process (whether Strategies to improve the urbanisation process (whether climate threats, reducing a city’s global footprint, or climate threats, reducing a city’s global footprint, or

improving livability) require an understanding of the urban improving livability) require an understanding of the urban system’s boundaries, limits and externalities (+/-).system’s boundaries, limits and externalities (+/-).

Strategies to improve the urbanisation process (whether Strategies to improve the urbanisation process (whether climate threats, reducing a city’s global footprint, or climate threats, reducing a city’s global footprint, or

improving livability) require an understanding of the urban improving livability) require an understanding of the urban system’s boundaries, limits and externalities (+/-).system’s boundaries, limits and externalities (+/-).

‘‘Livability’ reflects the subjective values placed upon Livability’ reflects the subjective values placed upon perceptions of what an urban environment should contain, perceptions of what an urban environment should contain, as well as how it should interact with it’s inhabitants, by all as well as how it should interact with it’s inhabitants, by all

stakeholders. stakeholders.

‘‘Livability’ reflects the subjective values placed upon Livability’ reflects the subjective values placed upon perceptions of what an urban environment should contain, perceptions of what an urban environment should contain, as well as how it should interact with it’s inhabitants, by all as well as how it should interact with it’s inhabitants, by all

stakeholders. stakeholders.

ThanksThanks

alexei.trundle@rmit.edu.aualexei.trundle@rmit.edu.auRMIT Climate Change Adaptation Program, MelbourneRMIT Climate Change Adaptation Program, Melbourne