Climate change and adaptation of cities

Recommended Prerequisites

Knowledge of Statistics and Risk Analysis.

Teaching Methods

Presentation of the theoretical concepts and methods of analysis during, Tutorial classes for presentation of exercices and  autonomous resolution by students. Development of monography for oral presentation by students.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of the course, the student shall be able to understand the concepts of climate change, climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience. Moreover, the student shall be able to collect and use climate data available in current online platforms (e.g. the Copernicus Climate Data Store), assess local climate vulnerabilities and discuss climate change projections and scenarios for the future. In addition, the student shall be able to explain how urban areas are effected and contribute to climate change, to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in urban areas, and to design climate action plans for achieving an urban climate resilient development.  

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Module A - Characterization of climate change at the city level

- Types of climate data

- Climate databases and exploitation of data

- General Circulation models(GCM)

- Dynamical downscaling

- Regional climate models (RCM)

- Methods for bias correction of data

- Unceratinty analysis and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP)

Module B - Assessment of the impacts of climate change

- Climate change effects on cities

- Identification of key urban infrastructures

- Impact assessment of key performance indicators

- Vulnerability analysis of buildings and infrastructures

- Mitigation strategies

Module C - Adaptation and resilience

- Development of city adaptation plans, policies, and actions

- Planning and prioritization of adaptive strategies

- Measures to improve urban resilience.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 40.0%
Exam: 60.0%

Bibliography

UN-Habitat (2014). Planning for Climate Change

UN-Habitat (2012). Going Green: A Handbook of Sustainable Housing Practices in Developing Countries

UN-Habitat (2011). Cities and Climate Change: Global Report on Human Settlements 2011.

A guide to climate change adaptation in cities. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank, 2011.