Sustainable Waterfront Adaptation to Climate Change Workshop
The U21 Water Futures for Sustainable Cities held a project development workshop for its Theme 5, Sustainable Waterfront Adaptation to Climate Change programme, in Rotterdam from 12 to 13 January. Our approach was to recognise that port cities can increase their adaptability and resilience to climate change while also increasing quality of life for their residents.
We brought together key researchers in the fields of urban drainage systems, civil engineering and waterfront/ coastal systems, urban water plan strategies, governance, biodiversity, urban ecology, sediment transport, dredging practices, strong surges and tsunami models, wave energy modelling, design for public space and quality of life, river and marine ecology, and insurance/ economic development and climate change. These researchers were complemented by representatives from port authorities and port cities.
The workshop outputs were:
- a draft Position Paper describing a U21 – led team, its expertise, current best practice and the priority research questions.
- definition of fundable questions around this waterfronts theme. Who are the funders? Who is the audience for the research?
- a list of sub groups (of researchers) and components of the research theme.
- identification of industry and commercial interest groups.
- a list of ports (shipping and air) and their problems and location for development as case studies. Who is adapting already? What can we learn?
The workshop group have pledged to:
- finish the position paper and case studies by late may 2010 and then to use this information to apply for funding for the component research projects and
- to publicise our team and expertise at several international conferences in 2010.
For further information contact WFSC Programme Manager Graham Steed
www.universitas21.com/water.html
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