Page 4 - Towards a Policy for Climate Resilient Infrastructure and Services in Coastal Cities
P. 4
Policy Brief
considerations of vulnerable areas (with respect to impact of could provide inputs on exact locations that are flood prone within
SLR and storm surges) can be treated as an important entry the city to base decisions on new development and selection of
point for adaptation planning at the time of land use planning and design features for future infrastructure development.
formulation of master and regional plans (Box 1). Similarly, for
the water supply sector, since in case of heavy floods, the supply The impacts of climate change on the waste management
lines in the vulnerable locations would shut down, taking pro- sector may include increased damage to equipment; increased
active measures such as preparing an emergency supply plan disruption to transport infrastructure due to flooding and hence
would be a useful step. Such a plan would demarcate network delivery of waste; increased island degradation from odour, vermin,
routes as well as inform of the alternate modes of supply until dust and litter; disruption of collection rounds on the coast.5
the water supply is restored in the affected zones. Any future planning and investment effort towards establishing
disposal and treatment plants in the city must take into account
Most of the structural measures can be implemented as part the basic site features such as elevation with respect to Mean
of the infrastructure projects that are designed within the City Sea Level (MSL); local topography and drainage flow pattern in
Development Plans (CDPs) and subsequent project planning that site. Similarly, in case of sewerage management, the threat
through Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) that are formulated levels vary and may have different impact at different locations
and submitted to the higher governments (state or national) for depending upon the distance of the drains from the sea, as well as
financial support and investments. the elevation of the outfall of the drains into the sea, or hierarchy
of the drains and the volume of sewerage that they carry. Besides
The considerations for infrastructure resilience have to be this some of the treatment plants and the pumping stations may
inbuilt into the DPR level. In order to do so, the detailed project also fall under the vulnerable zone. Possible back flows from the
level technical details should be known and decided; which might sea could cause failure of the treatment plant due to reduced
require expert reviews and advise. The city could use the pool of ability of discharge outflow. In such scenarios, measures such as
local knowledge and expertise available within the state for this higher vertical elevation of the outfall channel with respect to the
purpose to start with. high tide level might prove relevant.
Besides this, for large infrastructure such as ports, production It is also important that the impact of SLR is studied using
facilities, transport systems, etc., both external as well as internal a downscaling approach, which takes into account the regional
funding resources would have to be tapped. Long-term financial estimates rather than coarser global estimates. Once the detailed
planning would facilitate applications for external funds to assist climatological studies are conducted at a regional scale, and
with adaptation costs. For example, the City Development results from flood modelling, storm surge analysis, and other
Initiative of Asia (CDIA), an ADB-GIZ supported initiative, climate parameters—rainfall and temperature are known,
provides for funding support on the basis of feasibility analysis detailed sector-specific impact assessments should be carried
of infrastructure in cities in Asia. The city must identify old and out to identify micro level design interventions for infrastructure
aging infrastructure so that no further investment is incurred on assets in order to make them resilient. In addition to this, building
these and the same is invested towards new infrastructure that different scenarios such as worst case, medium case, etc., could
has inbuilt climate resilience features.
Box 2 Adaptation measures for electricity sector
Box 1
Some of the impacts on the electricity sector would include, flooding of
In 2013, the State of Victoria released the first comprehensive Climate Change power substations in extreme rainfall and storm surge events; wind damage
Adaptation Plan. Besides focusing on managing climate risks to its natural assets, to transmission poles; eventually leading to increase in cost of power and
it also includes strategies for adapting essential infrastructure and services such infrastructure maintenance Moreover, since many facilities importing or
as waterways, transport systems, healthcare, and emergency response systems. exporting coal, gas, and oil are located in coastal regions, any resulting damage
For instance, through its Transport Resilience and Climatic Extremes programme from sea level rise and storm surges can potentially lead to risk of energy supply
(TRACE), the Department of Transport is proactively updating its risk management, disruptions due to increase in shut-down periods (There are several adaptation
staff training, and infrastructure planning programmes to address the risks posed measures known as ‘hardening measures’ that target to protect the basic
by climate change. infrastructural equipment from weather-related damage. These include:
Source: http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006 • Elevating or relocating important electrical equipment along the coasts, to
/158640/4493_DSE_Climate_Change_Adaptation_Plan_WEB.pdf protect it from flooding
Use of technical assessments for decision on • Burying transmission and distribution lines underground where feasible
infrastructure design and locations
• Reinforcing overhead poles with sturdier materials, to reduce damage during
It is recommended that SLR analysis is combined with storm surge storms
analysis, flood modelling, and precipitation forecasting for not only
making a holistic assessment of likely impacts but also to reduce the Source:
uncertainty of the results (Box 2). Such kinds of assessments are
also useful for policy making and decision making for development 1 http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/
planning. For instance, detailed flood modelling exercise for cities 73242/ ClimateChangeandInfrastructureSummary.pdf
2 http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/energy.html
4 JUNE 2015
considerations of vulnerable areas (with respect to impact of could provide inputs on exact locations that are flood prone within
SLR and storm surges) can be treated as an important entry the city to base decisions on new development and selection of
point for adaptation planning at the time of land use planning and design features for future infrastructure development.
formulation of master and regional plans (Box 1). Similarly, for
the water supply sector, since in case of heavy floods, the supply The impacts of climate change on the waste management
lines in the vulnerable locations would shut down, taking pro- sector may include increased damage to equipment; increased
active measures such as preparing an emergency supply plan disruption to transport infrastructure due to flooding and hence
would be a useful step. Such a plan would demarcate network delivery of waste; increased island degradation from odour, vermin,
routes as well as inform of the alternate modes of supply until dust and litter; disruption of collection rounds on the coast.5
the water supply is restored in the affected zones. Any future planning and investment effort towards establishing
disposal and treatment plants in the city must take into account
Most of the structural measures can be implemented as part the basic site features such as elevation with respect to Mean
of the infrastructure projects that are designed within the City Sea Level (MSL); local topography and drainage flow pattern in
Development Plans (CDPs) and subsequent project planning that site. Similarly, in case of sewerage management, the threat
through Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) that are formulated levels vary and may have different impact at different locations
and submitted to the higher governments (state or national) for depending upon the distance of the drains from the sea, as well as
financial support and investments. the elevation of the outfall of the drains into the sea, or hierarchy
of the drains and the volume of sewerage that they carry. Besides
The considerations for infrastructure resilience have to be this some of the treatment plants and the pumping stations may
inbuilt into the DPR level. In order to do so, the detailed project also fall under the vulnerable zone. Possible back flows from the
level technical details should be known and decided; which might sea could cause failure of the treatment plant due to reduced
require expert reviews and advise. The city could use the pool of ability of discharge outflow. In such scenarios, measures such as
local knowledge and expertise available within the state for this higher vertical elevation of the outfall channel with respect to the
purpose to start with. high tide level might prove relevant.
Besides this, for large infrastructure such as ports, production It is also important that the impact of SLR is studied using
facilities, transport systems, etc., both external as well as internal a downscaling approach, which takes into account the regional
funding resources would have to be tapped. Long-term financial estimates rather than coarser global estimates. Once the detailed
planning would facilitate applications for external funds to assist climatological studies are conducted at a regional scale, and
with adaptation costs. For example, the City Development results from flood modelling, storm surge analysis, and other
Initiative of Asia (CDIA), an ADB-GIZ supported initiative, climate parameters—rainfall and temperature are known,
provides for funding support on the basis of feasibility analysis detailed sector-specific impact assessments should be carried
of infrastructure in cities in Asia. The city must identify old and out to identify micro level design interventions for infrastructure
aging infrastructure so that no further investment is incurred on assets in order to make them resilient. In addition to this, building
these and the same is invested towards new infrastructure that different scenarios such as worst case, medium case, etc., could
has inbuilt climate resilience features.
Box 2 Adaptation measures for electricity sector
Box 1
Some of the impacts on the electricity sector would include, flooding of
In 2013, the State of Victoria released the first comprehensive Climate Change power substations in extreme rainfall and storm surge events; wind damage
Adaptation Plan. Besides focusing on managing climate risks to its natural assets, to transmission poles; eventually leading to increase in cost of power and
it also includes strategies for adapting essential infrastructure and services such infrastructure maintenance Moreover, since many facilities importing or
as waterways, transport systems, healthcare, and emergency response systems. exporting coal, gas, and oil are located in coastal regions, any resulting damage
For instance, through its Transport Resilience and Climatic Extremes programme from sea level rise and storm surges can potentially lead to risk of energy supply
(TRACE), the Department of Transport is proactively updating its risk management, disruptions due to increase in shut-down periods (There are several adaptation
staff training, and infrastructure planning programmes to address the risks posed measures known as ‘hardening measures’ that target to protect the basic
by climate change. infrastructural equipment from weather-related damage. These include:
Source: http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006 • Elevating or relocating important electrical equipment along the coasts, to
/158640/4493_DSE_Climate_Change_Adaptation_Plan_WEB.pdf protect it from flooding
Use of technical assessments for decision on • Burying transmission and distribution lines underground where feasible
infrastructure design and locations
• Reinforcing overhead poles with sturdier materials, to reduce damage during
It is recommended that SLR analysis is combined with storm surge storms
analysis, flood modelling, and precipitation forecasting for not only
making a holistic assessment of likely impacts but also to reduce the Source:
uncertainty of the results (Box 2). Such kinds of assessments are
also useful for policy making and decision making for development 1 http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/
planning. For instance, detailed flood modelling exercise for cities 73242/ ClimateChangeandInfrastructureSummary.pdf
2 http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/energy.html
4 JUNE 2015
