Planning for Climate Change - UN-Habitat

Planning for Climate Change: A Strategic, Values-based Approach
2.0 Planning for Climate Change:
A Strategic, Values-based Approach
Addressing climate change is a daunting challenge. When coupled with large vulnerable
populations, informal land and housing development, infrastructure limitations
and poverty, the challenge of responding to climate change can at first appear
overwhelming.
With so many challenges already at hand, how can urban planners be expected to also
plan for and take action on climate change? Where does climate change ‘fit’ in terms
of a city’s priorities? What sectoral plans should include and/or address climate
change? How?
2.1 THE PLANNING FRAMEWORK
This guide takes the approach that climate change planning can, and should, augment
and be integrated with existing planning and development activities across all sectors.
Climate change is simply another key piece of information that should be considered
during every planning process, to modify plans and to provide additional cost-benefit
rationale for these modifications. Many climate change planning actions are consistent
with planners’ responsibilities, including:
Minimizing and/or improving housing and land development activities that
occur in flood and slope hazard areas;
Improving infrastructure for storm water management, solid and liquid waste
management, access to safe drinking water, and the movement of goods and
people;
Protecting habitat and environmentally-sensitive areas in and around towns and
cities;
Improving emergency response capacities for disasters (particularly weather and
climate-related events);
Supporting local economic development to reduce poverty and improve quality
of life; and,
Supporting more sustainable development.
To help integrate climate change planning into current planning and urban development
initiatives, and make it easier for town planners to take action on climate change, this
A Strategic, Values-based Approach for Urban Planners
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