Paving the Way for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure - UN CC:Learn

Chapter 6: Internalization of Climate Risks in the Context of Planning and Urban DevelopmentPART IIFinal thoughtsThe following is a summary of the key points addressed in this chapter:Climate change should be seen as a development problem, so that adaptation is integrated into thedaily development process.Adaptation to climate change is a learning process that should be based on complementaryknowledge (i.e. the integration of scientific knowledge with public sector knowledge and private andcivic sector knowledge).Infrastructure and urban areas built today will operate under different climate conditions in the comingdecades. New infrastructure design and investment need to prepare for these new climate conditions.An integrated and multidimensional vision of climate change is fundamental to addressing thecumulative effects of climate change impacts and associated problems. A holistic, multidimensionalview provides alternative ways of defining problems and possible solutions.Approaches to managing risk, vulnerability and adapting to climate change should be complementary;vulnerability, adaptation, livelihoods and development should all be considered simultaneously.Given the importance of informal urban growth, a balance between structure (top-down actions)and agency (bottom-up actions) is necessary to address climate change problems.Institutions play a crucial role in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of climatechange adaptation.Multidimensional and integrated perspectives of climatic hazards and the role of infrastructurein their solution can provide more efficient and cost-effective approaches with short and longtermbenefits. The Mexico City case study and the suggestions for San Salvador illustrate theimportance of opening up debate on the future of these cities in the context of climate change. Theyemphasize the need to make critical decisions in the short-term in order to secure sustainability anddevelopment in the long-term.TechnicalPresentation 1What a Country ShouldThink About andThen Do to AddressClimate Change andInfrastructure RisksTechnicalPresentation 2Internalization ofClimate Risks in theContext of Planningand Urban DevelopmentTechnicalPresentation 3A Framework forRisk Assessmentand Risk-InformedDecision-Making forInfrastructureDevelopmentTechnicalPresentation 4Probabilistic RiskModeling: BasicPrinciples andApplicationsTechnicalPresentation 5An Economic Frameworkfor Evaluating ClimateProofing Investmentson InfrastructureTechnicalPresentation 6Supporting ElSalvador to ReduceInfrastructure Riskswithin a Green, Low-Emission and Climate-Resilient Frameworkfor DevelopmentPaving the Way for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Conference Proceedings 79