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As climate change and other interdependent challenges are expected to become increasingly acute and unpredictable, so the need for policies and measures to reduce risks and uncertainties in order to adapt to these changes becomes more imperative. Cities can influence their adaptation, resilience, and eventually their sustainability through spatial planning with the use of more ecosystem-based planning tools, such as Green Infrastructure (GI). The present paper is an attempt to assess whether and how city strategies address the objective of an adaptation which interconnects the criteria of vulnerability, adaptability, and resilience through spatial planning. For this purpose, the paper examines the Resilience Strategies of seven European cities of the 100 Resilient Cities initiative (100RC). Based on a thematic analysis, the paper investigates whether these strategies incorporate a spatial planning approach which contributes to adaptation to climate change, focusing on GI as a spatial planning tool. The paper argues that there is room for improvement in all the examined strategies, as none of them fully incorporate the concept of GI, and, furthermore, that some critical planning principles which contribute to adaptation are missing.
Konstantina-Dimitra Salata; Athena Yiannakou. The Quest for Adaptation through Spatial Planning and Ecosystem-Based Tools in Resilience Strategies. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5548 .
AMA StyleKonstantina-Dimitra Salata, Athena Yiannakou. The Quest for Adaptation through Spatial Planning and Ecosystem-Based Tools in Resilience Strategies. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (14):5548.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKonstantina-Dimitra Salata; Athena Yiannakou. 2020. "The Quest for Adaptation through Spatial Planning and Ecosystem-Based Tools in Resilience Strategies." Sustainability 12, no. 14: 5548.
One of the problems urban areas are facing is the coupled effect of climate change and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. This article attempts to demonstrate the potential of spatial planning to reduce the UHI effect and, hence, to contribute to climate change adaptation in compact urban areas. After a brief review of the relevant literature, the article focuses on one case study within the compact urban area of the city of Thessaloniki. The geographical, socio-economic and urban form data of the study area and its subsequent vulnerability to UHI were initially assessed. Based on these features, a local spatial planning strategy is proposed, and the study proceeds to a detailed amendment of the land use plan, within part of the vulnerable zone. This takes into account the existing urban form, the lack of resources and the availability of the spatial planning tools within the Greek spatial planning system. Τhe main purpose of this article is to highlight the fact that, even in urban areas where the potential for intervention seems to be marginal, because of their existing form, the complexities of the local planning system and resource limitations, improvements to the UHI effect and adaptation to climate change can be achieved by better land use planning and urban design.
Athena Yiannakou; Konstantina-Dimitra Salata. Adaptation to Climate Change through Spatial Planning in Compact Urban Areas: A Case Study in the City of Thessaloniki. Sustainability 2017, 9, 271 .
AMA StyleAthena Yiannakou, Konstantina-Dimitra Salata. Adaptation to Climate Change through Spatial Planning in Compact Urban Areas: A Case Study in the City of Thessaloniki. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (2):271.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAthena Yiannakou; Konstantina-Dimitra Salata. 2017. "Adaptation to Climate Change through Spatial Planning in Compact Urban Areas: A Case Study in the City of Thessaloniki." Sustainability 9, no. 2: 271.