Being one of successful cities in the Netherlands and in the world regarding climate change adaptation and mitigation, Rotterdam City has gained achievements in handling challenges caused by climate change and sea level rise. Rotterdam’s achievements in enhancing its capability to adapt to climate change and sea level rise have brought benefits to eco-social life and great contribution to the city’s development as well as to the Netherlands’ one in long-term.
Rotterdam aimed to reach the target of becoming 100% climate-proof by 2025. Photo source: https://blueocean.net/rotterdams-climate-change-adaptation-part-2-richer-stronger-state/
Within an area of 324.1 km2[1], the second biggest city in the Netherlands, and ownership of one of the biggest ports in the world, located at the Rhine and Maas intersection delta area, 90% of its land lower than sea level, Rotterdam has considered water playing a strategic role in the city’s strategic adaptation and mitigation. The city targeted 100% climate proof by 2025 and identified it in its climate change adaptation program. Indeed, according to the aforementioned program, by 2025, measures would have to be implemented to guarantee that each specific area would less suffer from climate change’s impacts in the coming decades, and that Rotterdam’s urban plan would need to include long-term measures regarding climate change adaptation. Rotterdam targeted itself to become a flood-free city for long-term performance with high adaptability. Many dual measures have been deployed by Rotterdam, such as: underground parking lots construction functioning as 10.000 m3-water storage areas when floods occurs; water plazas[2]have been public space under normal conditions and automatically and gradually shift into rain water drainage system when heavy rains take place; garden roofs have been designed with carbon and rainwater absorption, contributing to green spaces, clean air, absorbing rainwater when it rains, and collecting rainwater for irrigation at those upper gardens[3]. Rainwater storage and drainage systems in urban areas have been upgraded to be able to handle heavy rains and floods; pavement work has been gradually replaced by vegetation level on streets and roads, particularly at vulnerable areas to floods. Port infrastructure of Rotterdam has been equipped with anti-flood measures. Storm barriers and internal dikes have been strengthened and optimized with multifunction. Shifting weak points into strong points, such as: at low urban areas, the city has managed to build up capable facilities to absorb, store, and coordinate rainwater distribution, vegetations has contributed to connection with the natural ecosystem, biodiversity protection and development, thereby to strengthening air quality, green environment, and urban life quality. All those measures have made a new appearance effectively adapting and mitigating climate change, and serving residential life in present and in future.
Solar-powered floating pavilion in Rotterdam. Photo source: https://inhabitat.com/rotterdams-floating-pavilion-is-an-experimental-climate-proof-development/
The aforementioned experiences of Rotterdam in climate change adaptation during current decades reveal that:
- i) Successful projects required big investment regarding resources and basic and available infrastructure (canals, lakes, bridges, roads, drainage system, etc.). Calling for investment, implementation, and effective management of those resources has been guaranteed when it has tied cooperation and participation of government, inhabitants, and enterprises.
- ii) Awareness of departments, units, and stakeholders with regard to climate change adaptation and mitigation, construction and development of the city in long-term pursuing green and sustainable targets. In 2008, Rotterdam Council approved Rotterdam’s anti-climate-change Program, which consisted of 03 main contents: acknowledgement development, climate change adaptation measures implementation, Rotterdam advertisement – creative plain city to international community[4]. If climate change was measured at a basic, it would make city strong, prosperous, and livable, contributing to the nation’s common development.
iii) Participation in international community’s events for studying, interaction, and experience sharing, connecting and approaching resources (including experts, finance, technique, etc.). Besides collaborative activities with domestic neighbors, Rotterdam has worked with cities in Europe (Local governments for sustainability, European Forum on climate change adaptation), being member of Leadership group on cities’ climate – C40[5].
Benthemplein Water Square in Rotterdam. Photo source: https://www.architectural-review.com/buildings/water-square-in-rotterdam-the-netherlands-by-de-urbanisten
As the third biggest city located near the sea and having a long coastline, the second biggest port in Vietnam, Hai Phong City has been aware of challenges born by climate change, sea level rise to the city’s eco-social development and residential life in the city. According to the Political report of the XIII Congress, 12 guidance notes, in which the 6th guidance note was about environment protection and climate change adaptation, were identified for the country’s development in the period of 2021 – 2030. Currently, due to climate change, natural disasters seem to be unpredictable that might impact planning climate change adaptation actions. Besides, natural ecosystem has been suffering side effects of urban expansion and environmental pollution. Challenges such as temporary flooding when heavy rains occur, or requirements related to waste and waste water management that the city is facing. Despite the fact that economic development goes with urbanization, greenhouse emission has been caused by economic activities and transportation. To add, high-quality human sources have yet not met climate change requirements at sub-localities. Activeness and enhancement in international cooperation measures to adapt to climate change is still modest and has not yet optimized the call for financial resources from private and foreign sector. Approaching new models has not yet been flexible for finance assistance, technology transformation from developed countries. Experiences gained by Rotterdam regarding climate change adaptation might be suggestive to consider and search for further applications at Hai Phong City./.
[1]https://en.rotterdam.info/areas-rotterdam/
[2]https://www.waterworld.com/international/desalination/article/16201946/rotterdam-the-water-city-of-the-future
[3]https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/may/11/water-rotterdam-climate-proof