Egypt’s international climate talks known as COP27 are in their second week. Thursday is Solutions Day at the summit. Recognizing that urban planning is now a line of response to climate change, discussions will focus on sustainable cities and transportation, green buildings and sustainable infrastructure.
The COP26 Glasgow Pact expects countries to update planning at all levels of government to take into account climate change and adaptations. Urban planning is also included in the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The Australian Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements similarly reinforces the urgency of planning for climate change. Its report recommends making it mandatory for land use planning decisions to consider natural disaster risks.
Australian communities have been through a series of disasters. We have had severe droughts, forest fires and now hurricanes and floods. Some towns were repeatedly evacuated.
Read more: Beyond the sandbagging situation: what can we learn from all the floods, here and abroad?
Land use planning needs to be reformed to respond to the changing climate. This means working with nature, involving communities and, importantly, including the tools needed to plan for risk and uncertainty. Examples include scenario planning, carbon assessment of developments, water-sensitive city design and factoring the latest climate science into everyday land use decisions.
We cannot avoid the issue of resettlement
Climate-driven resettlement, in my view, will be one of the most important societal challenges of this century. The IPCC estimates that “3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in contexts that are highly vulnerable to climate change. […] Unsustainable development patterns are increasing the exposure of ecosystems and people to climate risks”.
The costs are staggering. The OECD estimates, for example, that in the last two decades alone, the cost of hurricanes has reached US$1.4 trillion worldwide.
In my review of recent climate-induced resettlement around the world, two important lessons are:
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it must actively participate in the community
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it takes time.
The relocation of houses in Grantham, Queensland, is a positive example of resettlement. Repeated flooding in eastern Australia – and the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 – show why a national conversation with urban and regional communities on this challenging issue needs to start immediately.
Dave Hunt/AAP
Read more: It’s time to clean up Lismore’s future. People and businesses must move away from the flood
What are the key actions for planning?
Based in part on interviews with urban leaders around the world for my new book, Urban Planning for Climate Change, I put forward ten key actions. Particularly relevant to Australia are the following actions:
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map climate risks and overlay it on existing and future urban zones to identify “hot spots” – then share the data publicly
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make it mandatory to consider natural hazards and climate risks in all land use planning decisions for new development and redevelopment
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plan for cumulative effects of climate change in communities and their consequences – this includes planning for the resettlement of those at risk
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provide an inclusive platform for community conversations about carbon-neutral development and adaptation options – such as climate-resilient housing and smart local renewable energy hubs – with up-to-date, accessible information on predicted climate risks to communities and industries can make smart decisions
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invest in strategic planning which combines action on carbon-neutral development and climate adaptation. Do not build a house on land that is prone to flooding or areas that are at high risk of fire.
Read more: ‘Building too close to water. Ridiculous!’ Talking about purchases after the flood shows should be serious about climate adaptation
The result should be that policymakers and the public have a clear understanding of where the risks are, where to build, where not to build, and the various options in between.
For example, not building along the coast does not mean quarantining that land. This means allowing activities, such as recreation, to withstand increased coastal flooding, as well as coastal-dependent uses such as fishing and coastal landscapes designed to absorb storm surges.
Read more: Floods are natural, but human decisions can cause disasters. We need to reflect on the endless cycles of guilt
What are the next steps for Australia?
Architects, engineers, planners and builders around the world are working with communities to make development more sustainable. They need support from all levels of government.
To better plan for climate change, we in Australia can take some key steps:
1. Update the 2011 National Urban Policy
The new national policy should incorporate the latest climate science, national emission targets, energy policies and adaptation plans. This will help ensure that new development, redevelopment and critical infrastructure are designed and built to be carbon-neutral and adapt to a changing climate.
2. Audit planning at all levels to ensure it takes into account climate change
The federal government should host a meeting of state and territory planning and infrastructure ministers as soon as possible after COP27. Climate change should be a mandatory consideration in all future land use planning. Ministers should commission an audit of all planning laws and major city center and regional plans to ensure this happens.
Engagement with the wider industry is essential to ensure effective implementation. Partnering with demonstration projects that demonstrate affordable, climate-resilient urban development will help foster the development of leading practice. Examples range from affordable housing retrofitting with renewable energy solutions to recycled building materials and heat-reducing landscaping.
Expanding this approach to entire neighborhoods and suburbs is the next step.
3. Regional involvement
The federal government must continue its positive first steps on climate change with our regional neighbors, including Indonesia, New Zealand and Pacific Island countries. This long-term work should include support for the development of climate-resilient towns and cities, as well as for resettlement.
We can learn from each other on this challenging path, which will connect us more than ever as a region.
Read more: NZ’s first climate adaptation plan is a good start, but key questions about cost and timing need to be answered
4. Ensure that all levels of government collaborate on strategic funding
Funding is needed to develop climate resilience plans for communities across Australia. This will help minimize future impacts and ensure we build better now and for future generations.
Most of the developments approved today will still be here in 2050. This means that these developments must be causing climate change today.
We now have a national government that is determined to act on climate change, thank you. A lot is being done in renewable energy and electrification of the transport system. It is time to turn our attention to making our built environment more climate resilient.
