Risk Assessment
Delta Project
The delta project is considered to be very successful in reducing the vulnerability cities like Rotterdam have to water inundation. The series of sluices, storm surge barriers (Oosterscheldekering & Hartelkering), secondary dams and dikes were constructed over a period of 50 years with plans continually revised with the introduction of new innovations and technology. The works have created positive secondary affects to the social and economic development in the region, improving on wet/dry infrastructure, the creation of water basins and upgrading water management capabilities through the Haringvliet Sluice which controls the discharge of water in the Rhine and by extension controls salt intrusion and protects fresh water sources (d’Angremond, 2003).
The Maeslant barrier was built at a cost of approximately 450 million euro (Wijngaarden, 2015) and the Delta Program 2014 is a continual capital sink, however the benefits outweigh the risks as illustrated by the economic damage of the 1953 floods. The continual investment in water defenses has created opportunities to expand the City’s sustainable development providing clear benefits to agriculture, port industry and shipping (Delta Rotterdam (Online Magazine), 2013). Furthermore Rotterdam is known as Europe’s safest port and by adapting & mitigating the effects of rising sea levels it has protected is long term economic interests.
Rising sea levels will test the current water defenses and at water rises over 50 cm, the Maeslant barrier will require continual upgrades in 2070 after which it can no longer serve its original purpose of protecting the city (Rotterdam Climate Initiative, 2014). Therefore in factoring its risk to action Rotterdam has continual investment in areas of increasing economic value and population, where urban areas are protected by dykes up to 10 metres high, which are designed to withstand the 4 metre high storm surge of 1953 (Piert Dircke, 2015).
Co2 emissions
Rotterdam currently emits 28.2 tonnes of carbon per person (capita). By comparison to the cities of London at 9.6 tonnes and Shanghai at 11.7 tonnes, Rotterdam’s carbon emission levels greatly exceed the world average of approximately 4.6 tonnes per person (Jenny Soffel & Natasha Maguder (CNN), 2013). It is anticipated that current measures to reduce C02 and in adapting to renewable energy sources will generate an additional 400 million euros worth of capital investment by 2018. Their remains a long term evaluation on the merits of its climate change policy (Piert Dircke, 2015). However given that climate change is certain (Rotterdam Climate Initiative, 2013), it is also a strategy of mitigation by transitioning into a more sustainable economy.
Terraced Dykes
The Rotterdam Dyke system has been very successful in preventing water inundation from storm surges. The primary dykes which are were the original sea dykes from the 1953 floods have been upgraded and are located on low lying ground which protects residential areas like Prins Alexanderpolder from flooding.
Green Roofs
The strategy of financially supporting development of green roofs has been part of Rotterdam’s climate strategy and the program to date has created 150,000 square metres of green space. Rotterdam faces a problem with water storage and green roof’s play a role in small scale solutions to sustainable climate adaptation, further more solar panels have been integrated into some projects as both a means of electricity generation and in reducing C02, combining several climate change targets into one solution (Delta Rotterdam (Online Magazine), 2013).
Delta Project
The delta project is considered to be very successful in reducing the vulnerability cities like Rotterdam have to water inundation. The series of sluices, storm surge barriers (Oosterscheldekering & Hartelkering), secondary dams and dikes were constructed over a period of 50 years with plans continually revised with the introduction of new innovations and technology. The works have created positive secondary affects to the social and economic development in the region, improving on wet/dry infrastructure, the creation of water basins and upgrading water management capabilities through the Haringvliet Sluice which controls the discharge of water in the Rhine and by extension controls salt intrusion and protects fresh water sources (d’Angremond, 2003).
The Maeslant barrier was built at a cost of approximately 450 million euro (Wijngaarden, 2015) and the Delta Program 2014 is a continual capital sink, however the benefits outweigh the risks as illustrated by the economic damage of the 1953 floods. The continual investment in water defenses has created opportunities to expand the City’s sustainable development providing clear benefits to agriculture, port industry and shipping (Delta Rotterdam (Online Magazine), 2013). Furthermore Rotterdam is known as Europe’s safest port and by adapting & mitigating the effects of rising sea levels it has protected is long term economic interests.
Rising sea levels will test the current water defenses and at water rises over 50 cm, the Maeslant barrier will require continual upgrades in 2070 after which it can no longer serve its original purpose of protecting the city (Rotterdam Climate Initiative, 2014). Therefore in factoring its risk to action Rotterdam has continual investment in areas of increasing economic value and population, where urban areas are protected by dykes up to 10 metres high, which are designed to withstand the 4 metre high storm surge of 1953 (Piert Dircke, 2015).
Co2 emissions
Rotterdam currently emits 28.2 tonnes of carbon per person (capita). By comparison to the cities of London at 9.6 tonnes and Shanghai at 11.7 tonnes, Rotterdam’s carbon emission levels greatly exceed the world average of approximately 4.6 tonnes per person (Jenny Soffel & Natasha Maguder (CNN), 2013). It is anticipated that current measures to reduce C02 and in adapting to renewable energy sources will generate an additional 400 million euros worth of capital investment by 2018. Their remains a long term evaluation on the merits of its climate change policy (Piert Dircke, 2015). However given that climate change is certain (Rotterdam Climate Initiative, 2013), it is also a strategy of mitigation by transitioning into a more sustainable economy.
Terraced Dykes
The Rotterdam Dyke system has been very successful in preventing water inundation from storm surges. The primary dykes which are were the original sea dykes from the 1953 floods have been upgraded and are located on low lying ground which protects residential areas like Prins Alexanderpolder from flooding.
Green Roofs
The strategy of financially supporting development of green roofs has been part of Rotterdam’s climate strategy and the program to date has created 150,000 square metres of green space. Rotterdam faces a problem with water storage and green roof’s play a role in small scale solutions to sustainable climate adaptation, further more solar panels have been integrated into some projects as both a means of electricity generation and in reducing C02, combining several climate change targets into one solution (Delta Rotterdam (Online Magazine), 2013).