Summary of the Global Issue
The City of Rotterdam is an major economical centre, it is one of Netherlands most important cities and Europe’s largest cargo port, attributed to its position at delta of the rivers Meuse, Rhine and Scheldt . As a global city vulnerable to water flooding from sea, sky, river and ground water (Rotterdam Climate Initiative, 2014); Rotterdam has an advanced program of preventative strategies to water inundation and is a global leader in water/flood management and mitigation.
Through its integration of local & regional government, the city’s water boards (amongst its oldest institutions), the port authority and consultancy, Rotterdam has a vision for adapting to climate change known as the Rotterdam Climate Initiative established in 2010, together with other programs (Rotterdam Climate Roof 2008) (Maria Gallucci, 2013), with a focus to ‘connecting water and adaptation with opportunities’. The focus of its efforts are to deal with climate change (water inundation) both in an adaptive manner through the design of preventative measures; dykes, sea barriers, water plazas, blue squares, green roofs, underground water storage facilities & adaptive floating buildings (Lisa, 2013) and in mitigation by enforcing a targeted reduction its carbon emissions to 50% of its 1990’s levels by 2025 (RotterdamWorldPortCity, 2009) and in the spatial planning of public spaces with secondary functions as water prevention (dykes).
Rotterdam has also committed itself into networking with other world cities vulnerable to rising sea levels and to exporting its knowledge in water expertise through the C40 Affiliate Cities and Connecting Delta Cities network (Rotterdam Climate Initiative, 2014) and was awarded at the Shanghai World Expo in 2014. Its commitment extends both to consultation for other metropolitan councils about adaptation to climate change and in educating its own citizens to the mitigating the effects of rising sea levels.
The City of Rotterdam is an major economical centre, it is one of Netherlands most important cities and Europe’s largest cargo port, attributed to its position at delta of the rivers Meuse, Rhine and Scheldt . As a global city vulnerable to water flooding from sea, sky, river and ground water (Rotterdam Climate Initiative, 2014); Rotterdam has an advanced program of preventative strategies to water inundation and is a global leader in water/flood management and mitigation.
Through its integration of local & regional government, the city’s water boards (amongst its oldest institutions), the port authority and consultancy, Rotterdam has a vision for adapting to climate change known as the Rotterdam Climate Initiative established in 2010, together with other programs (Rotterdam Climate Roof 2008) (Maria Gallucci, 2013), with a focus to ‘connecting water and adaptation with opportunities’. The focus of its efforts are to deal with climate change (water inundation) both in an adaptive manner through the design of preventative measures; dykes, sea barriers, water plazas, blue squares, green roofs, underground water storage facilities & adaptive floating buildings (Lisa, 2013) and in mitigation by enforcing a targeted reduction its carbon emissions to 50% of its 1990’s levels by 2025 (RotterdamWorldPortCity, 2009) and in the spatial planning of public spaces with secondary functions as water prevention (dykes).
Rotterdam has also committed itself into networking with other world cities vulnerable to rising sea levels and to exporting its knowledge in water expertise through the C40 Affiliate Cities and Connecting Delta Cities network (Rotterdam Climate Initiative, 2014) and was awarded at the Shanghai World Expo in 2014. Its commitment extends both to consultation for other metropolitan councils about adaptation to climate change and in educating its own citizens to the mitigating the effects of rising sea levels.
References:
Arnoud Molenaar, J. A. (2014). Book III 'Resilient Cities and Climate Adaptation Strategies' (2014). Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initiative- Knowledge Publications: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/documents/Documenten/CDC_volume_3_Resilient_Cities_and_Climate_Adaptation_Strategies.pdf
Boer, F. (2015). Watersquares: The elegant way of buffering rainwater in cities, How Rotterdam is designing for future floods. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Waterleinen.com, makewealthhistory.org: http://www.waterpleinen.com/Watersquares.pdf, http://makewealthhistory.org/2012/05/18/building-of-the-week-rotterdams-water-plaza/
Braw, E. (2013, November 19). Rotterdam: designing a flood-proof city to withstand climate change . Retrieved August 10, 2015, from The Guardian-Sustainable Business: http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rotterdam-flood-proof-climate-change
Buczynski, B. (2012, November 18). Could Giant Rotterdam-Style Floodgates Protect Lower Manhattan From Flooding in Future Superstorms? Retrieved August 10, 2015, from inhabitat: http://inhabitat.com/nyc/could-building-sized-floodgates-protect-lower-manhattan-from-future-superstorms/
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. (2015, March 9). Delta C40 Cities Network- Connecting Cities. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam to launch the world’s first water-filled Rain(a)way tile: http://www.deltacities.com/newsletter/rotterdam-to-launch-the-worlds-first-water-filled-rain%28a%29way-tile?news_id=74
City of Rottderdams Regional Steering Committee. (2009). The City of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from OECD: http://www.oecd.org/edu/skills-beyond-school/44148367.pdf
City of Sydney Council. (2015). Sustainable Sydney 2030, Towards 2030, Better Infrastructure, Major Developments, City Transformation, http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/major-developments, . Retrieved August 10, 2015, from City of Sydney: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/sustainable-sydney-2030, http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/towards-2030, http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/better-infrastructure, http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/city-transformation
CityofRotterdam. (2012). Facts and Figures: Rotterdam 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam.nl: http://www.rotterdam.nl/Stadsontwikkeling/Document/Economie%20en%20Arbeidsmarkt/FactsandFigures%20Rotterdam%20Engels%202012.pdf
ClimateCommission. (2015). Images and infographics : The Critical Decade: Extreme Weather . Retrieved August 10, 2015, from ClimateCommission: http://climatecommission.angrygoats.net/resources/images/extreme-weather/
Creative Commons License. (2015). Satellite image of Europoort Netherlands. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Wikipedia: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Satellite_image_of_Europoort%2C_Netherlands_%284.25E_51.90N%29.png
d’Angremond, K. (2003, March). From Disaster to Delta Project: The Storm Flood of 1953. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from iadc-dredging: Terra et Aqua – Number 90 – March 2003: https://www.iadc-dredging.com/ul/cms/terraetaqua/document/1/2/4/124/124/1/terra-et-aqua-nr90-01.pdf
Delta C40 Cities Network- Connecting Cities. (2014). Rotterdam and climate change. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from DeltaCities: http://www.deltacities.com/cities/rotterdam/description
Delta Rotterdam (Online Magazine). (2013). Delta Rotterdam: Connecting Water with Opportunities. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Delta Cities: http://www.deltacities.com/documents/CDC_DeltaCity.pdf
DeltaCities. (2015). Rotterdam Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, Publications. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Delta Cities: http://www.deltacities.com/cities/rotterdam/climate-change-adaptation, http://www.deltacities.com/cities/rotterdam/main-publications
Deltawerken. (2015). Maeslant barrier. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Deltawerken online: http://www.deltawerken.com/Maeslant-barrier/330.html
Edvard Glucksman, E. a. (2014, May 28). Climate-proofing the Netherlands. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Blogs.egu.eu: http://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2014/05/28/climate-proofing-the-netherlands/
IndexMundi. (2014). Netherlands: Demographics Profile 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Index Mundi: http://www.indexmundi.com/netherlands/demographics_profile.html
Jenny Soffel & Natasha Maguder (CNN). (2013, August 26). Can Rotterdam become the world's most sustainable port city? Retrieved August 10, 2015, from InsideClimateNews: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/19/world/europe/can-rotterdam-become-the-sustainable/, http://insideclimatenews.org/content/can-rotterdam-become-worlds-most-sustainable-port-city
Keeton, R. (2013, January 11). Flood Prone yet Fiercely Defended, Rotterdam Takes its Methods Global. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from 100resilientcities: http://www.100resilientcities.org/blog/entry/flood-prone-yet-fiercely-defended-rotterdam-takes-its-methods-global#/-_/
Linnie Mackenzie. (2015). Rotterdam: The Water City of the Future. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Waterworld: http://www.waterworld.com/articles/wwi/print/volume-25/issue-5/editorial-focus/rainwater-harvesting/rotterdam-the-water-city-of-the-future.html
Lisa, A. (2013, June 01). Rotterdam’s Solar-Powered Floating Pavilion is an Experimental Climate-Proof Development. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Inhabitat: http://inhabitat.com/rotterdams-floating-pavilion-is-an-experimental-climate-proof-development/
Maria Gallucci. (2013, Jun 20). 6 of the World's Most Extensive Climate Adaptation Plans. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from insideclimatenews: http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20130620/6-worlds-most-extensive-climate-adaptation-plans
Marianne Schouten. (2011, May 23). Port of Rotterdam is of pivotal importance to the Netherlands' international competitive strength . Retrieved August 10, 2015, from RSM.nl: http://www.rsm.nl/about-rsm/news/detail/1470-port-of-rotterdam-is-of-pivotal-importance-to-the-netherlands-international-competitive-strength/
Piert Dircke, J. A. (2015). Connecting Delta Cities- Sharing Knowledge and Working on Adaptation to Climate Change. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initiative: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/documents/RCP/English/CDC-Book-II.pdf
Rotterdam Climate Initative. (2015, March 30). By 2030, Rotterdam will generate more renewable energy than the city uses. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initative: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/en/news?news_id=2172
Rotterdam Climate Initative. (2014, November 26). Rotterdam Bioport- Towards more, better and responsible biomass as raw material for the bio-based economy. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initative- Position Paper November: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/documents/Documenten/Position%20Paper%20RCI%20Biobased-economie%20ENGELS%2010-2014%20LR%20DEF.pdf
Rotterdam Climate Initiative. (2014). Connecting Delta Cities: Resilien Cites and Climate Adapatation Strategies 2014 Book III. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initiative: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/documents/Documenten/CDC_volume_3_Resilient_Cities_and_Climate_Adaptation_Strategies.pdf
Rotterdam Climate Initiative. (2015). Publications in English. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initiative: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/en/publications
Rotterdam Climate Initiative. (2013). Rotterdam Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Delta Cities-Rotterdam Climate Initiative:Climate Proof: http://www.deltacities.com/documents/20121210_RAS_EN_lr_versie_4.pdf
RotterdamWorldPortCity. (2009). Rotterdam: Facts and Figures. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from ESCH: http://www.esch.lu/laville/international/Documents/Villes%20jumel%C3%A9es/Rotterdam/Rotterdam%20Facts%20and%20Figures.pdf
SydneyPorts. (2015, 2007). Sydney Harbour Port Facilities-Interactive Maps. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Sydney Ports: http://www.sydneyports.com.au/corporation/port_facilities/sydney_harbour, http://www.harriermap-spc.com/map.htm
Theconnectivst. (2015). Theconnectivst. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Theconnectivst: https://theconnectivist.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/goederenstroom-eu.png
Unionofconcernedscientists. (2015). Infographic: Sea Level Rise and Global Warming. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Unionofconcernedscientists: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/infographic-sea-level-rise-global-warming.html
Wijngaarden. (2015). Construction of the Maeslant Barrier. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Wijngaarden: http://www.wijngaarden.com/en/projects_18/the-netherlands/general-assistance.html
Arnoud Molenaar, J. A. (2014). Book III 'Resilient Cities and Climate Adaptation Strategies' (2014). Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initiative- Knowledge Publications: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/documents/Documenten/CDC_volume_3_Resilient_Cities_and_Climate_Adaptation_Strategies.pdf
Boer, F. (2015). Watersquares: The elegant way of buffering rainwater in cities, How Rotterdam is designing for future floods. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Waterleinen.com, makewealthhistory.org: http://www.waterpleinen.com/Watersquares.pdf, http://makewealthhistory.org/2012/05/18/building-of-the-week-rotterdams-water-plaza/
Braw, E. (2013, November 19). Rotterdam: designing a flood-proof city to withstand climate change . Retrieved August 10, 2015, from The Guardian-Sustainable Business: http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rotterdam-flood-proof-climate-change
Buczynski, B. (2012, November 18). Could Giant Rotterdam-Style Floodgates Protect Lower Manhattan From Flooding in Future Superstorms? Retrieved August 10, 2015, from inhabitat: http://inhabitat.com/nyc/could-building-sized-floodgates-protect-lower-manhattan-from-future-superstorms/
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. (2015, March 9). Delta C40 Cities Network- Connecting Cities. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam to launch the world’s first water-filled Rain(a)way tile: http://www.deltacities.com/newsletter/rotterdam-to-launch-the-worlds-first-water-filled-rain%28a%29way-tile?news_id=74
City of Rottderdams Regional Steering Committee. (2009). The City of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from OECD: http://www.oecd.org/edu/skills-beyond-school/44148367.pdf
City of Sydney Council. (2015). Sustainable Sydney 2030, Towards 2030, Better Infrastructure, Major Developments, City Transformation, http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/major-developments, . Retrieved August 10, 2015, from City of Sydney: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/sustainable-sydney-2030, http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/towards-2030, http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/better-infrastructure, http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/city-transformation
CityofRotterdam. (2012). Facts and Figures: Rotterdam 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam.nl: http://www.rotterdam.nl/Stadsontwikkeling/Document/Economie%20en%20Arbeidsmarkt/FactsandFigures%20Rotterdam%20Engels%202012.pdf
ClimateCommission. (2015). Images and infographics : The Critical Decade: Extreme Weather . Retrieved August 10, 2015, from ClimateCommission: http://climatecommission.angrygoats.net/resources/images/extreme-weather/
Creative Commons License. (2015). Satellite image of Europoort Netherlands. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Wikipedia: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Satellite_image_of_Europoort%2C_Netherlands_%284.25E_51.90N%29.png
d’Angremond, K. (2003, March). From Disaster to Delta Project: The Storm Flood of 1953. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from iadc-dredging: Terra et Aqua – Number 90 – March 2003: https://www.iadc-dredging.com/ul/cms/terraetaqua/document/1/2/4/124/124/1/terra-et-aqua-nr90-01.pdf
Delta C40 Cities Network- Connecting Cities. (2014). Rotterdam and climate change. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from DeltaCities: http://www.deltacities.com/cities/rotterdam/description
Delta Rotterdam (Online Magazine). (2013). Delta Rotterdam: Connecting Water with Opportunities. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Delta Cities: http://www.deltacities.com/documents/CDC_DeltaCity.pdf
DeltaCities. (2015). Rotterdam Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, Publications. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Delta Cities: http://www.deltacities.com/cities/rotterdam/climate-change-adaptation, http://www.deltacities.com/cities/rotterdam/main-publications
Deltawerken. (2015). Maeslant barrier. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Deltawerken online: http://www.deltawerken.com/Maeslant-barrier/330.html
Edvard Glucksman, E. a. (2014, May 28). Climate-proofing the Netherlands. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Blogs.egu.eu: http://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2014/05/28/climate-proofing-the-netherlands/
IndexMundi. (2014). Netherlands: Demographics Profile 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Index Mundi: http://www.indexmundi.com/netherlands/demographics_profile.html
Jenny Soffel & Natasha Maguder (CNN). (2013, August 26). Can Rotterdam become the world's most sustainable port city? Retrieved August 10, 2015, from InsideClimateNews: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/19/world/europe/can-rotterdam-become-the-sustainable/, http://insideclimatenews.org/content/can-rotterdam-become-worlds-most-sustainable-port-city
Keeton, R. (2013, January 11). Flood Prone yet Fiercely Defended, Rotterdam Takes its Methods Global. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from 100resilientcities: http://www.100resilientcities.org/blog/entry/flood-prone-yet-fiercely-defended-rotterdam-takes-its-methods-global#/-_/
Linnie Mackenzie. (2015). Rotterdam: The Water City of the Future. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Waterworld: http://www.waterworld.com/articles/wwi/print/volume-25/issue-5/editorial-focus/rainwater-harvesting/rotterdam-the-water-city-of-the-future.html
Lisa, A. (2013, June 01). Rotterdam’s Solar-Powered Floating Pavilion is an Experimental Climate-Proof Development. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Inhabitat: http://inhabitat.com/rotterdams-floating-pavilion-is-an-experimental-climate-proof-development/
Maria Gallucci. (2013, Jun 20). 6 of the World's Most Extensive Climate Adaptation Plans. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from insideclimatenews: http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20130620/6-worlds-most-extensive-climate-adaptation-plans
Marianne Schouten. (2011, May 23). Port of Rotterdam is of pivotal importance to the Netherlands' international competitive strength . Retrieved August 10, 2015, from RSM.nl: http://www.rsm.nl/about-rsm/news/detail/1470-port-of-rotterdam-is-of-pivotal-importance-to-the-netherlands-international-competitive-strength/
Piert Dircke, J. A. (2015). Connecting Delta Cities- Sharing Knowledge and Working on Adaptation to Climate Change. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initiative: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/documents/RCP/English/CDC-Book-II.pdf
Rotterdam Climate Initative. (2015, March 30). By 2030, Rotterdam will generate more renewable energy than the city uses. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initative: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/en/news?news_id=2172
Rotterdam Climate Initative. (2014, November 26). Rotterdam Bioport- Towards more, better and responsible biomass as raw material for the bio-based economy. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initative- Position Paper November: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/documents/Documenten/Position%20Paper%20RCI%20Biobased-economie%20ENGELS%2010-2014%20LR%20DEF.pdf
Rotterdam Climate Initiative. (2014). Connecting Delta Cities: Resilien Cites and Climate Adapatation Strategies 2014 Book III. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initiative: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/documents/Documenten/CDC_volume_3_Resilient_Cities_and_Climate_Adaptation_Strategies.pdf
Rotterdam Climate Initiative. (2015). Publications in English. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Rotterdam Climate Initiative: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/en/publications
Rotterdam Climate Initiative. (2013). Rotterdam Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Delta Cities-Rotterdam Climate Initiative:Climate Proof: http://www.deltacities.com/documents/20121210_RAS_EN_lr_versie_4.pdf
RotterdamWorldPortCity. (2009). Rotterdam: Facts and Figures. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from ESCH: http://www.esch.lu/laville/international/Documents/Villes%20jumel%C3%A9es/Rotterdam/Rotterdam%20Facts%20and%20Figures.pdf
SydneyPorts. (2015, 2007). Sydney Harbour Port Facilities-Interactive Maps. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Sydney Ports: http://www.sydneyports.com.au/corporation/port_facilities/sydney_harbour, http://www.harriermap-spc.com/map.htm
Theconnectivst. (2015). Theconnectivst. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Theconnectivst: https://theconnectivist.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/goederenstroom-eu.png
Unionofconcernedscientists. (2015). Infographic: Sea Level Rise and Global Warming. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Unionofconcernedscientists: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/infographic-sea-level-rise-global-warming.html
Wijngaarden. (2015). Construction of the Maeslant Barrier. Retrieved August 10, 2015, from Wijngaarden: http://www.wijngaarden.com/en/projects_18/the-netherlands/general-assistance.html