Developing solutions that enable cities to withstand the threats of rising sea levels and extreme weather events
Cities around the world increasingly face pressure from both growing populations and climate change. In addition to dealing with the effects of urbanisation and increased population density, cities also need to develop solutions that enable them to withstand the threats of rising sea levels and extreme weather events. An integrated approach to urbanisation and climate change can ensure cost efficiency and synergies in terms of greater value from urban development investments. Through public-private collaboration and long-term holistic planning, many Danish cities have achieved this and at the same time gained greater public support and more liveable cities.
We invite you to explore solutions related to integrated urban water management in more depth below, find potential partners, catch up on the latest related news and discover real-life case examples of how flood integrated urban water management can help solve your environmental challenges.
Connect with us: Malene Bering Beitzel, Project Manager, firstname.lastname@example.org, +45 2249 6510
Architecture can reduce the climate footprint and protect buildings and urban areas against climate change. Climate change calls for stronger initiatives in the building and construction sector – both to promote broader use of sustainable solutions and to make our buildings and cities more resilient to climate change.
The climate is changing: how do we manage extreme rainfall? Not only more rain is falling due to climate change, but rain showers are often more extreme. This means that a lot more water has to be collected and disposed of in a short time. In the countryside this is not usually a problem, but it is more so in the increasingly urbanised environment.
The next application round for P4G funding to partnerships with a sustainable business model is open. Funding of between USD 100,000 to USD 1,000,000 is available to either partnerships with a start-up or a scale-up concept.
Over the last 39 years, the cost of extreme weather and climate events in Europe has been EUR 453 billion. Compared to the number of citizens and land area, Denmark has paid the second highest price. However, it is predicted that the costs in the future will be lower as the country has become better at protecting its values after the cloudburst in Copenhagen, 2011.
A unique water treatment plant has seen the light of day. The innovative cleaning technology is the first large-scale attempt to solve the challenges cities face with road runoff that pollute the aquatic environment and groundwater or that has to be pumped all the way through cities to be cleaned at sewage treatment plants.
In just a few days, the Danish capital will host the P4G Copenhagen Summit. The two-day event gathers a diverse group consisting of government leaders, international organisations, businesses, academia, and civil society with the aim of creating partnerships that will accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
The harbour contributes to Copenhagen’s reputation as one of the world’s most liveable and sustainable cities. However, this has not always been the case. In 2020, Copenhagen municipality will roll out new green harbour busses as a plank in its efforts to become a CO₂-neutral capital with a sustainable public transportation system.
An exhilarating week of energy events in the Nordic cities of Copenhagen and Malmo drew to a close last Friday. Known as Nordic Clean Energy Week, the event gathered an influential and broad group of actors from the energy sphere, ranging from energy ministers and researchers from G20 economies, to companies and investors with the common goal of accelerating the global transition to a world powered by renewables.
Our cities are growing and so is the need to make them more sustainable and liveable. In this month’s article, we gather 3 examples of holistic urban solutions from a water and climate adaption perspective that contribute to creating liveable cities.
Awarded with the Prize for City Planning (Byplanprisen), 2012 for strong and innovative planning where local handling of rainwater has been the overall principal Musicon is a former industrial site in the city of Roskilde. In collaboration with COWI, GHB Landscape Architects have developed a master plan for the Rabalder Park – a new activity […]
Ramboll provided consulting services to the City of Helsinki for flood strategy work during 2008. The project was conducted by the Helsinki City Planning Department with intent to formulate a common flood strategy for all departments of the City of Helsinki, to avoid and minimize the damages caused by floods. Ramboll interviewed representatives of all […]
Streets constitute a significant share of the total surface area of Danish cities. In terms of elevation they literally form the bottom line. Schulze+Grassov are under contract with Denmark’s Realdania Foundation under the Danish Klimaspring initiative to develop new innovative climate adaptation systems. Working creatively with streets in urban environments we seek to turn a […]
In this paper, you will meet the ten partners behind the Tours Network and find inspiration for site visits across energy efficiency, renewables, waste and resource management, clean air, water and climate adaptation.
If you are interested in visiting Denmark to explore these solutions and learn more about the concrete technologies, as well as connect with Danish stakeholders and share knowledge about green growth development, we encourage you to contact the Tours Network.
As the climate changes and the number and frequency of rainfall events increases, so does the need for intelligent rainwater management solutions. This White Paper presents insight into lessons learned from Danish stakeholders within rainwater management and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).
Sustainable solutions are no longer a choice for most societies: they’re a must. Especially in our cities. Inside this White Paper you can find case examples of how to rethink urban development and gain greater value from investments in the city’s blue infrastructure.
In July 2011 Copenhagen experienced the worst rainfall ever with more than 80,000 homes flooded resulting in damages at a cost of around 1 billion €. A new tool has been developed in order to minimize damages from such events in the future. Quick solution to combat effects of climate changes With the climate changes, some […]
Keen to promote growth, quality of life and sustainability, Copenhagen boosts innovative business and action across sectors through a game changing data-approach. Combining technologies in new ways, it leverages efforts to create a more resource-efficient city with citizens and businesses in key roles. Turning challenges into opportunities How to ensure city services, life quality and […]
Three Danish cities at the forefront of implementing sustainable urbanisation “Green Urban Denmark” is a publication jointly prepared by the Danish Energy Agency (DEA), the municipalities of Copenhagen, Aarhus and Sonderborg and the Danish Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural Affairs. It highlights how Copenhagen, Aarhus and Sonderborg have developed and implemented green urbanization and […]
Sweco in Denmark provides consultancy within the field of landscape architecture and health design. The primary goal is to ensure higher quality in outdoor areas in cities, around hospitals, nursery homes, schools, etc. that support physical, social and mental health issues. An increasing tendency of densification of cities causes great challenges in the way we think […]
The Danish portal on Climate Change Adaptation, managed by Danish Nature Agency, presents a range of positions on climate change and climate change adaptation within a number of areas. The site is a collaborative effort with Danish ministries and agencies, targeted at citizens, companies and local authorities. The portal provides up-to-date information and news on […]
The world population is growing and more people will have to live in cities. Therefore, the challenge of the future is not only to create sustainable cities, but also livable cities, which increase quality of life for the population. Ramboll has developed a livable city concept focusing on the important aspects, including the technical, economical and social […]
The HydroSeparator® is a patented system for treatment of storm water and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) where local requirements for treatment are strict. With the HydroSeparator® you get: High cleaning efficiency Small carbon foot print Fully automated operation wich can be monitored and controlled via SRO Economical operation Self cleaning system to avoid accumulation of debris […]
Urban water systems – for drinking water provision, wastewater collection and treatment, and stormwater management – are key to human health and environmental protection in cities around the globe. They are challenged by urbanisation, by decades of maintenance and by an increased frequency of floods and droughts due to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.
Just a decade ago, most cities saw water as something to hide and remove in sewers. Today, the harbor water in Copenhagen is clean enough to swim in and the area around the Harbour Bath has flourished. This has been achieved through an integrated approach to urban water management, combining a broad range of environmental, economic and social strategies. Although initially more complex, it is ultimately more cost-efficient from an overall societal perspective.
When investments in blue infrastructure are integrated early in the urban planning process, synergies can be achieved and costs reduced. Moreover, in order to meet the future demand for water, there needs to be a strong focus on efficient water management, operation and not least a focus on reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW). Overcoming barriers to reduce NRW requires attention and involvement from several stakeholders – from politicians to local consumers – as well as new partnerships. The right political framework can create incentives for innovation and optimisation, as well as increase public awareness on the value of having a stable and efficient water supply.
Danish experience shows that climate adaptation can also present an opportunity to rethink urban development and gain greater value from investments. Rather than coming at the expense of urban living, climate adaptation can contribute to greener and more liveable cities. For instance, instead of expanding the underground sewage system, surplus water can be led to structures above the ground such as green beds, canals or lakes around the city. These serve a dual purpose as they – in addition to increasing the stormwater drainage capacity – also function as recreational areas, which help cool the city and increase biodiversity. It can be a great way to pursue a better way of moving than the new way of doing it.
Connect with us: Cecilie Buch Thomsen, Senior Project Manager, email@example.com