SPS 4: Low carbon resilient city development and adaptation to climate change – River Basin Governance in the time of Climate Change

The experts involved in this first phase of the SPS on River Basins recommend the following steps to be taken by the Chinese government:

Act now on climate change and build a “watershed community of life”. China should seize the critical opportunities for adaptation to the expected impacts of climate change that are now fleeting. Set new monitoring focused on the impacts of anthropogenic stresses and climate change, carry out risk assessment focused on a long-term basis (2050-2100), and prepare for more than one scenario.

Improve security in view of extreme events and restore ecosystems. Pro-active strengthening is needed for protection against a wide range of natural hazards. It can be obtained by applying nature-based solutions and rebalancing natural and man-made elements of the river basin landscape.

Build resilient urban and rural settlements to improve Security and Resilience. By making the right choices in the spatial layout of river basins, while combining classical engineering with nature-based solutions, reduce exposure and vulnerability to extreme events, lower disaster risk at the beginning, and increase resilience of urban and rural settlements – including vulnerable groups.

Develop comprehensive planning for key industrial port cities in a low-carbon era, selecting major tributaries and deltas for pilot exploration. The economic planning horizon to 2050 will be heavily influenced by the global transition to a low-carbon future. Given the longevity of the hardware involved, the uncertainty of regional climate projections and the complexity of changing port city economies, it is urgent to start planning and consulting now.

Strengthen integrated water and land management of the basin shoreline. In particular, promote the transformation of selected parts of the downstream industrial port shoreline into an ecological shoreline and a living shoreline. More generally, river shorelines should be managed as long-term resources. In order to ensure future strategic flexibility, shorelines should be maintained in their natural state as much as possible.

Strengthen response capacities to improve the emergency response capabilities of local governments and the public. Invest in monitoring and early warning systems, and in local response capacities. Pay more attention to gender equality and social equity issues in disaster-prone areas and among disaster-affected people. In particular, ensure that efforts to engage stakeholders do indeed empower everyone.

Task Force: Green Urbanization and Environment Improvement Topic: - Year: 2022 Phase: Phase VI (2017-2022) Active