Abstract
The predictions on climate change are more than once overtaken by reality. Climate change seems to accelerate: sooner, faster, stronger. This means that the uncertainties on future changes are large. What is agreed on is the fact that even if the World succeeds in minimising CO2 emissions of today, the effects of the changes will continue to affect communities, ecologies and economies all over the world. Therefore, one way or another adaptation of societies to the changes is necessary. Because of the regular surprises in the pace of climate change, and always at the top-line of predicted scenarios, the question is if mankind is aware of the urgency to adapt. Probably the best strategy is to be prepared in a worse case scenario and organise land-use and spatial functions in a way that they are capable of withstanding big changes. This requires transformation of climate change knowledge into spatial planning. Many countries, of which the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, Denmark, Japan and Finland are analysed, have developed an adaptation strategy, but only few of them incorporate the field of spatial planning in it. The focus on adaptation as a part of regular policies is creating a cloud curtain for the real urgencies. A shift is necessary towards using knowledge on the adaptation to climate change in spatial projects, programmes and plans. The role spatial planning can play in creating a more resilient society is underestimated.
Reviewed by Prof. Dr. Pavel Kabat, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Earth System Sciences, the Netherlands
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Notes
- 1.
Cooperating governemnts include four ministries (Housing, Spatial Affairs and Environment, Traffic and Water, Agriculture, Nature and Food, and Economic Affairs), the IPO (Interprovincial Board), the VNG (Unified Dutch Municipalities) and the UvW (Union of Waterboards).
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Roggema, R. (2009). Create Space for Climate!. In: Adaptation to Climate Change: A Spatial Challenge. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9359-3_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9359-3_1
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