Valerie A. Fristachi’s Post

Developing countries are increasingly facing the challenges of rapid urbanization and climate change, leading to frequent and devastating floods. SPONGY CITIES offers a sustainable and innovative approach to managing stormwater runoff and mitigating flood risks. By incorporating natural elements like green roofs, rain gardens, and permeable pavements, cities can absorb rainwater like a sponge, reducing the burden on traditional drainage systems. This not only prevents flooding but also improves water quality, enhances biodiversity, and creates more livable urban spaces. Let's work together to build more resilient and sustainable cities!

It's no secret that urban parks are good for both people 🤸♂️ and planet 🌍 - but did you know that their soils make a significant contribution to global carbon sequestration? Discover the vital role urban parks play in storing carbon and the challenges they face in a warming world with this piece from Mongabay 🌱 #urbanparks #cityparks #soilhealth

🌧️ Reviving Rivers, Revitalizing Cities - Granollers Unites Climate Adaptation with Creating a More Livable City The Ajuntament de Granollers is facing a growing challenge from climate change. Increasingly frequent heavy rainfall is overloading the sewage system, causing flooding and threatening the ecosystem of the river Congost. As part of the EU research project KNOWING, Granollers is working on a strategy to renaturalise the Congost riverbed and neighbouring urban areas. The city is being supported by Aquatec, an AGBAR subsidiary company specialising in water and technology solutions. 🔍 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 Firstly, cities need to understand the significance of the risk, identify vulnerable neighbourhoods and develop adaptation strategies, says Researcher Montse Martínez from Aquatec: "In the case of heavy rainfall, adaptation strategies should focus on increasing the natural permeability of cities and retaining rainwater at source to avoid flash floods and on the use of technology to anticipate, prevent and protect from such events." 🌿 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐬𝐭 The objective of Granollers is to return the river to its original state, so its ecological functions are improved. Martínez: "The goal is to recreate a more diverse habitat for plants and animals, improve water quality, and enhance the overall health and resilience of the river ecosystem so that it can easily and naturally respond to intense rainfall events which commonly cause flooding in surrounding areas." The KNOWING project uses modelling techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of different nature-based solutions for fluvial and pluvial flooding. 🌐 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 The results of the KNOWING project are intended to show decision-makers the urgency of climate protection measures and the efficiency of nature-based solutions. The main obstacle is often the lack of awareness among administrations of the benefits of these measures. What are your experiences here? How do you combine climate adaptation and mitigation with more livable cities? #KNOWING #LivableCities #SustainableCities #ResilientCities #WaterManagement #GreenInfrastructure #Biodiversity #Renaturalization #ClimateChange #ClimateAdaptation #ClimateMitigation #SmartCities #Modelling #Research #HorizonEurope

Most city dwellers experience climate change not from the collapse of natural formations, but through damage to the human-made infrastructure that makes up our urban spaces and our daily lives. #ecosystems #SystemsThinking #urbanism

Does your neighbourhood fulfil the 3-30-300 rule? Simple rules are good in a complex world – this one has been designed as guidance for greener, healthier and more resilient living surroundings. With most of the global population living in cities, sustainable and resilient city planning matters. Cities face challenges such as heat waves, pollution and flooding. Urban green spaces and vegetation are widely recognised as nature-based solutions to help address these challenges. Increasing green areas in cities have positive impact on many things: 🌱Biodiversity ☁ Air quality 🌡 Shading and temperature control 💦 Water regulation 🌍 Climate change mitigation and adaptation 🙂 Public health and wellbeing I would like to see more nature-based solutions in city planning, what about you? Read more: https://lnkd.in/d4miriRh #NBSI #greencities #naturebasedsolutions #urbannature #wellbeing #climatechange #adaptation #resilience #biodiversity

🌳🌆 Urban Trees: Our Vital Defense Against Extreme Heat 🌡️🔥 Did you know that extreme heat is one of the most acute and lethal risks of climate change, especially for cities? But fear not! We have a deployable solution right at our fingertips: urban trees. 🌳 Urban trees, also known as the urban canopy, are not just beautiful additions to our cityscapes; they are essential infrastructure in the fight against climate change. Here's why: ✅ Cooling Effects: Urban trees naturally cool our neighborhoods. Through evapotranspiration, they regulate local temperatures by reducing the urban heat island effect. Their canopies provide shade, creating cooler microclimates and combating the scorching heat. ✅ Air Quality Improvement: These green guardians help improve air quality. Urban trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis, reducing the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions. They also act as natural filters, removing pollutants from the air, making our cities healthier and more livable. ✅ Stormwater Management: When heavy rain comes pouring down, urban trees come to the rescue. Their canopies intercept and absorb rainfall, reducing the burden on stormwater infrastructure and preventing flooding. Tree roots increase water infiltration, replenishing groundwater reserves and protecting our cities from the impacts of extreme weather. ✅ Biodiversity Conservation: Urban trees create habitats for wildlife, fostering biodiversity in our concrete jungles. They provide nesting sites for birds, shelter for insects, and foraging opportunities for small mammals. By promoting urban forests and green corridors, we can coexist with nature and create a more vibrant urban environment. 🌳🌆 Remember, urban trees are our allies in the face of extreme heat. Let's protect and nurture our urban canopy for a cooler, greener, and healthier world. Share this post to inspire others to take action! 🌎💚 #UrbanTrees #ClimateResilience #CoolCities #TreePower

Insightful 💡 "Although we’ve built our cities as fortresses against the forces of nature surrounding them, we are learning the hard way that concrete makes for a far more delicate habitat than trees and grass and soil. Vulnerable to the wrath wrought by a warming atmosphere, it augments heat, struggles to absorb excess water, cracks and crumbles." Read more #cities #future #sustainability #environment #climatechange #extremeweather https://lnkd.in/edpmH76P

Water and climate resilience: At Akshay Kaul and Associates, the essence of our work lies in recognizing the intrinsic value of each raindrop and the immense potential it holds for addressing the challenges brought forth by climate change. Our philosophy revolves around the concept of water resilience, a crucial aspect in the era of growing environmental concerns. Over the past 25 years, we have dedicated our efforts to innovatively managing stormwater, not just as a means to prevent flooding but as a golden opportunity to restore and recharge our aquifers. This not only aids in replenishing groundwater supplies but also plays a significant role in securing portable water for communities, both within and beyond city limits. Our projects, such as the pioneering initiative at Shreyas, exemplify our commitment long before the term "climate change" became a staple in environmental discourse. Here, we engineered a system of swales, detention, and retention ponds, coupled with directing water from neighboring areas, to rejuvenate a previously lost water channel. This endeavor was not solely about water management; it was about creating a harmonious ecosystem that supports biodiversity, fosters recreational spaces, and ultimately enhances the quality of life for the surrounding community. Through such projects, we aim to demonstrate that with thoughtful design and sustainable practices, urban areas can become resilient to the impacts of climate change while contributing positively to the environment. The work of Akshay Kaul and Associates goes beyond the realm of what is understood as landscape and delves into the realm of creating lasting sustainable solutions and environmental legacies through leadership. By focusing on stormwater as a resource rather than something that needs to be pushed out of the site quickly, we are actively contributing to the creation of wetlands, supporting biodiversity, and providing people with natural spaces that offer a respite from urban life. Our approach is a testament to the power of integrating landscape planning and social and environmental issues to combat the challenges posed by climate change. As we continue to innovate and implement solutions that promote water resilience, we remain committed to the belief that every drop of rain is a step towards a sustainable future. #climatechange #waterresilience #landscape #swales #detention #ponds #retention #flooding #urbanplanning #Bangalore #wetlands #sustianble #innovation #biodoversity #groundwater #stormwater

The rapid greyification of our cities is causing them to be hit extra hard by the climate crisis. The Urban Heat Island Effect already makes urban areas up to 12°C hotter than surrounding rural areas, and the UHI intensifies as natural land is replaced by non-vegetated areas. The rise in impervious surfaces is also causing increased surface water runoff and more flash floods. Pocket Forests can reduce rising city temperatures through evapotranspiration and shading. Evapotranspiration happens through vegetation and water bodies. Just like how we breathe, plants transpire and water on the surface of leaves and soils evaporates. The warmer it gets, the more the plants cool the surrounding air. Evapotranspiration, combined with shading, can help reduce peak summer temperatures by 2-9°F (1–5°C). Pocket Forests can create cool islands, this, in turn, reduces the need for air conditioning. Through energy-saving, as well as other mechanisms such as carbon sequestration, urban green space also helps in climate change mitigation. Vegetated areas also reflect more solar radiation away from the surface than dark, artificial surfaces. We all know that it would be too hot to walk barefoot on the pavement on a sunny day, but not on the grass; this is because, as less solar radiation is absorbed, green spaces have colder surfaces. Pocket Forests also provide shade, shielding surfaces from further radiation and reducing the energy those surfaces will absorb. Vegetation and canopy cover help cool our neighbourhoods and can provide much-needed relief during heatwaves. People flock to shade during hot days. Support Nature-based Solutions that build biodiversity, climate resilience and wellbeing in cities. 🌿 #SUGi #PocketForest #Biodiversity #Cities #Concrete #GreenInfrastructure #NbS