New Considerations
Scorecard Method to Assess Lock-in Effect in Urban Planning Strategies View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Attila Buzasi
Decision-makers and urban planners must consider climate change issues in current and future planning documents; moreover, the long-term effects of proposed actions are of utmost importance. Lock-in is a path-dependent process that can hinder future urban transformations due to its initial beneficial features and related advantages. Consequently, analyzing the lock-in effect contribute to preventing long-term, hard-to-change trajectories which decrease the climate vulnerability of a given system. This study assesses the lock-in potential of urban planning documents regarding the largest Hungarian cities by applying the scorecard method with predefined thematic categories. The analysis framework considers both direct and indirect impacts in order to reveal and define those urban development actions that would be potentially harmful in terms of climate adaptation issues. Infrastructural, institutional, and behavioral lock-ins are all involved in this study which can enhance planners' and decision-makers' consciousness regarding the long-term effects of urban development goals. The results contribute to a more climate-friendly and conscious urban governance model, which would be crucial in a country like Hungary, facing significant changes in its climatic conditions even nowadays and in the near future.
Natural Ecosystems and Climate Change: Rehabilitation of Natural Coastal Systems View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jaret Fattori
In Canada as well as abroad, there is increasing recognition of the important role that nature based solutions can play in both carbon mitigation and climate resilience and adaptation. Rehabilitation of natural coastal systems such as wetlands can provide increased carbon sequestration from the atmosphere; but also provides a host of co-benefits that range for the protection of shoreline stability, through to biodiversity, fisheries, flooding and water quality benefits. This paper outlines several projects BMT Global have been undertaken to explore and embed nature based solutions. This includes coral rehabilitation projects in Island states in the Indian and Pacific, flood mitigation projects in the UK using natural buffers and detention as well as blue carbon accounting and restoration of mangroves, saltmarsh and coastal forests in Australia. Focus is provided on the drivers for the projects, the methods used, the studies undertaken to support rehabilitation strategies and priorities and implementation and governance. Lessons learned will also be evaluated in the context of exploring these sorts of studies and projects in a Canadian context.
Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Smart Agriculture : The Role of Institutional and Policy Enablers View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Elias Gaveta
Climate smart agriculture (CSA) is a holistic approach that aims to enhance agricultural productivity, adapt to climate change, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. One crucial aspect of CSA is its compatibility with traditional farming practices, such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry and crop diversity. These practices have been long used in African communities, however to increase the adaptability of these practices, new interventions such as stress-adapted crop varieties, weather-based planting dates and weather forecasting have been integrated. However, a study conducted in Malawi, Kenya and Nigeria, highlights that despite the potential of CSA, the integration of traditional knowledge and CSA is not working as effectively as desired. The scale-up of CSA is hindered by inadequate public sector funding, as well as poorly structured support services. To overcome this challenge, a systematic CSA scaling-up plan across key sectors such as forestry, irrigation, and agriculture is needed. Moreover, efficient, timely, and reliable knowledge systems must be in place to support the implementation of CSA. This includes location-specific foods that are economically viable, nutritionally safe and locally acceptable, as well as policies that protect user rights for land resources, establish community farming institutions and enhance knowledge sharing among farmers.
