Cities, Water & Climate Change
Final exam preparation
Inhoud
Key topics................................................................................................................................2
Key concepts...........................................................................................................................3
1. Introduction: cities, water, and climate change.........................................................3
2. Governance for urban sustainability and Resilience.................................................5
3. Climate adaptation – flood risk management...........................................................6
4. Urban green spaces and densification........................................................................7
5. Leadership in climate adaptation...............................................................................8
6. Circular cities...............................................................................................................9
7. Flood insurance and risk management....................................................................10
8. Climate information and usability............................................................................11
9. Renewable energy......................................................................................................12
10. Energy transition.....................................................................................................13
Glossary.................................................................................................................................14
Flash cards.............................................................................................................................16
,Key topics
1. Governance and sustainability
a. Theories and practices of environmental governance
b. Urban sustainability and resilience principles
c. Collaborative governance approaches
2. Flood risk management
a. Strategies for flood risk reduction, including flood probability and
vulnerability management
b. Flood insurance: roles, challenges, and country-specific practices
c. Integrated flood risk management approaches
3. Urban resilience and climate adaptation
a. Concepts of resilience and adaptive strategies
b. Challenges in urban planning under climate change impacts
4. Circular economy and urban planning
a. Local government strategies for implementing circular economy models
b. Creative reuse in urban settings
5. Leadership in climate governance
a. Leadership roles in adaptation strategies
b. Leadership strategies in networks for climate governance
6. Knowledge and climate services
a. Bridging usability gaps in climate information
b. Integration of science, policy, and decision-making for sustainable
development
7. Urban sharing and energy systems
a. Urban sharing economies as part of smart cities
b. Grassroots energy initiatives and market hybridization
2
, Key concepts
1. Introduction: cities, water, and climate change
Clim ate ch an ge : long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and weather
patterns due to natural and human activities (e.g., burning fossil fuels).
Ur ban vuln er ability: cities are particularly affected by climate change due to high
population density, infrastructure, and reliance on water and energy systems.
Urban areas contribute significantly to climate change (e.g., emission from cars and
buildings) but are also highly vulnerable (e.g., sea-level rise, heatwaves). Cities must
balance reducing their environmental impact (mitigation) with preparing for
unavoidable changes (adaptation).
Examples of vulnerabilities include:
Sea-level rise: coastal cities like Miami or Amsterdam face flooding risks
Urban heat islands: cities are hotter than surrounding areas due to paved
surfaces
Resilien ce : a city’s ability to recover from climate impacts like floods or heatwaves. It
requires planning and coordination among governments, businesses, and communities
Example: resilient cities invest in flood defences, emergency plans, and cooling
green spaces.
Example: a resilient city may use flood-proof building designs.
W h y it m atter s: resilient cities keep their people safe and adapt to future challenges.
1. Robustn ess: ability to withstand shocks, physically strong city
- Example: storm-resistant roofs in hurricane zones
2. Adaptability: ability to adjust to new conditions/ challenges
- Example: expanding green spaces to reduce urban heat islands
3. Tr an sfor m ability: ability to create a fundamentally new system
- Example: abandoned industrial areas turned into eco-friendly
neighbourhoods
4. In clusivity: cities involve everyone in planning and decisions
- Example: neighbourhood meetings on park design
5. In tegr ation : combining environmental, social, and economic strategies
- Example: a transit system that is affordable, eco-friendly, and efficient
Nor m ative choices in r esilien ce : policies must balance individual rights with public
safety when implementing resilience measures.
In tegr ated Capacity Fr am ew or k : cities need systems to handle water scarcity, waste,
and heat risks by combining governance, technology and community action.
3
Final exam preparation
Inhoud
Key topics................................................................................................................................2
Key concepts...........................................................................................................................3
1. Introduction: cities, water, and climate change.........................................................3
2. Governance for urban sustainability and Resilience.................................................5
3. Climate adaptation – flood risk management...........................................................6
4. Urban green spaces and densification........................................................................7
5. Leadership in climate adaptation...............................................................................8
6. Circular cities...............................................................................................................9
7. Flood insurance and risk management....................................................................10
8. Climate information and usability............................................................................11
9. Renewable energy......................................................................................................12
10. Energy transition.....................................................................................................13
Glossary.................................................................................................................................14
Flash cards.............................................................................................................................16
,Key topics
1. Governance and sustainability
a. Theories and practices of environmental governance
b. Urban sustainability and resilience principles
c. Collaborative governance approaches
2. Flood risk management
a. Strategies for flood risk reduction, including flood probability and
vulnerability management
b. Flood insurance: roles, challenges, and country-specific practices
c. Integrated flood risk management approaches
3. Urban resilience and climate adaptation
a. Concepts of resilience and adaptive strategies
b. Challenges in urban planning under climate change impacts
4. Circular economy and urban planning
a. Local government strategies for implementing circular economy models
b. Creative reuse in urban settings
5. Leadership in climate governance
a. Leadership roles in adaptation strategies
b. Leadership strategies in networks for climate governance
6. Knowledge and climate services
a. Bridging usability gaps in climate information
b. Integration of science, policy, and decision-making for sustainable
development
7. Urban sharing and energy systems
a. Urban sharing economies as part of smart cities
b. Grassroots energy initiatives and market hybridization
2
, Key concepts
1. Introduction: cities, water, and climate change
Clim ate ch an ge : long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and weather
patterns due to natural and human activities (e.g., burning fossil fuels).
Ur ban vuln er ability: cities are particularly affected by climate change due to high
population density, infrastructure, and reliance on water and energy systems.
Urban areas contribute significantly to climate change (e.g., emission from cars and
buildings) but are also highly vulnerable (e.g., sea-level rise, heatwaves). Cities must
balance reducing their environmental impact (mitigation) with preparing for
unavoidable changes (adaptation).
Examples of vulnerabilities include:
Sea-level rise: coastal cities like Miami or Amsterdam face flooding risks
Urban heat islands: cities are hotter than surrounding areas due to paved
surfaces
Resilien ce : a city’s ability to recover from climate impacts like floods or heatwaves. It
requires planning and coordination among governments, businesses, and communities
Example: resilient cities invest in flood defences, emergency plans, and cooling
green spaces.
Example: a resilient city may use flood-proof building designs.
W h y it m atter s: resilient cities keep their people safe and adapt to future challenges.
1. Robustn ess: ability to withstand shocks, physically strong city
- Example: storm-resistant roofs in hurricane zones
2. Adaptability: ability to adjust to new conditions/ challenges
- Example: expanding green spaces to reduce urban heat islands
3. Tr an sfor m ability: ability to create a fundamentally new system
- Example: abandoned industrial areas turned into eco-friendly
neighbourhoods
4. In clusivity: cities involve everyone in planning and decisions
- Example: neighbourhood meetings on park design
5. In tegr ation : combining environmental, social, and economic strategies
- Example: a transit system that is affordable, eco-friendly, and efficient
Nor m ative choices in r esilien ce : policies must balance individual rights with public
safety when implementing resilience measures.
In tegr ated Capacity Fr am ew or k : cities need systems to handle water scarcity, waste,
and heat risks by combining governance, technology and community action.
3
