9. Planning the Adaptation of Coastal Cities to Climate Change: a Review of 14 Pilot Projects

Abstract

The natural disasters deriving from climate change have a growing impact in urban contexts and mainly affect the poorest people. Adaptation to climate change can significantly reduce the impacts if planned. The aim of this chapter is to present the state of adaptation planning, illustrating three international projects that promote it (Climate change initiative, Cancun adaptation framework, Hyogo framework of action) and 14 adaptation pilot projects for coastal cities. The latter are plans, strategies and guidelines produced over the past 5 years for coastal cities from different continents. These case studies are analysed and compared, paying attention to six key aspects: type of tool, aims, identification of the impacts deriving from climate change, time schedule and budget, role of the stakeholders in the planning process, identification of specific measures. It emerges that important steps have been taken in the adaptation to climate change, but there is still a long way to go before having valid adaptation planning tools.