effectively (including research into which combination of push and pull measures are required).
iii) Smart cities and climate proof
Rotterdam has approximately 50 km of industrial port, mostly fossil fuel-based, targeted to be transformed in a more sustainable port since the climate adaptation strategy in 2013. The city aims to be among the front-runners of the energy efficiency adaptation in the resilience strategy, supporting recent political agreements through the COP21 agreement in Paris. The French program is accelerating transitions in Rotterdam, as efforts are undergoing to provide cost-effective solar panels in small and large solar parks, as well as switching a large portion of the municipal vehicles to more energy-efficient ones. Also, the renewable energy infrastructure plan (REIP), which is currently under development, will focus on renewable energy and energy conservation in the Smart City Delta.
An analysis made by Arcadis included the Resilience Strategy and also made a comparison between Rotterdam and Amsterdam. It showed that statistically, after the implementation of the resilience strategy, there will be huge changes in Rotterdam in comparison to Amsterdam, as both cities strive towards achieving a more resilient environment.
Figure 1.2. Rotterdam and Amsterdam smart cities and climate proof consultancy. For a color version of this figure, see www.iste.co.uk/douay/transitions.zip
(source: Arcadis Company 2014)
iv) Adaptive waterfront development
An opportunity to respond to the risk of floods in an integrated and inclusive approach; in other words, building resilience by design. The Rotterdam region explored, with multiple stakeholders, the future perspective of the “River as a Tidal Park”. The idea includes building with nature: new eco-habitants, reuse of sediments, wave reduction, better water quality, turning stony embankments into a more natural landscape and creating a foreland or title park. The funding was possible due to the port authorities and multiple stakeholders who were involved and willing to contribute to the reuse of sediments from the port, for example.
Feijenoord district, as shown in Map 1.2, is considered, on the one hand, a developing urban area. On the other hand, it is an area considered highly vulnerable to flooding from the river. As a solution, the city of Rotterdam found that it is essential to work with all partners (developers and stakeholders) to understand the level of flood risk, its implications as well as the possibilities of integrating flood management strategies into urban design and planning approaches.
This cooperation among partners outlines the distribution of cost among them, to contribute to the design, integrated development and sustainable development of the district. It could also involve the municipality and the water management board who would contribute to the costs of the construction and management of a flood defense, with private parties also contributing a proportion to the investment costs in return for direct benefits in terms of reduced flood risk and improved socio-economic conditions within the district.
Figure 1.3. Rotterdam water system. For a color version of this figure, see www.iste.co.uk/douay/transitions.zip
(source: Rotterdam Resilience Strategy 2016)
Map 1.2. Feijenoord district location. For a color version of this figure, see www.iste.co.uk/douay/transitions.zip
(source: Spatially evaluating a network of plans and flood vulnerability using a Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard: A case study in Feijenoord district, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Matthew L. Malecha, A.D. Bran)
It is essential to also mention that Rotterdam gets the benefit of learning from other cities’ experiences, especially those who suffered from floods such as New Orleans, USA. They have been collaborating since 2008, particularly with regard to water management concerns. Even after the hurricane Katrina, Dutch experts assisted New Orleans by hosting the “Dutch dialogues”. Learning from these dialogues contributed to the development of New Orleans’ Integrated Water Management Plan.
The strategy of Rotterdam is hopeful to tackle the water problem, not only through the National Delta Program but also through the Climate Proof and Adaptation Strategy of Rotterdam. It includes five main related actions that express how they can work together to adapt the current situation to the expected changes. In brief, they are as follows:
1 a) plan for climate resilience “critical infrastructure”: a new spatial plan will be developed based on the regional analysis of critical infrastructure resilience to climate change;
2 b) vertical evacuation planning: it leads to the identification of the concept of “multi-layer safety”. It involves prevention (first layer) spatial adaptation (second layer) and evacuation (third layer). It is, however, yet to be thoroughly planned and developed;
3 c) climate resilient waterfront areas: there are a diverse range of pilot studies that focus on climate-resilient development in the wider region, looking at both urban and industrial areas. The results of these pilots will be collated and translated into an overall policy for the area outside the dykes in Rotterdam;
4 d) Rotterdam – the HAGUE Emergency Airport: the strategy will create an economic cluster focusing on clean technology and water security in an airport setting;
5 e) floating city: Rotterdam stated an ambition to explore opportunities presented by building floating developments.
The adaptive waterfront development includes many detailed actions that aim to facilitate the residents’ livelihood and secure sustainable resources. These actions are:
a) The water squares
There are multifunctional public spaces that, in the event of heavy rains and floods, are transformed into basins for the collection and storage of rainwater. By this, the sewer system is not congested and, additionally, creates the possibility of reuse in times of water stresses.
The idea is to create “floodable” areas in strategic areas of the city that will remain dry 90% of the time, creating meeting points and recreational spaces. The system is advanced by means of hygiene; the rainwater from public spaces and roofs of neighboring buildings will be directed to the treatment plants below the ground and thereafter introduced into the basins of the squares without harmful pollutants. The Benthemplein, a once-empty, monotonous square in a dense neighborhood of Rotterdam, now holds a large rainwater collection system, but it also hosts amphitheaters and sports courts, combining climate resilience with social resilience.
Figure 1.4. Benthemplein Water Square in Rotterdam (dry and filled with water). For a color version of this figure, see www.iste.co.uk/douay/transitions.zip
(source: De Urbanisten and Ossip van Duivenbode 2013)
