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A strategy-based framework for assessing the flood resilience of cities - A Hamburg case study

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  • Britta Restemeyer
  • Johan Woltjer
  • Margo van den Brink

Abstract

Climate change and continuous urbanization contribute to an increased urban vulnerability towards flooding. Only relying on traditional flood control measures is recognized as inadequate, since the damage can be catastrophic if flood controls fail. The idea of a flood-resilient city - one which can withstand or adapt to a flood event without being harmed in its functionality - seems promising. But what does resilience actually mean when it is applied to urban environments exposed to flood risk, and how can resilience be achieved? This paper presents a heuristic framework for assessing the flood resilience of cities, for scientists and policy-makers alike. It enriches the current literature on flood resilience by clarifying the meaning of its three key characteristics - robustness, adaptability and transformability - and identifying important components to implement resilience strategies. The resilience discussion moves a step forward, from predominantly defining resilience to generating insight into "doing" resilience in practice. The framework is illustrated with two case studies from Hamburg, showing that resilience, and particularly the underlying notions of adaptability and transformability, first and foremost require further capacity-building among public as well as private stakeholders. The case studies suggest that flood resilience is currently not enough motivation to move from traditional to more resilient flood protection schemes in practice; rather, it needs to be integrated into a bigger urban agenda.

Suggested Citation

  • Britta Restemeyer & Johan Woltjer & Margo van den Brink, 2015. "A strategy-based framework for assessing the flood resilience of cities - A Hamburg case study," Planning Theory & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(1), pages 45-62, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:rptpxx:v:16:y:2015:i:1:p:45-62
    DOI: 10.1080/14649357.2014.1000950
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    Cited by:

    1. Ifigenia Psarra & Özlem Altınkaya Genel & Alex van Spyk, 2021. "A Research by Design Strategy for Climate Adaptation Solutions: Implementation in the Low-Density, High Flood Risk Context of the Lake District, UK," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-23, October.
    2. Naim Laeni & Margo van den Brink & Tim Busscher & Henk Ovink & Jos Arts, 2020. "Building Local Institutional Capacities for Urban Flood Adaptation: Lessons from the Water as Leverage Program in Semarang, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-22, December.
    3. Hyungjun Park & Robert Paterson & Stephen Zigmund & Hyunsuk Shin & Youngsu Jang & Juchul Jung, 2020. "The Effect of Coastal City Development on Flood Damage in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-15, March.
    4. João Barreiro & Filipa Ferreira & Rita Salgado Brito & José Saldanha Matos, 2024. "Development of Resilience Framework and Respective Tool for Urban Stormwater Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, February.
    5. Alexander Bisaro & Mark Bel & Jochen Hinkel & Sien Kok & Laurens M. Bouwer, 2020. "Leveraging public adaptation finance through urban land reclamation: cases from Germany, the Netherlands and the Maldives," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 160(4), pages 671-689, June.
    6. Vanesa Castán Broto & Linda K. Westman, 2020. "Ten years after Copenhagen: Reimagining climate change governance in urban areas," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(4), July.
    7. Aboagye, Prince Dacosta & Sharifi, Ayyoob, 2024. "Urban climate adaptation and mitigation action plans: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    8. Vivienne C. Ivory & Joanne R. Stevenson, 2019. "From contesting to conversing about resilience: kickstarting measurement in complex research environments," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 97(2), pages 935-947, June.
    9. Panahi, Roozbeh & Ng, Adolf K.Y. & Pang, Jiayi, 2020. "Climate change adaptation in the port industry: A complex of lingering research gaps and uncertainties," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 10-29.
    10. Suchat Tachaudomdach & Auttawit Upayokin & Nopadon Kronprasert & Kriangkrai Arunotayanun, 2021. "Quantifying Road-Network Robustness toward Flood-Resilient Transportation Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    11. Norizan, Nur Zainul Arifin & Hassan, Norhaslina & Yusoff, Mariney Mohd, 2021. "Strengthening flood resilient development in malaysia through integration of flood risk reduction measures in local plans," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    12. Kerstin Krellenberg & Hannah Bergsträßer & Daria Bykova & Nele Kress & Katharine Tyndall, 2019. "Urban Sustainability Strategies Guided by the SDGs—A Tale of Four Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-20, February.

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