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Climate change mitigation and adaptation plan for West Athens

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Climate change is considered part of the natural variability of Earth's conditions, but anthropogenic amplification of the phenomenon has accelerated the natural processes rapidly. This paper incorporates climate change policies in spatial planning, by developing mitigation and adaptation plan for Athens. The municipalities of West Athens are chosen as the field of focused spatial interventions after the analysis of the wider study area and the mapping of vulnerabilities. The aim of the article is to demonstrate the necessity of a strategic plan, specifically for Athens, which is the largest urban area of Greece. The implementation of that kind of a plan in Athens is highly important due to the large history of natural disasters with fatal results and strong socioeconomic vulnerabilities. As it is known, "the best cure is prevention" hence the immediate and active participation of society is required. The main spatial interventions should be focused on creating suitable green and blue infrastructure, because the most likely and most dangerous impacts are related to heat waves and flood events. In conclusion, is regarded necessary to take measures in socioeconomic level in order to protect vulnerable groups as exacerbated inequalities lead to reduced social adaptability to external pressures such as climate change.
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European Water 59: 207-214, 2017.
© 2017 E.W. Publications
Climate change mitigation and adaptation plan for West Athens
V. Krommyda
Urban and regional planner, Greece
* e-mail: vakrommyda@outlook.com
Abstract: Climate change is considered part of the natural variability of Earth's conditions, but anthropogenic amplification of
the phenomenon has accelerated the natural processes rapidly. This paper incorporates climate change policies in
spatial planning, by developing mitigation and adaptation plan for Athens. The municipalities of West Athens are
chosen as the field of focused spatial interventions after the analysis of the wider study area and the mapping of
vulnerabilities. The aim of the article is to demonstrate the necessity of a strategic plan, specifically for Athens, which
is the largest urban area of Greece. The implementation of that kind of a plan in Athens is highly important due to the
large history of natural disasters with fatal results and strong socio-economic vulnerabilities. As it is known, "the best
cure is prevention" hence the immediate and active participation of society is required. The main spatial interventions
should be focused on creating suitable green and blue infrastructure, because the most likely and most dangerous
impacts are related to heat waves and flood events. In conclusion, is regarded necessary to take measures in
socioeconomic level in order to protect vulnerable groups as exacerbated inequalities lead to reduced social
adaptability to external pressures such as climate change.
Key words: climate change, mitigation, adaptation, strategic plan, West Athens
1. INTRODUCTION
Climate change is considered part of the natural variability of Earth's conditions, but
anthropogenic amplification of the phenomenon has accelerated the natural processes rapidly. IPCC
defines this phenomenon as follows: Climate change refers to any change in climate over the
years, either due to natural variability or as a result of human activities(IPCC 2007). The topics
raised by the upcoming changes should be put on the table immediately as the effects of climate
change will accompany the earth’s evolutionary processes for hundreds of years (IPCC 2007).
According to the multiple research reports by IPCC, climate change impacts are multidimensional
and have as a reference space the whole planet, but they vary depending on the characteristics of
each territorial entity. The impacts have effects on the natural and human systems (IPCC 2014) and
they tend to worse the existing socio-economic disparities in various spatial units (Kyvelou 2010:
88). As a result climate change may disrupt the social strata greatly, especially in the cities through
exacerbation of poverty (UN Habitat 2011: 19). Climate change, as a result of the production
processes and people’s lifestyle, composes a complex challenge that requires the planning process
to encompass all the possible future scenarios in conjunction with all the possible impacts
depending on the special characteristics of each area (UNDP 2010). Spatial planning is now
required to be wider, holistic, participative and visionary and to respond quickly to the current and
upcoming challenges (Davoudi 2009).
The Greek institutional framework for spatial planning seems to have a big gap on applicable
policies and guidelines on climate change. Although there are theoretical guidelines on climate
change, especially in General Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development (FEK
128Α/03.07.2008), the objectives of mitigation and adaptation are being approached indirectly
through guidelines for sustainable development. The Greek legislation is characterized by its large
quantity but the problem lies on the quality and the applicability. The use of vague terms such as
sustainability (Hopwood 2005) probably creates more confusion on its practical application, while
the policies deriving from the top down result in the rejection of microscale’s diversity. In 2015 an
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208
attempt conducted in order to change the situation through the National Adaptation Strategy (MEEN
2015). This strategy together with the regional climate change plans, which are being proposed,
should be able to sustain the balance between the sectors and not consider only one sector, such as
the economy.
2. STUDY AREA
2.1 Current situation in the wider area
The Attica basin constitutes the wider study area and is located in the Region of Attiki. The
municipalities of Attica basin (including the municipalities of West Athens) exhibit multilevel
inequalities. In demographic terms, the municipalities of Attica basin present a population decline
between the years 2001 – 2011 (-6,49%) (Papagiannis, et al 2011: 3-1). Due to the economic crisis
is provided that there will be a wave of migration, a declining birth rate (which is already the case
for the whole country) and an increased mortality rate (Kalogirou et al. 2011). At the same time, the
declared income earnings reflect the intense disparities. The municipalities of north and south part
of Attica basin demonstrate very high incomes while the spatial units of West Athens and Piraeus
own the lowest incomes (Kalogirou et al. 2011, Pantazis and Psycharis 2016). The Attica basin is
surrounded by the mountains of Hymettus, Penteli, Parnitha and Aigaleo – Poikilo, while the
coastline of the Saronic Gulf is the boundary in the south. These mountains are one of the most
important natural resources of the basin, because they provide valuable ecosystems and flood
protection; they form appropriate climatic conditions and contribute to the reduction of air pollution
(Papagiannis et al. 2011: 3-80). However, they have lost their value as primary forest ecosystems
through intensive human interventions. The major problems are related to the pressure from the
building processes, fires, deforestation, tourism, soil erosion, intensive road network etc.
(Papagiannis et al. 2011: 3-80, 3-81). Figure 1 depicts the multidimensional vulnerabilities of each
municipality in Attica basin by presenting social and biophysical vulnerabilities combined.
Figure 1. Built environment vulnerability in conjunction with the risk of extreme high temperatures, social vulnerability
and high flood risk areas. Source: Krommyda (2015), EL.STAT. (2011), MEEN (2012) and Sapountzaki and Chalkias
(2013), adaptation by the author.
European Water 59 (2017)
209
Specifically the most economically vulnerable municipalities are located in the Regional Units of
Piraeus and West Athens unlike the municipalities of the rest of the basin, which present a better
condition. The three municipalities, which combine multilevel and high degree of vulnerability are
Athens, Piraeus and Agia Varvara, where in times of heat waves and floods, is estimated that:
n The oldness of built environment will have unpredictable consequences in people’s everyday
life.
n Socio-economic vulnerabilities may get worse because of the unequal distribution of climate
change impacts.
n Vulnerable environmental infrastructure will be further disrupted.
2.2 Focusing on West Athens
After identifying the most vulnerable spatial units (Figure 1), the municipalities of West Athens
were chosen as focused study area. Table 1 gives a comprehensive inventory of the current situation
in West Athens while Figure 2 shows the situation spatially.
Table 1. Current situation in West Athens.
Sector
Description
Geography
The Regional Unit of West Athens:
- is located in the western part of Attica basin
- is located nearby the mountains of Aigaleo and Poikilo
- is penetrated by the river Kifissos and other streams (east side)
Demography
- Negative population change 2001-2011 [total: -2%, the largest decreases occurred in Agia Varvara:-15,3%
and Aigaleo: -10,2%]
- Strong emerging aging trend
Society /
Economy
Bold socio-economic problems:
- social segregation from the rest of Attica basin
- unemployment (most of the municipalities have higher unemployment rate than the national average)
- low average declared income (lower than the average reported income of Attiki)
- increase of migrants
Regulation of
space / Urban
issues
- Intensely urbanized municipalities with high density and lack of public spaces: Agia Varvara, Aigaleo,
Peristeri, Ilion, Agioi Anargiroi
- Main land use: mixed
- Degraded built environment
- Total green spaces: available 1,3 m2 of urban green space per inhabitant
- Open spaces and green areas are as low as 4% of the total area of West Athens
- Former quarries on the mountains of Aigaleo and Poikilo are required to be reforested
Risks /
Vulnerabilities
- Eshatia’s stream is the main recipient of rainwater
- The parts that are traversed by Kifisos river are at risk from future floods
- Most of the seven municipalities show high vulnerability of the build environment and increased risk of
extreme high temperatures (in summer) combined with high social vulnerability (figure 1)
- Major vulnerable social groups: elderly, poor families, homeless, children, patients, Roma, migrants
Source: Krommyda and Oikonomou (2016), ASDA (2014), EL.STAT. (2011), MEEN (2012), Lekkas et al. (2010) and Sapountzaki
and Chalkias (2013), adaptation by the author.
Many municipalities of West Athens exhibit high vulnerability of the built environment,
increased risk of high temperatures and future floods. Especially, the areas located in both sides of
Kifissos River and Eshatia stream indicate very high flood risk. In socioeconomic level, problems
like social segregation, high unemployment rates and low average declared income affect
negatively the adaptive capacity of society. Moreover, high urbanized areas with high density,
degraded built environment and lack of open spaces create unsustainable living conditions.
3. PLANNING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
3.1 The broader strategy
The tackling measures for climate change may apply to all governance levels (international,
V. Krommyda
210
national, local), however empirical data show that mitigation acts mainly on the international and
national scale, while adaptation has application on the local level (Wilson and Piper 2010: 95-96).
This hierarchy of static scales is relatively unstable and may result in a complex process in which
different levels of governance can use “climate change” as an argument in order to claim legitimacy
on different governance scales (Wilson and Piper 2010: 100). Within this fuzzy and evolving
framework, a ‘Climate change mitigation and adaptation plan’ is created in order to address the
ongoing issue of climate change in Athens. It should be noted that the primary plan included 155
measures (spatial and intangible measures) for the whole of Attica basin, but this paper focuses on
the spatial interventions particularly in the municipalities of West Athens.
Figure 2. Current situation in West Athens. Source: Krommyda (2015), ASDA (2007), MEEN (2012),
adaptation by the author.
The strategic direction for climate change mitigation defines Athens as “Climate Neutral City”.
According to UNEP (2009), climate neutrality means that there is no production of complex
greenhouse gases and as a result the emissions are the minimum possible. A city can be considered
climate neutral if its emissions do not have any effects on the threshold of 2oC (Reusswig et al
2014). In order to achieve this strategy, the following objectives are set:
Μ.1/ Energy supply and energy infrastructure
Μ.2/ Energy efficiency of buildings
Μ.3/ Social awareness and consumption
Μ.4/ Sustainable mobility and traffic congestion
Μ.5/ Urban Planning and Infrastructure
Μ.6/ Industry
Μ.7/ Economy and Innovation
Μ.8/ Waste Management
On the other hand, the adaptation will be based on the strategic direction which defines Athens
as “Climate Resilient City”. The specific objectives for this strategy are:
Α.1/ Flood protection
Α.2/ Protection from extreme high temperatures
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211
Α.3/ Network of green and blue infrastructure
Α.4/ Informing citizens
Α.5/ Special measures for vulnerable social groups
The goal of the both strategies is not to maintain the status quo, but to integrate the appropriate
measures that will facilitate change. The form of such a plan is not foreseen by the Greek
legislation, therefore is considered necessary to be an integral part of an overall strategic plan. This
plan must be consistent with the guidance given by the 2nd National Climate Change Program
(MEEN 2002), National Adaptation Strategy (MEEN 2015) and the Regulatory (Master) Plan for
Athens. At the same time, coordination with the other sectoral plans and cooperation for the
effective implementation of the cross-sectoral measures are necessary.
3.2 Action plan
The following inputs were used for the adequate composition of the action plan:
n 2nd National Climate Change Program (2002)
n Regulatory (Master) Plan for Athens
n Similar climate change plans of other countries’ cities
n Relevant IPCC studies
n Studies by ICLEI
n UN studies
It should be noted that the greatest success of such a plan would become possible if citizens
participate actively in every stage of the process (constant interaction, feedback process,
participatory selection of objectives and implementation). The Action plan, which includes 15
spatial interventions, is attributed in Table 2, while Figure 3 shows the mapping of these measures.
Table 2. Action plan spatial interventions for West Athens.
Measures
Spatial interventions (description)
Expansion of the subway network
(M1)
Extension of subway network in Peristeri - Ilion, Ag. Varvara Piraeus.
Improving cycling infrastructure
by increasing the number of cycle
paths, while the existing cycle
paths will be widened and
upgraded (M2)
Combination with the measure AM8 and AM10. The aim is to link
municipalities’ centers and their recreational areas. The proposed bicycle
network reaches 15.6 km. Bike rental stations and secure parking places
are considered crucial. It is necessary to upgrade the pedestrian zones and
sidewalks in order to create a better urban environment that will give
impetus to cycling and hiking. [Areas of intervention: Agioi Anargiroi
Kamatero, Ilion, Petroupoli, Peristeri, Ag. Varvara, Haidari]
Retrieving woodlands through
reforestation (A1)
Combination with the measure AM9. Quarries rehabilitation in Poikilo
Mt. and conversion into green enclaves. Relocation and usage conversion
of military camps in Haidari (SDV Karaiskaki A and firing range field
KEVOP) and Agioi Anargiroi (301 military factory). [Areas of
intervention: Agioi Anargiroi Kamatero, Ilion, Petroupoli, Peristeri,
Ag. Varvara, Haidari]
Acquisition of former factories,
use for cultural and leisure
activities while the design of the
buildings to be based on
bioclimatic principles (AM1)
Acquisition of the former factories (which have no current use):
BIOCHROM (located in Agia Varvara) and BIOFIAL (located in Ilion) -
conversion into supralocal culture centers. The new buildings should
serve as good examples of bioclimatic design (green surfaces and roofs).
Continuous surface and
underground network for
rainwater collection (and storage)
connected to underground
pipelines. Connection between
the surface transmission network
and the streams (AM2)
Creation of additional rainwater network, especially in areas with
drainage problems (Figure 2):
- Petroupoli: Ag. Triados St.
- Ilion, Peristeri: Thivon St., Konstantinoupoleos St., Chiou St. - Andrea
Papandreou St., Ag. NikolaouElaionIdomenos - Kamaterou St.
- Peristeri: Athinon Av. Sfakion St., junction of Kavala St. -Athinon
Av. (Haidarorema), junction of KyprouDionisiou Solomou St.
- Aigaleo: Edessis St. Koritsas St.
- Agioi AnargiroiKamatero: central square and Bibiza St.
V. Krommyda
212
Measures
Spatial interventions (description)
Rehabilitation and reformation of
the riverbed’s open parts of
Kifissos river and its tributaries
(AM3)
Regeneration of Kifissosuncovered riverside areas (from Attiki Odos to
the military factory in Ag. Anargiroi - length 5.6 km). The same applies
to the open section of the Eshatias’ stream (Ag. AnargiroiKamatero).
Design of linear parks in the
uncovered riverside areas (AM4)
Directly related to the measure AM3. Design of linear parks in the
uncovered riverside areas of Kifissos river and its tributaries (Ag.
AnargiroiKamatero).
Implementation of a sustainable
urban drainage system with
permeable pavement, green roofs
on buildings, rainwater retention
ponds, artificial wetlands and
ditches (Sustainable Drainage
Systems -SUDS) (AM5)
Adequate infrastructures in areas with drainage problems (the same areas
that are mentioned in the description of measure AM2).
[Areas of intervention: Agioi Anargiroi Kamatero, Ilion, Petroupoli,
Peristeri, Ag. Varvara, Haidari]
Use of water reservoirs for the
accumulation of water that comes
from the mountains (AM6)
Water accumulation of the eastern slopes of Poikilo Mt. near the
residential zone. [Areas of intervention: Agioi Anargiroi Kamatero,
Ilion, Petroupoli, Peristeri, Haidari]
Integrated system for collection,
storage and rainwater transfer
(AM7)
Rainwater collection sites connected to the rainwater reservoirs network.
[Areas of intervention: Agioi Anargiroi Kamatero, Ilion, Petroupoli,
Peristeri, Ag. Varvara, Haidari, Aigaleo]
Conversion of the roads into
green corridors throughout the
municipalities (AM8)
Networking green areas and public spaces - converting road expressways
to green corridors:
- Peristeri: Konstantinoupoleos Av. Kyprou Ethn. Makariou tsaldari
Av. Anapafseos Ag. Ierotheou Ksenokratous Ioanninon
Poikilo Mountain (theatre of ‘Foinikas’)
- Haidari, Aigaleo: Iera Odos to Athinon Av.
- Agioi AnargiroiKamatero, Ilion, Petroupoli: An. Papadreou Av.
Anatol. Romilias - Poikilo Mountain (theatre of ‘Petra’)
- Agioi AnargiroiKamatero: Dimokratias Av.-Ir. Politechniou-Chasias-
Eshatia stream-Filis
- Agia Varvara: Meg. Alexandrou Av.-El. Venizelou Av.
- Aigaleo, Peristeri: Thivon to Tsaldari Av.
- Agioi AnargiroiKamatero, Peristeri: Har. Trikoupi-Solomou-Troon-
Astrous to An. Papandreou Av.
- Creation of pocket parks
Creation of metropolitan parks
across the city (AM9)
- Regeneration of Elaionas’ area and space acquisition for the creation of
extensive green areas
- Relocation and usage conversion of military camps in Haidari (SDV
Karaiskaki A and firing range field KEVOP) and Agioi Anargiroi (301
military factory)
- Quarries rehabilitation (Poikilo Mt.) and conversion into green enclaves
- Aigaleo and Poikilo Mt. as supralocal green poles for recreation /
culture /sports
Strengthening and planting of
hedgerows along the sidewalks
(AM10)
In combination with the measure AM8. [Areas of intervention: Agioi
Anargiroi Kamatero, Ilion, Petroupoli, Peristeri, Ag. Varvara, Haidari,
Aigaleo]
Upgrading of the existing
degraded green areas (AM11)
Upgrading of the Environmental Awareness Park ‘Antonis Tritsis’ (Agioi
AnargiroiKamatero, Ilion)
Private and public urban gardens
(AM12)
Creation of urban gardens in the Environmental Awareness Park
Antonis Tritsis’, on specific sites of Aigaleo and Poikilo Mt. and in
Elaionas’ area. Cultivation of ‘pilot gardensin public buildingsroofs.
[Areas of intervention: Agioi Anargiroi Kamatero, Ilion, Petroupoli,
Peristeri, Ag. Varvara, Haidari, Aigaleo]
Source: Papagiannis et al. (2011), Vlastos et al. (2011), Reeve and Kingston (2014), Parmenidis et al. (2013),
Rotterdam Office for Sustainability and Climate Change (2009 and 2010), British Graduates Society (2007), Lekkas et
al. (2010), adaptation by the author.
4. FURTHER DISCUSSION
This article indicates that a plan for climate change must have a clear theoretical basis in order to
identify sufficiently the guidelines and the action plan’s measures. The main barrier lies on the
“immaturity” and ambiguity of nodal terms such as resilience, adaptive capacity, vulnerability, etc.
(Magnan 2010). At the same time, the relationship between local initiatives (microscale) and
national or international strategies (macroscale) usually shows opposite results (Smit and Wandel
European Water 59 (2017)
213
2006). This problem must be fully addressed as it leads to the strengthening of vulnerabilities and
shifts the risks to the wider social strata (Sapoutzaki 2014). Additionally, the citizens’ active
involvement is crucial in the planning process as they are the ones who will be called upon to
implement the measures.
Figure 3. Spatial intervention proposals for climate neutrality and resiliency in West Athens. Source: Krommyda
(2015), adaptation by the author.
As the Action Plan showed, the core idea of the spatial interventions is the proliferation and the
upgrading of the green and blue infrastructure. This will lead to the enhancement of the absorption,
collection and storage capacity of rainwater. In addition, the rational management of water will
contribute to the prevention of catastrophic flooding, while the stored rainwater could be used for
the irrigation needs. Furthermore, the urban green spaces and suburban green areas will function as
enhanced “green ventilation systems” and as filters for retaining gaseous pollutants. These
interventions are based on the principles of environmental planning and aim to improve the
microclimate of the area, while the creation of “green routes” will increase the adaptive capacity of
the urban systems and will form a better urban environment. Moreover, the Action Plan aims at
providing the optimal interconnection between the municipalities, while the configuration of
reachable and accessible neighbourhoods is attempted. The overall goal is to reinforce the resilience
of society along with the other urban systems not just by spatial changes but also targeting at the
modern individualistic culture. This change is considered crucial and the first step for its
achievement is regarded to be the active participation of citizens in public affairs.
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the Regulatory Master Plan of Athens 2021). NTUA, Athens (in Greek).
Wilson E., Piper J. (2010) Spatial Planning and Climate Change. Oxon & New York: Routledge.
... We hope this paper will fill up this prolonged and overdue research gap. Climate change is caused by human factors (Treesa et al. 2017;Krommyda 2017;Balogh and Mizik 2021). Several multilateral agreements (from Kyoto 2012 to Paris 2016) have come into force to curb carbon emissions. ...
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The Australian agricultural sector is of high importance as a predominant contributor to GDP and export earnings. However, rapid global warming and climate change may pose obstacles to agricultural exports. Existing literature shows that the issue is not receiving enough attention from policymakers, researchers, and academicians as it should. Therefore, in this paper, we have investigated the impact of global climate change on Australian agricultural export earnings. Our analyses, based on graphical, statistical, and econometric estimation (ordinary least squares) for the data period of 1990–2022, reveal that climate change caused by environmental pollution is harming Australian agricultural export performance. Specifically, environmental degradation and the average yearly temperature increase in Australia triggered by the exponential growth of CO2 emissions have negative impacts on Australian agricultural export growth. As the agricultural sector contributes about one-third of Australia's total export earnings, the rapid decline in its export earnings may create multiple imbalances in the Australian economy in the future. Thus, the country should launch immediate preventive actions to ameliorate the environmental condition, defending its agricultural export performance and maintaining environmental sustainability.
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In our times, "classical" interventionist planning and the traditional land use regulatory model are gradually giving way to "strategic spatial planning", necessary for the efficient and coordinated management of spatial change in fragmented and uncertain environments. The author presents the multilevel research paths of critical thinking in the field of strategic spatial planning, territorial cohesion, and sustainable development as a point of recasting of spatial policies in Europe.
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Government debt crisis and recession in Greece cause social, economic and demographic changes that increase human and social vulnerability to natural and climate change hazards, also to “forgotten” but re-emerging social risks (e.g. poverty, malnutrition, homelessness). Human and social vulnerability heightens further due to increase of the institutional, i.e. declining capacity of institutions to respond effectively to stressors. Resilience and adaptations that are performed as deliberate or uncontrolled reaction to increasing vulnerability result in vulnerability redistribution which only rarely turns to the benefit of the most vulnerable. Frequently, resilience performances become accountable for the emergence of new hazards and exposure as well as unfair vulnerability transference. The present paper deals with the city of Athens and attempts to: (1) reveal the enhanced spectrum of risks, forms of exposure, and vulnerability in the city as a result of the crisis; (2) elevate the multiplying effect of the crisis on human and social vulnerability; (3) map the stressor-independent part of social-human vulnerability in Athens and (4) elevate adaptation/resilience resulting in vulnerability (re)allocation in time and space. Except of the theoretical background the paper turns to advantage geo-statistical data, findings of social survey studies and information being available by electronic and print media.
Book
Spatial planning has a vital role to play in the move to a low carbon energy future and in adapting to climate change. To do this, spatial planning must develop and implement new approaches. -- Wilson and Piper explore a wide range of issues in this comprehensive book on the relationship between our changing climate and spatial planning, and suggest ways of addressing the challenges by taking a longer-sighted approach to our preparation for the future. -- The authors take an evidence-based look at this hugely important topic, providing a well-illustrated text for spatial planning professionals, politicians and the interested public, as well as a useful reference for postgraduate planning, geography, urban studies, urban design and environmental studies students. --Book Jacket.
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This paper reviews the concept of adaptation of human communities to global changes, especially climate change, in the context of adaptive capacity and vulnerability. It focuses on scholarship that contributes to practical implementation of adaptations at the community scale. In numerous social science fields, adaptations are considered as responses to risks associated with the interaction of environmental hazards and human vulnerability or adaptive capacity. In the climate change field, adaptation analyses have been undertaken for several distinct purposes. Impact assessments assume adaptations to estimate damages to longer term climate scenarios with and without adjustments. Evaluations of specified adaptation options aim to identify preferred measures. Vulnerability indices seek to provide relative vulnerability scores for countries, regions or communities. The main purpose of participatory vulnerability assessments is to identify adaptation strategies that are feasible and practical in communities. The distinctive features of adaptation analyses with this purpose are outlined, and common elements of this approach are described. Practical adaptation initiatives tend to focus on risks that are already problematic, climate is considered together with other environmental and social stresses, and adaptations are mostly integrated or mainstreamed into other resource management, disaster preparedness and sustainable development programs.
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Sustainable development, although a widely used phrase and idea, has many different meanings and therefore provokes many different responses. In broad terms, the concept of sustainable development is an attempt to combine growing concerns about a range of environmental issues with socio-economic issues. To aid understanding of these different policies this paper presents a classification and mapping of different trends of thought on sustainable development, their political and policy frameworks and their attitudes towards change and means of change. Sustainable development has the potential to address fundamental challenges for humanity, now and into the future. However, to do this, it needs more clarity of meaning, concentrating on sustainable livelihoods and well-being rather than well-having, and long term environmental sustainability, which requires a strong basis in principles that link the social and environmental to human equity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Population and Housing Census
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EL.STAT. (2011) Population and Housing Census. Available at: http://www.statistics.gr/2011-census-pop-hous (accessed 20.1.2017).
General Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development
General Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development. (2008) FEK 128Α/03.07.2008. Athens (in Greek).