Urban Waterfront Design to Address Sea Level Rise. The Case Study of Bådparken (Aalborg, DK)

Abstract

The manifestations of climate change, characterized by a greater frequency of extreme weather events and rising sea levels (SLR), represent an unprecedented challenge that requires adaptable and far-sighted public policies. In urban contexts, the impact of climate change is particularly pronounced, requiring specific urban planning strategies that are not only adaptive and reactive, but also preventive. However, the complex dynamics of climate change and the extent of SLR present a high degree of uncertainty that grows exponentially with increasing time. Managing uncertainty, particularly the profound uncertainty linked to SLR, is a challenge in adapting to climate change. According to the IPCC Special Report on Oceans and the Cryosphere, global mean sea level (GMSL) has risen by 17 cm over the 20th century and this phenomenon is accelerating. Therefore, by 2050, one billion people living in low-lying areas will be exposed to coastal risks. Various responses can allow densely populated coastal areas to adapt to SLR, coastal erosion and flooding, but it should be kept in mind that the number of adaptation options decreases with sea level rise.