Protecting cities against the challenges of climate change and extreme weather
Megacities cover less than 0.2% of the Earth’s land area but are home to one person in every ten on the planet (World Meteorological Organisation). Most urban dwellers live in developing countries, often in informal settlements vulnerable to hazards, such as air pollution, heatwaves and flooding. As climate change increases the frequency of environmental hazards, cities must find new ways to adapt to protect the lives of urban populations.
Focusing on Shanghai and Hangzhou in the Yangtze River Delta region in China, this UK-China science collaboration has produced new tools to help urban planners and decision makers assess and mitigate the risks, providing a foundation for services to support climate and weather resilient economic development and social welfare.
Strong relationships between the project partners and departmental authorities enabled the team to deliver influential policy briefings and work closely with local authorities directly involved in the municipal governments’ climate policy making process. The Shanghai Municipal Government has included the team’s policy recommendations in its 2017-2035 Master Plan and the implementation planning of the 13th Five Year Plan.
Collaboration between China and the UK on climate service and risk assessment related to community, economy, health, large infrastructure, and the environment has helped to build understanding. The project has mobilised academia, research institutes and governmental organisations, providing a successful example of collaboration, information and knowledge sharing across governmental departments in Shanghai and Hangzhou. It has also improved understanding of the changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme events in the future – outputs which can be directly used by other countries in Southeast Asia.
International collaboration in climate change research and learning experiences in climate risk mitigation from London and other exemplary cities help us to design effective policies and technical guides to protect our city from the effects of climate change.
Policy Brief of Shanghai Meteorological Service to the Mayor of Shanghai, Nov 2017
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Caption: UK-CHINA Research and Innovation Partnership Fund world class research and innovation partnership
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Development of an integrated urban framework for climate services in the Yangtze River Delta region
Professor Laixiang Sun, SOAS University of London and Professor Peiqun Zhang, National Climate Centre of China Meteorological Administration
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Sunlight sheds through thick leaves with signs and logo of National Climate Center on the right.
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Speaker (Dr Zhan Tian)：
Extreme weather-related events such as destructive floods and frequent heatwave caused by climate change
Are bringing significant challenges to urban infrastructures.
To better understand the impact of climate change on urban infrastructure,
This project provides a systemic risk assessment framework to address this issue.
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Dr. Zhan Tian is speaking in front of the camera with a white board full of writings in the background;
Caption: Dr. Zhan Tian，Research Associate Professor, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology
A clump of withered grasses flowing with the wind in desert;
The railway track in the desert is steaming;
A yellow flood is flowing;
A large swath of trees is flooded;
A costal town with houses and villages on the left and costal road and costs on the right. Some cars are on the road.
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Speaker (Dr Zhan Tian)：
Our project selected six cities, including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Hefei, Ningbo and Zhenjiang,
To assess the influences of climate change on their urban basic infrastructures
For water utilities, transportation, construction and human settlement.
In this study, we have not only assessed the impact of climate change on infrastructure in these areas,
But also analyzed potential new risks associated with climate change in the future.
Our research has already supported the local governments in their decision making on urban operations and planning.
If we are honored to receive the Newton Fund China Award,
We will be able to transfer our knowledge gained in this project to Guangdong-HongKong- Marco Great Bay area and Shenzhen,
To undertake the extreme flood risk assessment and develop robust decision-making for policy makers.
Meanwhile, we hope to promote this method in the other large deltas across the world like Mekong Delta,
To deal with the increasing climate change uncertainties and extreme flood management.
Our vision is that people and nature can coexist in harmony,
And human beings can take decisive and transformative action to minimize disaster losses.
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Dr. Zhan Tian is speaking in front of the camera with a white board full of writings in the background;
A researcher is sitting in front of big screens watching the data;
A researcher is typing the keyboard;
A researcher is sitting in front of big screens previewing the changing data;
A researcher walks into a room full of black servers;
The researcher is pressing buttons on the server;
The researcher walks towards another server and presses buttons;
The indicators on the servers are flashing yellow lights.
Dr. Zhan Tian is speaking in front of the camera in the office;
Two researchers are previewing the data on computers;
The screen in front of a researcher displays line graphs;
Dr. Zhan Tian is speaking in front of the camera in the office;
River flows with stones in different sizes in front.
A river flows in front of a golden woods; A river flows through a golden forest in the fall;
Dr. Zhan Tian is speaking in front of the camera in the office;
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The Newton Fund is devoted to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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Global Goals for Sustainable Development Logos of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development
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Presented by
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Logo of British Embassy Beijing
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Executive Producer
Zhan Zhang
Directed，Filmed，Edited by Manman Yang
Second Cameraman
Wei Wang
Produced by Believing is Seeing Studio Guangzhou
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Special thanks
UK Research and Innovation China
British Council
British Consulate General Guangzhou
National Climate Centre of China Meteorological Administration
Southern University of Science and Technology
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Newton Fund Delivery Partners
UK
Academy of Medical Sciences
British Academy
British Council
Met Office
Royal Academy of Engineering
Royal Society
UK Research and Innovation
Newton Fund Delivery Partners
CHINA
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Chinese Academy of Engineering
Chinese Meteorological Administration
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Science and Technology
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
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Development of an integrated urban framework for climate services in the Yangtze River Delta region
Project leads: Professor Laixiang Sun, SOAS University of London, UK and Professor Peiqun Zhang, National Climate Centre of China Meteorological Administration
Delivery partners: Met Office, UK, the Chinese Meteorological Administration and the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Atmospheric Physics
