“By giving nature more space in public spaces, the negative consequences of climate change can be limited,” wrote Tom Heck of Vrijdaggroep in an appeal to municipal authorities to take action on the matter. Every Friday during the summer months, Vrijdaggroep looks ahead to the elections on October 13.
Memories of the floods of July 2021 are still fresh in the collective Belgian memory. West Flanders was hit again in November 2023, followed by floods in the provinces of Liège and Vuerren in May 2024. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo then visited the affected areas in Vuerren to express his support and clearly stated that such extreme weather conditions were inevitable and caused by climate change will become more common in the future.
Therefore, in addition to preventing further climate change, spatial planning that anticipates the consequences of this change also becomes crucial.
Spatial Planning and Extreme Weather Events
In regions where extreme weather events are frequent, public spaces have been adapted to such conditions for some time. Austria, for example, is investing in infrastructure in mountainous areas to prevent devastation caused by floods.
Such adjustments will require effort on the part of citizens. For example, the city of Ghent offers free advice on greening front gardens to individuals, provided they clear part of their front garden. Similar measures can also be implemented through permits. In Leoben, it has been mandatory for both citizens and businesses for some time to install a water tank, so that large amounts of rainwater are stored, slowly drained into the sewer system and act as a reserve in case of drought.
In order to create and maintain support for such private initiatives, it is important that municipalities and government in general set a good example in the design of public spaces. This should be an important topic in the upcoming municipal elections: How can municipalities design their public spaces in a way that makes them allies in the fight against the consequences of climate change?
Weather-Resilient Municipalities in Emergencies: Giving Nature More Space
admire “A Practical Guide to Climate Resilient Buildings and Communities“The UN explains that the steps to be taken must be tailored to the area concerned. Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution, the general guideline is that nature should be given more space in public spaces. In Belgium, many surfaces are paved, which prevents rainwater from seeping into the ground. This leads to a significant drop in the water table during prolonged drought and to waterlogging and the risk of flooding during heavy rains.
In addition to paving, drainage is also crucial. Instead of draining away quickly, water can be directed to planted areas. An interesting option is a dual or multi-flow drainage system, where waste water and rainwater are drained separately. This makes it easy to reuse rainwater.
Green and blue public spaces
Public spaces need to become greener and bluer. Spongy landscapes, which can store a lot of water, are indispensable allies. They help with heavy rainfall by storing water and are essential for water supplies during droughts.
More nature in public spaces also ensures that built infrastructure heats up less in the summer, creating more livable microclimates. This is especially essential during heat waves. Furthermore, greening cities and villages increases the quality of life of residents, creating a win-win situation for residents, biodiversity and the climate.
By giving nature more space in public spaces, the negative aspects can be avoided. Ramifications Climate change is limited. In addition, this also helps additional Combating climate change and promoting biodiversity. Place Flagey in Brussels is an example of how not creating public space in the face of climate change is possible; although more plantings are now being provided, this is still marginal in terms of scale and impact.
Challenges
The advantage of paved surfaces is that they are easy to maintain. However, there are technical solutions that can also make green and blue spaces easy to maintain. Solutions are also available for institutional challenges arising from the division of powers. Waterways rarely fall under the jurisdiction of municipalities, but if municipalities were to become responsible for maintaining the banks, regions or districts would not have to do so. In this way, municipalities could prevent trees, shrubs, etc. from ending up in rivers during high water levels, with harmful consequences. There are already examples of such win-win situations. For example, the municipality of Leoben guarantees the maintenance of the greening of a regional street on its territory.
It is essential to create such institutional and environmental synergies for more resilient municipalities. Prevention is better than cure.
Tom Heck (1995) He holds a PhD in Law. He works as a PhD researcher and teaching assistant at the Institute of Contract Law at KU Leuven. He is a member of the Friday Group.
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