Climate adaptation creates new opportunities for deltas
Climate change will bring about a radical change in water management, especially in low-lying estuaries. At the same time, it will also create new opportunities for infrastructure, urban renewal and land reform. Gradually moving the Rotterdam harbour out to sea or building a 7 GW tidal power plant in the Severn Estuary at Bristol are just two relevant examples of engineering that will be discussed at Aquaterra 2009.
Revitalisation of old harbours
Rotterdam has begun to build a second harbour complex off the coast, which will soon provide easy docking for large vessels. This will free up old harbours in the inner city, allowing the municipality to rebuild them into new living spaces and revitalise the centre. Furthermore, the roofs of the new constructions will be covered with grass, which will retain more rainwater and reduce water overload at street level during heavy rains. The green roofs will also allow easier cooling during hot summer days.
Transport, energy, nature and coastal defence in a single project
The idea to generate power in the Severn estuary between England and Wales goes all the way back to the 19th century. Until today, however, gigantic projected construction costs and possible environmental damage have held back all the plans. Climate change has now convinced the British government to rethink this colossal project in a new form. The construction of a 7 GW tidal power scheme in the Severn estuary will provide several opportunities:
- a new transport connection between Cornwall and South Wales
- flood protection
- new harbour construction, and
- renewable energy generation, which is of course the main purpose of the project.
The UK government has great expectations for this large-scale project. It also recognises that project management will be of paramount importance in terms of financing, contracting, and ownership issues.
For more information about the Aquaterra conference programme, click here |
 |
