Blue-green spaces (bio-retention and infiltration) for flood reduction
Copenhagen, Denmark
Description: The Greater Copenhagen Utility (HOFOR) is the metropolitan area’s utility company and is in charge of water and waste water services, district heating and cooling, and gas supply for eight municipalities representing approximately 20 percent of Denmark’s population. HOFOR operates as a private company that is 100 percent owned by the eight municipalities it serves, with the City of Copenhagen owning a 73 percent share. Copenhagen is a pioneer in the area of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. It has captured its achievements and objectives in ‘Climate adaptation and urban nature’ (2016). HOFOR is also known for being forward-thinking in water management practices—having, for example, rehabilitated Copenhagen’s polluted harbour in cooperation with the City of Copenhagen, to transform it into a recreational space for citizens.
Challenges: Serious pluvial flooding and extreme precipitation events are central challenges that the City of Copenhagen is increasingly grappling with, especially as the impacts of climate change unfold and test the resilience of the city and its infrastructure. The city experienced five major rainfall events between 2010 and 2016, including a 100- year storm in 2010 and a 1,000-year storm in 2011, the latter of which resulted in damages of more than EUR 800 million—excluding infrastructure repairs and indirect costs as reported by Insurance and Pension Denmark. This sent a clear signal that change was needed.
References
- American Society of Landscape Architects. (2016). ASLA Professional Awards. (accessed August 2019).
C40. (2016). C40 Good Practice Guides: Copenhagen - Cloudburst Management Plan. (accessed June 2019). - City of Copenhagen. (2019). Climate Adaptation: The Changing Climate and Weather Faces Copenhagen with a Number of Challenges. (accessed June 2019).
- Climate Adapt. (2016). The Economics of Managing Heavy Rains and Stormwater in Copenhagen – The Cloudburst Management Plan 2016. (accessed June 2019).
- Oppla. (2018). Cloudburst Management Plan, Copenhagen. (accessed June 2019).