Forest image in Tanga

@Roshni Lodhia

Reducing the impact of urban flooding

Blue-green spaces (bio-retention and infiltration) for flood reduction

Copenhagen, Denmark

Blue-green spaces (bio-retention and infiltration) for flood reduction
Primary Implementer
City of Copenhagen and the Greater Copenhagen Utilities (HOFOR)
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.

Aerial images of the Amani Forest and East Usambara Mountains.

©Roshni Lodhia

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

Landscapes and biodiversity of the East Usambara mountains and Amani Forest Nature Reserve

 ©Roshni Lodhia