Adapting public space to climate change

public space lessons

Briefing showing how thoughtfully designed public spaces offer urban areas their best opportunities to adapt to climate change.

Climate change is a clear and present reality that means warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, rising sea levels and more extreme weather. Even with efforts to cut carbon emissions, change is inevitable – so adapting our towns and cities has to be an urgent priority.

Thoughtfully designed public spaces offer urban areas their best opportunities to adapt, offering water storage, cooling and carbon absorption. This briefing from CABE Space sets out the lessons learned in the UK and around the world from using public spaces to adapt.

Published on 2 July 2008

Tagged with:
Squares | Streets | Waterside | Climate change | Public space | Sustainable development