Nieuws De uitdagingen zijn inmiddels duidelijk. Wereldwijd moeten we wendbare, duurzame en gezonde steden en gebouwen ontwikkelen om de gevolgen van klimaatverandering te ondervangen. Dat is wel een enorme uitdaging, want de gevolgen van klimaatverandering worden maar langzaam zichtbaar. Daarbij komt dat klimaatverandering pas echt wordt gevoeld wanneer het mensen direct treft. Een overstroming van je eigen woning of urenlang zonder stroom zitten. Na heel wat “harde” (wetenschappelijke) publicaties en cijfers over de kosten en gevolgen van klimaatverandering, wordt het tijd om actie te ondernemen en tot uitvoering te komen. Daarbij helpt het om te bedenken dat klimaatverandering ook een “zachte”, meer menselijke kant heeft. Dat benadrukte Henk Ovink, eerste Watergezant van Nederland, tijdens de Canadian – Netherlands Resilient Cities Summit in Toronto.
Spatial challenges
The trade mission in Toronto was mainly focused on water and flood management. The city suffers from heavy rainfall, flooding of the Don River and severe droughts in the summer. All these climate related incidents affect the livability of the city, the wellbeing of its inhabitants and not to mention all the physical damage it causes. The city of Toronto is searching for new and innovative ways to prevent or minimize these climate related incidents. Examples are the public parks Corktown Common and Sherbourne Common in which water design solutions are combined with a park and recreation opportunities.
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by Anke van Hal (Dutch Green Building Council)
‘Resilient cities and buildings - Afbeelding 1’
Vancouver is dedicated to becoming the greenest city by 2020. Therefore the trade mission in Vancouver emphasized on sustainable neighborhood development and sustainable ‘green’ buildings. During the Canadian Green Building Conference delegates had the opportunity to explore new innovative design solutions, learn more about green building certificates such as LEED and the Living Building Challenge, the process of retrofits, and regenerative neighborhood design. During the trade mission the Canadian Green Building Council and the Dutch Green Building Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in which they agree to cooperate more closely and share more knowledge and expertise about sustainable urban development.
Sherbourne common (source: GBSS Magazine) en Corktown Common
‘Resilient cities and buildings - Afbeelding 2’
In addition, due to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by the Canadians, the Dutch government and businesses made seventy scholarships available for Canadian students to study in The Netherlands. As a sign of gratitude by the Canadians, there are also ten scholarships available for Dutch students to study in Canada.
Animation at the liberation convention by Nicolien Opdam, animatiewerkplaats.nl
Cover: ‘2015.06.25_Resilient cities and buildings_600’
Door Wendy de Hoog
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