Menu
FR
search
Events

Adaptation to climate change: levers, barriers and funding at the urban scale

  • Date : December 11th – 11:00-14:00
  • Location: Generation Climat – room 7
  • Languages: French & English
  • Organizers: I4CE, ADEME and AFD

 

Summary

The session RT1 « Levers and obstacles to urban climate adaptation » was moderated by V. Dépoues (I4CE) and took place before an audience of about twenty people. I. Galarraga (B3C) began the session by presenting the findings of a study aimed to estimate damages and adaptation needs of major cities in the world, using models. Clearly, results show the urgency to implement measures now to avoid growing economic costs. By comparing 10 French local authorities, G. Simonet (I4CE) underlines the importance of awareness, which can be a barrier to action as well as a strong driver. Finally, Olivia R. Rendon (Leeds University) spoke about results of a comparison between several European urban cities. The research shows the importance to make links between barriers and drivers to better understand the way to overcome the sources of inaction. The session was concluded by J. Duvernoy (ONERC, MDDEE) who highlights the importance of research projects to participate to implement adaptation strategies to climate change.

 

Objective: based on two recent action-research projects on adaptation to climate change and complemented by inputs from other researchers and feedback from local authorities, this session’s goal is to initiate a fruitful discussion regarding the conditions for the implementation of adaptation strategies at a local scale.

 

1) Presentation and discussion of the results the ABSTRACT-colurba project: an analysis of levers and barriers to implementation of adaptation strategies for climate change – the case of urban communities

 

This study realized in partnership with ADEME, the French Development Agency and the French Ministry of Environment relies on a sociological survey of 75 selected stakeholders from 10 selected French local urban communities. It analyzes the main levers and barriers (economic, organizational, and cognitive) attached to decision-making processes upstream to the implementation of adaptation strategies to climate change. The objective is to understand how local communities elaborate and implement their own actions to reduce the vulnerabilities to climate change of their territories – in order to increase knowledge on climate risk management at the urban scale.

 

A summary of the report will be distributed to the participants. More information on this project, available online (French only)

 

2) Presentation of the report: Financing urban adaptation to climate change impacts – Mapping of existing initiatives (July 2015)

Realized in partnership with the French Development Agency, this study is a mapping of the types of initiatives available for the financing of urban adaptation to climate change, offering additional options to more conventional sources of funding for climate change and sustainable development. Based on the review of 27 initiatives, the report shows a strong prevalence of initiatives supporting soft adaptation measures and reveals that local intermediaries play a significant role in financing urban adaptation to climate change.

 

Download the report

 

 

Program

Levers and obstacles to urban climate adaptation

  • Modération : Vivian Dépoues, chargé de recherche, I4CE
  • Guillaume Simonet, Project Manager I4CE
  • Ibon Galarraga, B3C
  • Olivia RENDON, University of Leeds
  • Conclusion : Jérôme Duvernoy, ONERC, French ministry of Ecology

 

Overview of available funding for urban climate adaptation

  • Modération : Nicolas Rossin, AFD
  • Clément Larrue, Project Manager AFD: the role of financial institutions as AFD for adaptation
  • Alexia Leseur, Program director I4CE: mapping of funding initiatives and available mechanisms
  • Manuel Araujo, Mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique : Feedback from cities in developing countries which have made use of such mechanisms: example of Quelimane

 

Conclusion:

Clément Larrue (AFD) and a Representative of UCCRN

 

11 Dec 2015

Adaptation to climate change: levers, barriers and funding at the urban scale

To learn more
  • 11/05/2025 Blog post
    From Pledges to Progress: Climate Finance a Decade After Paris

    Nearly a decade has passed since the Paris Agreement elevated finance to the heart of the climate agenda, embedding in Article 2.1(c) the ambitious goal of aligning global financial flows with low-emission, climate-resilient development. But for all the talk of “shifting the trillions,” we remain far from course. 

  • 10/31/2025 Foreword of the week
    A Paris Climate & Nature Week with a touch of ‘green budget’

    We were proud to contribute to the inaugural Paris Climate & Nature Week hosted by Sciences Po from 27 to 29 October, marking the 10 years of the Paris Agreement. I4CE weighed in on some of our core topics– lessons learnt over the past decade of climate action which can accelerate the  transition; the links between climate and development finance; as well as adaptation and the cost of inaction.

  • 10/28/2025
    From targets to action: the climate finance agenda needs a new impetus in Belèm

    Ten years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, what progress has been made to make financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development (the ambition set out in Article 2.1(c) of the Agreement)? And what is needed going forward? Although we still lack a comprehensive assessment of progress, this article draws on existing analysis of what can help align financial flows and examines the efforts made by governments and the financial sector to this end. It highlights a development in the debate towards a country-driven approach and a focus on real investment needs. It explores ways to overcome existing barriers to action despite a challenging global context. The article advocates that Article 2.1(c) should be viewed not as a stand-alone provision, but as something that requires full implementation of all the provisions of the Paris Agreement. It also calls for a shift from a target-focused to an action-focused finance agenda and discusses how the COP30 in Belém can contribute to this.

See all publications
Press contact Amélie FRITZ Head of Communication and press relations Email
Subscribe to our mailing list :
I register !
Subscribe to our newsletter
Once a week, receive all the information on climate economics
I register !
Fermer