An overview of the risks facing Qingdao city, China, and how the ACCC Risk Approach can help build resilience.

1. Coastal Climate Risks in
Qingdao:
Integrating non-structural
measures into policy and
planning.
Dr. Rebecca Nadin – ACCC Director
8 June 2016

2. The Adaptation to Climate Change in China Phase II (ACCC II) is a risk-based climate adaptation-planning project. It aims to introduce
risk based adaptation approaches into 5 provinces – Guizhou, Jiangxi, Jilin, Inner Mongolia & Ningxia – and 1 municipality – Qingdao
ACCC II aims to provide provincial policy makers, researchers and technical experts with:
1. the research, data, technical and practical support for the development of Provincial climate risk management policies and plans .
2. training and capacity building for risk-based adaptation to those involved in the drafting, development and delivery of respective
climate risk and resilience planning by introducing them to risk-based planning methodologies and concepts.
3. Develops and uses a risk based adaptation planning road map
4. Aims to share to share knowledge and learning with other developing countries.
Risk Focus:
• Guizhou – karst desertification risk.
• Inner Mongolia – grassland protection. Cross-sector links include – grassland protection and ecological compensation programmes for
herders, climate change, water resources, long-term use rights transfers, urbanisation, agriculture and energy
• Jiangxi and Jilin – agriculture (rice) risks.
• Ningxia – health risks among populations with chronic conditions.
• Qingdao – coastal flood risks.
Partners: National Development and Reform Commission and Provincial Development Reform Commissions.
What is ACCC II

3. Qingdao context
• Qingdao is a low-lying city,
with multiple bays and rivers
running through the city
• Heavy urbanisation-loss of
coastal ecosystems
(marsh,mangroves, dune
shrubs)
• Beach erosion – e.g. Lingshan
Bay losing 70m/decade
• Loss of adequate
sedimentation and heavy
construction =soil compaction.

4. Coastal flooding in Qingdao is driven by:
• Typhoons (the 4 typical tracks
opposite)
Associated
• Surge
• Wind waves
• Heavy rainfall
ACCC II :
• focus is on coastal flood risks and
opportunities.
• Approx 400km of coastline
(including Qingdao Harbour)
• Time scales of interest :Present day,
2020, 2030, 2050
Aim:
• informing adaptation policy
• quantifying future risks and the
ability of alternative adaptation
options to reduce that risk

5. Qingdao Coastal Flooding Impacts

6. Non-structural/green solutions are likely to feature:
At the shoreline
Realignment of the shoreline (selective) – to provide sediment to the system and reduce maintain costs (where
possible)
Natural shoreline protection: To maintain a coastal buffer and avoid coastal squeeze (i.e. a narrowing of the beach
as sea levels rise – allowing the shoreline to retreat in places).
use of natural promontories to stabilise the beach
Improved management of surface run-off
SUDS (urban ponds), green roofs etc
Improved Spatial Planning for:
New development areas
location of critical infrastructure
type of buildings – more resilient
Improved forecasting and warning
Saving lives
Reducing Damage
ACCCII Managing Risk through a
Portfolio of Responses

7. Flood management is changing: From flood control to strategic flood risk management
FRM:
•Promotes resilience to extreme events and capable of adapting to unknown future
change.
•Manages risk through a portfolio of responses
•Accepts no single response provides the whole solution and residual risks will always
exist.
•Uses creativity and innovation to deliver multiple benefits and attract multiple funders.
Growing Understanding Green infrastructure has:
•The potential to contribute to both flood risk reduction and provide ancillary benefits
across a wider range of ecosystem services.
But
•Grey solutions often prevail (as perceived to be more effective, efficient and easier to
implement)
A desire to be innovative but delivery is not straightforward and requires a willingness to
develop whole system solutions and work across sectors to develop portfolios of
responses.
Considerations & Challenges: Integrating
Non Structural/Green solutions in Policy and
Planning
Need for Balance
grey and green
infrastructure

8. Thank you.
Rebecca.nadin@intasave.org.cn