TOWARDS RESILIENT URBAN ECO-FORMS IN PRISTINA, KOSOVA.

Abstract

Climate change is an urgent environmental challenge faced by 21st-century cities (IPCC, 2011). These cities are highly vulnerable to climatological hazards. As a result, global warming, rising sea levels, urban heat islands among other ills are eminent. Incidentally, cities have played a critical role in the alteration of climatic balances due to both GHGs emissions and growth into vulnerable areas without preventive mechanisms being put in place. One key factor exacerbating the vulnerability of cities is because the 21st century rapid urbanization of the world population has resulted to the percentage of urban dwellers growing from 29% in 1950 to 49% in 2005 with prospects of it growing to 60% by 2030. On the same note, urban development has in most developing countries been dominated by low-density, single-land use urban form phenomenon. These development trends have contributed a lot to Global GHGs emissions in cities and beyond. On the same note, the single land use approach has led to lack of well-balanced urban developments, more so at the neighborhood scale. This is due to the fact most cities focus on housing provision and conventional storm management approaches that do not anticipate disasters like floods.

Conventional planning that focuses on specific urban development problems (Urban forms) has brought about the need for more holistic approach that encompasses climatological factors like flooding vulnerabilities. Thus, resilient urban eco-form planning attempts to integrate planning policy measures that include flooding adaptation (physical vulnerability reduction) and GHGs emissions mitigation. Cities are subject to flooding physical vulnerabilities in varying scales which call for appropriate procedures during the planning, urban and renewal. Resilient Urban Eco-forms, as explained in scholarly publications, have the potential to mitigate against GHGs emissions as well as promote flash flood adaptation through both adequate densities, mixed land use and green infrastructure planning and development respectively (Jabareen, 2014; Dodman, 2009)

This research delved into assessing how urban forms affect both GHG emissions mitigation (through density, mixed-use and accessibility) and flash flood vulnerability reduction (adaptation) and determine how urban policies can aid in achieving resilient urban eco-forms in the city of Pristina. The research focused on three case study neighborhoods that are most vulnerable to flash floods besides being low-density and single-use in nature. However, new spatial and climate change policies; and urban development plans have been introduced that are likely to positively impact on GHGs mitigation and adaptation. The research used an integrated methodology that used both secondary and primary data sources. Content analysis of spatial policies and development plans. Spatial data was acquired for the Kosovo spatial data geoportal. These two constituted the secondary data sources whereas structured interviews, photography, and direct observations formed the primary data collection approaches. Data was analyzed using several approaches that included ArcGis 15, SPSS 20 and Five Component Protocol.

The findings of the research revealed the urban form characteristic of the three case study areas as far as density and mix of land use and green infrastructure are concerned. Actually, the three neighborhoods are dominated by single land use of low density and lack requisite green infrastructure. These conditions have influenced the accessibility to urban functions like schools, recreational areas, and public transport. On the same note, the lack of green infrastructure, more so sustainable urban drainage and Green cover has compromised stormwater management leading to frequent flash floods in the areas of study. Even though new policies and development plans have been proposed and are partially being implemented, their effectiveness can only be felt if they are more focused on GHGs mitigation and flash flood adaptation by completely eradicating low-density and single-use urbanization and promoting green infrastructure.

Keywords:

Climate Change, Urban Eco-Forms, Resilience, Mitigation, Adaptation, GHGs, Flash Floods, Vulnerability, Low Carbon Development.