The impact of tropical cyclone Haiyan in the Philippines : Contribution of spatial planing to enhance adaptation in the city of Tacloban

Tese de doutoramento, Alterações Climáticas e Políticas de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (Ciências do Ambiente), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2018The 2013 International Panel on Climate Change, Fifth Assessment Report concluded that the warming of the climate was unequivocal. This has contributed to make the oceans warmer and the sea surface temperature to increase, which causes more water to evaporate into the atmosphere and contribute to the intensification of tropical cyclones. Global warming can also cause sea level to rise which will further exacerbate the impact of tropical cyclone storm surges flooding in low-lying coastal zones. In spite of some scientific uncertainties on how climate change affects tropical cyclones, the climate variability and change is definitely influencing these extreme weather events. In this context, this study will analyse the scientific discussion on the influence of climate change on tropical cyclones. Coastal areas around the world are becoming increasingly more exposed to the intensity of tropical cyclones which have been influenced by natural and anthropogenic factors. Communities, ecosystems and infrastructure in low lying-coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of these extreme weather events, especially populations who live in hazard-prone areas. Cities that have been affected by tropical cyclones, often take a long time to recover, because of not being able to anticipate and invest in preventive measures such as adaptation plans and increase the climate resilience of infrastructures, sectors and services. Many densely populated coastal cities need to regularly anticipate and adapt their spatial planning to be able to reduce their increasing vulnerabilities to these extreme events. As such, spatial planning can play an important role through the integration of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. measures. Policy instruments, like zoning and building codes can reduce the risk of natural hazards and vulnerabilities. Financial incentives for risk reduction such as tax incentives and disincentives or insurance can also be very effective tools and improve the resilience of people and infrastructure. Spatial planning has an important role in reducing the impacts of climate variability and change while promoting sustainable development by aligning itself with the Sendai framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In this century, a number of extremely intense tropical cyclones like Katrina and Sandy in the United States, Haiyan in the Philippines, and Morakot in Taiwan had devastating consequences, causing loss of lives and immense damages to infrastructure. Developing countries are particularly affected by these extreme weather events and often struggle to cope with their impacts. The intensity of these climate disasters showed a number of vulnerabilities and left a degree of uncertainty about the impact of future tropical cyclones. In this context, this thesis examines the roles and responsibilities of central and local governments in making the necessary investments and strategies towards the improvement of climate resilient infrastructures. This study analyses the scale of the impact of tropical cyclone Haiyan storm surge in the Philippines which was responsible for a high number of victims and extensive damage, in particular to the coastal city of Tacloban. Hayan has shown a high vulnerability to the impacts of these extreme weather events in a region that is used to the tropical cyclones. As a consequence of Haiyan, zoning regulations were applied and an involuntary resettlement process took place of the informal settlers that were living in the hazard-prone areas. The thesis will examine the country’s legal framework and how climate change adaptation and disaster risk management measures are being mainstreamed into local government plans through land use planning. It« will also analyse the level of public participation in the discussions relating to land use planning and on the integration of Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction. Haiyan was determinant to set in motion new legislation, policies and plans in the Philippines and it brought additional financial and human resources to support the rehabilitation and recovery process. With the last three consecutive years being on record for the highest registered temperatures, there is an urgent need by the international community and their respective countries to step up measures to reduce the impacts of climate change