C16: Randers Climate Ribbon - Climate Change Adaption as a Driver for urban Innovation

The Climate Ribbon is an area between the city and the River Gudenå/the Randers Fjord, and is a significant part of the city's overall urban development project “The City to the Water”. The area is appointed as a risk area R1 in the municipal CCA Plan. The CCA plan refers to the Flood Risk Management Plan regarding implementation of initiatives, and within the latter, the project "City of Water" is a major part of the plan containing several purposes and actions.

Figure 37. With 62,000 inhabitants (the 6th largest city in DK), Randers is situated at the river mouth of the northern part of the River Gudenå at the estuary of Randers Fjord, between the hillsides of the vally of the River Gudenå to the north and south.  

Randers City Council has a vision to connect the city to the water by 2021

Historically an industrial city with a busy port, the city now faces its back to the water and the nature. However, soon all port functions shall be totally relocated to another area along the fjord, the industrial area will be abolished, and a possibility for the city to turn to the water has emerged.

Thus, convening the city, the nature, and the water constitutes a major potential for future urban development. New CCA measures should be developed and implemented while at the same time fully respecting the unique nature of the Randers Fjord and the River Gudenå, bringing biodiversity closer to the city and generate nature based recreational activities close to the city center.

‘The City to the Water’ covers 92 hectares along the River Gudenå and the Randers fjord. The previous industrial and port area must be climate-proofed for urban development without losing its direct, attractive location at the center of nature with easy access to the water. In this process, Randers Municipality is seeking means to find new, innovative CCA solutions and mobilise investments (the C16 action) protecting the city agaings flooding by storm surge, while keeping direct and close contact with unique nature and future acces to water.

Traditional CCA based on embankments, dams and dikes saves the city from water damage, but also creates new barriers between the city and the water, resulting in a poorer experience of nature and greater distance between the city and the water. New buildings on high plinths create closed facades and dreary spaces that are not pleasant to pass by.

Climate Ribbon

An important feature of the urban development project is the creation of a new large coherent ‘Climate Ribbon’ connecting the city with the countryside to the east and west and at the same time connecting it to the water. The Climate Ribbon is a green corridor of 8.8 km, winding between the city and the water. Here, docks and embankments, urban nature, infrastructure, buildings, urban spaces, and city life integrate into one large CCA project.

Furthermore, the relocating of the port operations, and reducing of the traffic on Randers Bridge, two types of water could easily merge with a positive impact on biodiversity in this area. The meeting between the salty water of the Randers Fjord and the fresh water of the River Gudenå an improved water environment create the basis for a healthy and stable ecosystem with the potential of more animals and plants as well as new species of fish, birds and insects.

Figure 38: the merger of the two types of water – the fresh water of the River Gudenå and the salty water of Randers Fjord

The ultimate goal is to avoid new barriers between the city and the water, and instead include water as a positive resource and an active part of the solution to the city's challenges. However, solutions are not evident, so the purpose of the project is to gather knowledge and innovative CCA answers, disseminate and consolidate this knowledge, and create new experiences and eventually generate investments and continued momentum in the realization of the project.

Phase 1 deals with collecting relevant data on the contents of the Climate Ribbon and the subsequent launch of an international tender for innovative nature-based solutions.

What

With the help of external expertise, gained from other sub-projects, the complexity of the CCA should be completely illuminated. In order to mark out a particular zone for future works, prior analyses and studies of the Climate Ribbon should assess the real content and identify the Climate Ribbon area, soil conditions, establishment of sluice in the basin, controllable water mirror in the northern basin, nature content and terrain.

These assessments feed into the development of the tender documents for the international tender (C.16.2) on the development of innovative solutions to CCA in the context of urban development, maintaining access and contact with the nature and the water as the main parameter.

How

1. Thematic meetings with stakeholders, experts, institutions, universities, water companies, etc., to involve best practice from the European projects,
2. study tours,
3. create new study environments for research, the involvement of college students.

When

Phase 1: activities 1 - 3 

Where

The project area is a zone of about 8.8 km alongside the Gudenå River and Randers Fjord within the Randers City Center area.

What

This activity deals witha highly professional international tender (with prequalification of external experts and teams) that in the best possible way can bring forth innovative CCA solutions highlighting the greatest possible contact between the city and the water.

A major theme in the tender and for the subsequent project is the manner in which the energy of the water can be used as a defense against water by the storm surge as well as in other innovative nature based CCA solutions.

The expected results must be holistic and include several professional disciplines. This content can be seen as a kind of ‘Toolbox’ of CCA solutions depending on the development of the city and the urban spaces, buildings as well as the establishment of the natural areas.

Possible solutions should to the greatest extent assess the potential for gain and/or recovery of biodiversity in the area, as well as creation of growth in business development, (nature-based) tourism, and employment. The solutions for the Climate Ribbon will be an inspiration for both ports and coastal cities in the EU.

The tender should attract professionals within climate change, innovative people across disciplines from landscape achitects to hydrologist, biologist and engineers. Solutions should be found in the interaction between disciplines, and adapted to the specific socio-cultural-natural surrondings at the “Climate Ribbon”with a focus on CCA, innovation and applicability. It is important to attract international teams, as these may assure that the best available practices and knowledge will be at hand.

We are looking for urban solutions which do not create physical barriers between the city and the water, but integrated solutions where city and water may go hand in hand with CCA, urban development, recreational activities and urban life. We want holistic solutions, which may be a future inspiration for urban development cum climate change adaptation across Europe.

A demand for the competing teams will be digital presentations presenting present risk scenarios through videos, holograms or digital 3D modelling. Solutions will be shown in the workroom /Showroom (C16.3), which will be publically accesable in the city of Randers. The results of the international tender will be used for public dissemination of ideas for citizens and the city council.

How

Phase 1

• An international tender on the Climate Ribbon underlining the holistic approach, resulting in innovative and visionaly CCA solutions as exemplary projects for other port and coastal cities of the EU
• The tender takes place in 2018 and the best CCA solution will be selected by a jury of professional judges, local politicians etc.

Phase 2 and beyond  

• The following phase deals with communication and awareness raising, where investors, citizens, politicians and other stakeholders get information on the solution and CCA effects on city-life in general.

When: this takes primarily place during Phase 1, in 2018

Where: The project area is a zone of about 8.8 km alongside the Gudenå River and Randers Fjord within the Randers City Center area.

What

C16.1 focuses on communicating and branding the Climate Ribbon's vision for innovative solutions. A showroom/workroom in the city will be established conveying the tender results.

The showroom will consist of models of the possible solutions as well as a digital communication in the form of e.g. a hologram illustrating the risk of flooding by any storm and the CCA solutions for the protection of the city.

The workroom will be a workshop-like area, where the solutions are tested in models and digitally in co-creation with schools, the universities, the Museum, etc.

Methods of communication should be examined with a view to the application of digital forms of communication such as holograms, 3D-models, etc, in cooperation with schools, learning institutions, universities and museums with expertise in the area.

The objective is to show what a storm surge means for the city as it looks today without CCA, but also what the city wins by making the right solutions with a focus on protection against storm surge and the maintenance of contact with nature.

The goal is to tell about the Climate Ribbon’s solutions locally, nationally and internationally. This activity continues into 2021 and 2022 and beyond. Schools and universities are offered information and study possibilities in order to ensure sustainability.

How

1. Communication of solutions, methods and experiences through the establishment of a showroom/workroom

Where: The project area is a zone of about 8.8 km alongside the Gudenå River and Randers Fjord within the Randers City Center area.  

When: Phase 2 and Phase 3

C16.4 focuses on co-creating and developing the Climate Ribbon’s content together with citizens, investors and property owners as well as encouraging the establishment and realization of CCA solutions. Many stakeholders – the municipality, future constructors and investors, existing site owners/property owners, etc. – are involved in the realization of the project, facing both gains and challenges, and all of them must grasp the basic approach. I relation to this, an investigation of financing models and options is launched.

How:
1. Further development of the communication with a view to the realisation of CCA solutions in co-creation with city residents, investors, and property owners.

Where: the city of Randers

When: Phase 2 and Phase 3  

Climate changes within the next hundred years can lead to an increase in sea level of up to 1 meter compared to normal times.

Randers city's location by the Gudenå River and the Randers Fjord offers challenges and a special obligation to be ready when the water threatens. In other words, local solutions are needed to a global problem. 

The River Gudenå and the Randers Fjord is designated as one of the 10 areas in Denmark most at risk of flooding by a storm surge.

With the prospect of future climate change with rising sea levels, the whole existence of Randers town as well as the city's overall urban development potentials is at stake. Also the unique peri-urban nature by Gudenåen and Randers Fjord will be threatened due to erosion and floods due to rising sea levels.

As elsewhere, lack of public and private funding necessary for investments in CCA may exist. Furthermore, it may be difficult to visualize the construction of dikes, embarkments, walls and other CCA solutions that will cut off the city from the water.

To overcome this and in order to ensure the implementation of the Climate Ribbon, the objective is to create a synergy – also in investments – between CCA and the various sub-elements of the urban development projects, especially nature and water, but also with new infrastructure, new buildings, new connection between city and nature and new urban spaces.

The objective is to create added value in all new solutions, to retain direct physical and visual access to the water, as well as to secure that CCA plays together with the urban development project, and does not become a new climatic barrier between the city and the water in the form of dikes, embankments, walls and new buildings on high plinths.

If Randers city is flooded, the total damage amounts to about 5-6 billion DKK. A large part is financed by insurance companies, increasingly reducing the possibilities for full coverage of buildings, etc. in areas with a high risk of flooding by storm surge.

In the context of urban development, the ‘City to the water’ project intends to enhance avoidance of costly damage by conditioning the construction of new buildings on the new CCA guidelines - including direct contact with the water and the nature rather than the construction of new houses on elevated pedestals behind walls, dykes and embankments. 

Therefore, the expected result of the project is that the municipality in cooperation with citizens, stakeholders, investors and property owners can reduce the risk of negative consequences for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity in case of extreme flooding. A total number of 50,000 visitors are expected to to visit the Climate Ribbon showroom.

Inphase 2, expected results furthermore include:

• Thorough investegations conducted on at least one sub area prior to a sale to a specific developer.
  
  
• CCA measures is implemented for at least two sites within the project area for The city to the water.

Working on the Climate Ribbon – and linking it to city development – is a huge task, and a lot of personnel cost is allocated to it.

Furthermore, expenses for external expert help is expected to amount to 241,452 € based on prior experience with external assistance to local projects and best judgements. Estimation of person days for RK is based on present salaries + pension etc.

A professional international landscape/arhictectual tender (C16.2) will cost an estimated €187.796. We expect to attract the best innovative teams from all over Europe.

We will need a sum of €134.128, for buying the rights of the three best proposals in the tender.

Additonal we will need funds to prepare the material for a round of prequalification to select 6-10 competitive participants, from where we will find the winners.

The residual sum of €53.668 will cover external prossional help for writing up the programme description and tender rules, transalation of the material for the selection committee, meetings and public presentations of the tender proposals.

Subsistence costs are also based on prior experience and can be further subdivided into Hotel costs, Daily allowances/Payment for meals and local transportation categories, as shown below for this action’s subsistence costs items:

C16.1
Phase 1

• Report on best practice from other EU projects, similar international and national projects and other knowledge (01/06/2016).
• Report on the identification of the Climate Ribbon’s exact size as well as geographical, biological circumstances (e.g. groundwater layers, soil, contamination etc) (01/10/2017)

Phase 2 

• Brief evalution from study trip published
• Minutes of meetings accessible on MidtRum

Phase 3

• Summary of meeting on implementation of CCA measures
• Minutes of meetings accessible on MidtRum

C16.2
Phase 1

• Publication of program for an international professionel tender on the Climate Ribbon (01/01/2018)

Phase 2

• Publication of summary report from Climate Ribbon Competition  (”Klimabåndskonkurrencen”) (01/01/2019)
• The project website is online and updated with relevant materials available
• Minutes of meetings accessible MidtRum

C16.3 
Phase 2 

• Report on best practice from showroom/workroom og events, seminars as well as methods for development of digital forms of communication (01/12/2019)
• Evaluations of the collaboration with schools and college students
• Minutes of meetings accessible on MidtRum

Phase 3

• Final summary of best practices in CCA communications with citizens with a particular emphasis on digital methods and young people

C16.4
Phase 2

• A Masterplan for The City to the Water with CCA integrated into urban development.
• Memo on storm surge protection levels with a particular focus on flexibility in regard to the uncertainties in CC until 2100 and beyond.
• Brief report on available methods for financing CCA and the expected model for financing the Climate Ribbon and related CCA measures
• A long-term strategy for CCA in Randers Fjord and Randers City, integrating C11, C12 and C16, and with a focus on long-term effects and uncertainties.
• Minutes of meeting on MidtRum

Phase 3

• An initial budget for the Climate Ribbon full and light versions
• A strategy for staged development on the Climate Ribbon
• An evalution of C2CCC C16 The Climate Ribbon with Strategy for the continuous development og CCA within the city of Randers

C16.1
01/06/2017: Review of existing knowledge from other EU projects, international and national projects and experiences finalised.
01/10/2017: Area of the Climate Ribbon identified.
Analyzes and studies of geographical and biological conditions within the Climate Ribbon finalised
Studies of groundwater layers, former depot grounds, soil, pollution, foundations opportunities finalised
31/12/2020: Brief evaluation from study trib published

 

C16.2
01/01/2018: Competition programme for an international professional competition for the Climate Ribbon’s future content, design and realization opportunities publicized.
01/03/2018: Prequalification of 4-6 teams done
01/03/2018: Launching competitive process done
01/10/2018: Announcement of the winner of the international "Climate Band Competition"
01/01/2019: Publication of summary report "Climate Band Competition"
15/07/2019: Website onlie and updated 

C16.3
01/08/2018: Opening the show room / workroom
01/04/2022: 2 annual events and a seminarheld held
01/08/2018: Methods for the use of digital communication developed 
31/12/2019: Evaluation of the collaboration with schools and college students
31/12/2022: Final summary of best practices in CCA communications with a particular emphasis on digital methods and young people

 

C16.4
31/12/2019: A masterplan for The City to the Water with CCA integrated into urban development
31/12/2020: An overall and long-term strategy for CCA og Randers City and Randers Fjord
31/12/2020: Investigations of expected model for financing the Climate Ribbon and related CCA mesures

Phase 3 
31/12/2022: An initial budget for the Climate Ribbon full and light versions finalised
31/12/2022: A strategy for staged development on the Climate Ribbon
31/12/2022: An evaluation of C2CCC C16 The Climate Ribbon with strategy for the continuous development of CCA within the city of Randers