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Copenhagen Wins Award for Plan to Prevent Flooding and Foster Growth
The C40 Cities Award has been awarded to Copenhagen for its comprehensive management and protection plan aimed at preventing flooding and encouraging growth.
As one of the first cities in the world, the City of Copenhagen has developed a comprehensive plan to manage future rainwater. The plan incorporates both traditional measures to lead drain water away through an expansion of the sewer network and 300 separate solutions set to run over the next 20 years. Part of the solutions involve the reconstruction of roads and parks, adjustments to lakes and streams, and expanding the capacity of cloudburst pipes
- Related news: Urban Development Project in Copenhagen Wins Nordic Award
At the summit, the city mayor, Frank Jensen, received the award within the category ‘Adaptation in Action’:
- I am proud to accept the prize for Copenhagen’s ambitious plan, which protects the city against cloudbursts and generates new green urban spaces to the benefit of Copenhageners. There are many cities that are fighting against increased rain and flooding, as we are, so our work in climate-adapting Copenhagen has garnered great international attention, he says.
According to the mayor of technical and environmental affairs, Morten Kabell, Copenhagen has already signed co-operation agreements with other cities such as New York and Washington:
- With the award from C40, more cities will discover the ability to protect cities from flooding while, at the same time, enhancing the quality of life by replacing parking spaces and roadways with green urban areas, says Morten Kabell.
The first cloudburst solutions have already been implemented; The Climate Neighbourhood in Østerbro and the Sankt Annae area in the city centre
Related news: Copenhagen’s Climate Adapted Neighbourhood Inspires New York
Additional facts about the cloudburst plan
- Primarily, the plan involves solutions on the surface – meaning that the city’s roads will be designed to divert and retain water. Many town squares, parks, and lakes will be reconstructed in order to collect and retain water.
- At four locations, new large pipes will have to be placed in order to carry the water through the city. Typically, this will be in places where the water has to cross important infrastructure such as main roads and lanes.
The C40 Cities Awards
The C40 Cities Awards, launched in 2013, draw international recognition towards the critical role cities are playing as a leading force for climate action around the world, and showcase their success stories so that other cities will be inspired and empowered to act.
Read more about the award here.
- Source: City of Copenhagen
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