What it takes to be a climate prepared city

Adapting to the many and various challenges of global warming, from an urban development perspective, requires an understanding of the hydrological landscape that underlies the city so that a master plan can emerge that increases green space and public space, encourages biodiversity, and reduces flooding and the possibility of flood-water contamination.

The restoration of urban streams, the daylighting of drains, the planting of green corridors, the installation of stormwater treatment systems (rain gardens, wetlands,  detention ponds, swales) – these are concepts that should have been informing, and now must inform, the design and planning narratives for building and developing our  towns and cities.

Dr Matthew Bradbury

Is an associate professor at the School of Architecture, Te Pukenga (Unitech New Zealand), and is director of the Masters of Landscape Architecture programme. Matthew  recently published Water City. Practical strategies for Climate Change (Routledge 2020) as a manual for urban stakeholders and agencies, demonstrating how to manage  the environmental effects of climate change through urban design.

Julie Fairey

Is an Auckland Council Ward councillor (Albert/Eden/Puketāpapa) and the Chief liaison councillor for advisory panels. She was elected to the Auckland Council in 2022,
having previously served on the Puketāpapa community board while working in early childhood education and with education unions.