The Impact of Climate Change on Historical Coastal Cities: The Case of Rosetta, Egypt

Abstract

As the world is becoming increasingly urbanized, with no sign of decline, it is expected that 70% of all humanity will live in cities by the year 2050 (Rajendra, 2015). This would lead to uncontrollable mass production and consumption; which are the main cause of climate change (IPCC, 2014). In case of the immediate implementation of the most powerful emission reduction policies, it might be able to contain a 2 ° C increase in the atmospheric temperature, while as, the absence of efficient policies would cause a 4° C increase leading to catastrophic consequences (Virginia Burkett & Davidson, 2013). The city’s location extremely affects the degree of impact of climate change; Coastal cities that represent two-thirds of the world’s largest cities have survived conflicts, disasters, and huge social and economic riots and now they are being under the threat of the shifting climate change. From sea-level rise, storm surges, marine inundation, coastal erosion risks, to the risk of an urban heat island effect, heat waves, change in average precipitation levels, flooding, freshwater scarcity, and the increase of vector-borne diseases and the deterioration of urban ecosystems (Virginia Burkett & Davidson, 2013). Nowadays, millions of people are already being exposed to the risk of extreme storms, droughts, heatwaves, abundant precipitations, snowfalls, and flooding events (Virginia Burkett, 2008). Historic cores are the center of old cities which holds within their fabric cultural importance reflecting the city’s identity. Those cities need assistance to help them survive under the imminent climate changes and becoming resilient, which calls for an innovative adaptation approach to be mainstreamed in existing plans (García-Hernández et al., 2017). According to Bigio (2015), It is challenging to plan for the resilience to natural hazards in developing countries with growing economies where ‘national institutions and financial resources for urban development and historic city conservation may be limited’ (Bigio, 2015). While, the local government’s tasks towards Historic areas should comprise the safeguarding of cultural heritage assets and preventing them from decay, ensure urban livability, managing urban growth, and preventing urban encroachment on historic areas (Jigyasu, 2015). Climate change vulnerability of cities is measured through the physical hazards along with the response of its community organizations. Therefore, the integration of a value-based adaptation approach that is based on locals objectives in historic areas will contribute to their adaptation to climate change while strengthening their resilience (Bigio, 2015).