Description
The aim of the project is to develop scientific research about the socioeconomic values of climate change impacts and the flexibility of the adaptation to climate change in several apartment quarters in Riga and Latvia. The housing sector is one of many areas where climate change is foreseen to have adverse effects, particularly related to temperature changes, precipitation levels, air quality, and so forth. The project study is necessary because of the increasing dangers of climate change, as well as recognizing the need for adaptation to climate change. It is necessary not only to be aware of the consequences of its change for socioeconomic values, but also to be aware of possibilities to adapt to climate change which is based on the socioeconomic value. As a result it will be much easier to plan the future development. The study will focus on residential districts, which are by nature highly vulnerable to climate change, both from a social, technical and natural environmental perspective. it is also a vital district due to the large amounts of people living in cities and residential apartments. In view of the study area, the target groups are both local residents as well as people who use quarter’s infrastructure.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to conduct an inter-disciplinary research about the socioeconomic impacts of climate change and flexible adaptation strategies to climate change in the apartment quarters in Riga and Latvia. The research was targeted at identifying the most effective means for mitigating the negative impact of climate change upon housing estates in the city of Riga - buildings, external space, landscape, infrastructure and accordingly also upon health and quality of life of people living there. The research results suggests that the most effective means for mitigating the impact of climate change would be renovation and heat insulation of buildings, greening and landscaping of the surrounding territory. The selected study area was residential districts, which are highly vulnerable to climate change. The project involved a number of large-scale studies, among them air quality, dust and temperature testing in several housing estates of Riga, elaboration of a Riga city surface temperature map and analysis of the health condition of people living in the housing estate, technical surveying and engineering monitoring of 132 serial apartment housing estates in Riga, a survey of 3000 persons living in housing estates. Riga city surface temperature map demonstrates significant differences in certain areas of the city and in separate cases the land surface temperature in Riga may even exceed 50°C. The findings and conclusions drawn from the research show that climate changes already have a major impact on densely populated urban areas and affects the quality of life and health of people living there. The potential dangers in Latvia are associated with the increase of temperature, formation of urban heat islands, stronger winds followed by increased concentration of dust. Researchers have come to vital conclusions and findings which will allow for continued elaboration and improvement of a complex territory renovation conception, which, will allow the responsible municipal authorities take active measures to mitigate the impact and the consequences of climate change already in the nearest future, thereby improving the microclimate of housing estate areas and the quality of life of people living there.
Summary of bilateral results