The ESPACE Project - European Spatial Planning: Adapting to Climate Events 2003-2008
The concept of ESPACE was borne from a recognition that current spatial planning systems constrain our ability to adapt to the potential impacts of climate change.
ESPACE was a pioneering project that focused on increasing awareness of the need for spatial planning systems to adapt to the impacts of climate change and to provide some of the necessary policy guidance, tools and mechanisms to incorporate adaptation into spatial planning systems and processes. Through its successful delivery, ESPACE has influenced the philosophy and practice of spatial planning across Europe.
The ESPACE project was founded by a transnational group of 10 partners (the ‘ESPACE Partnership’), spanning four North West European countries and representing all levels of civic society - Hampshire County Council (Lead Partner), the Environment Agency, South East Climate Change Partnership, South East England Regional Assembly, Surrey County Council and West Sussex County Council from the UK; Regionaal Landschap Zenne, Zuun en Zoniën from Belgium; Waterschap Rivierenland and Ministerie van VROM from the Netherlands; and the Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt from Germany.
Furthermore an ‘Extended Partnership’ was established - a targeted network of over 250 stakeholders interested in being involved in the development of the ESPACE outputs and who also acted as ambassadors for the project. The Extended Partnership included representatives from the European Commission, European Environment Agency, national, regional and local governments, non-government organisations, universities, research institutes, consultancies and other EU projects.
The core ESPACE Partners undertook a range of actions to identify how to best adapt to climate change. These included:
• Raising awareness and understanding of climate change and the need for adaptation.
• Creating a pool of resources and expertise in relation to climate change and spatial planning.
• Reviewing the resilience of existing spatial planning policy to climate change impacts.
• Conducting case studies trialling innovative adaptation strategies and testing measures.
• Developing new and innovative methods for facilitating behaviour change
• Devising new spatial planning policies that minimise potential climate impacts.
• Developing a Common Strategy & Policy Guidance for spatial planning in a changing climate.
• Investigating barriers to successful policy implementation and developing tools and measures for overcoming these.
An analysis of the project’s actions - to draw out the key findings and lessons learned - was undertaken and used to develop a common transnational strategy outlining the ESPACE project recommendations for incorporating climate adaptation into spatial planning. The strategy – “Planning in a Changing Climate” contains 14 recommendations aimed at all levels of governance, including European institutions, national governments and regional and local authorities. Each of the 14 recommendations is supported by guidance, policies and tools developed during the ESPACE Project that demonstrate how to deliver the key messages.
Hampshire County Council is taking forward the outcomes of ESPACE through the services it delivers and is developing new projects to continue leading the response to climate change in the South East England Region.
Contact Email:
Organisation:
Hampshire County Council
Funding Details:
• INTERREG IIIB North West Europe Programme
• Department for Communities and Local Government
• The ESPACE partnership
Status:
Complete
Website relating to case study:
http://www.espace-project.org/
Organisation’s website:
Keywords relating to this case study:
Climate change, adaptation, spatial planning, Europe, resilience, water resource management, flooding, engagement
South East groups case study relates to:
Planning
