Integrating climate change adaptation into community planning using a participatory process: The case ofSaebat Maeulcommunity in Busan, Korea

Abstract

Climate change is certain, given the sufficient evidence for it. Thus, it needs to be integrated into the process of spatial and community planning to empower communities so they can adapt to it. This study addresses the critical gap in the literature on community planning and climate change adaptations by creating planning methodologies based on the participatory method, and simulating application of the process to the Saebat Maeul community in Busan, Korea. In the Saebat Maeul community, the study area, people have struggled with urban flooding, which is related to the poor sewer system and heat waves. Green infrastructures were used as the main tools to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. The suggested community plan includes physical and socioeconomic measures, such as new parking structures with green roofs and pervious pavement, drainage facilities that reduce flooding, repairs to homes with cool roofs, and installation of rainwater harvesting facilities to lower the impact of heat waves. If planners have proper knowledge about climate change and if they guide the participatory planning process (thus reflecting local knowledge and suggestions), we concluded that it is possible to consider climate change adaptations within the context of spatial and community planning.