Fig. 1 shows a before-and-after cross-section of a coastal neighbourhood in the Netherlands that is being redesigned for climate resilience. The older desig...
Question 1 Report
Fig. 1 shows a before-and-after cross-section of a coastal neighbourhood in the Netherlands that is being redesigned for climate resilience. The older design has a high concrete flood wall, sealed streets and houses with ground-floor electrical equipment. The new design includes a restored saltmarsh, a raised footbridge, permeable paving, floating gardens and homes with electrical systems above expected flood level. The project is expensive, but planners argue that it protects people, property and urban services as sea level rises. Residents want assurance that lower-income households will not be priced out by redevelopment.
(a) Identify the natural coastal feature added in the new design. [1]
(b) Describe one way permeable paving affects rainwater. [1]
(c) Explain two ways the new design can reduce damage during coastal flooding. [2]
(d) Explain two reasons why adaptation plans should include lower-income residents. [2]
(e) Evaluate the view that hard engineering should be replaced completely by nature-based solutions. [3]
(f) Justify which one feature in Fig. 1 should be funded first if the budget is limited. [2]
Answer Details
(a) The natural coastal feature added is a saltmarsh. [1]
(b) Permeable paving allows rainwater to infiltrate or drain into the ground, reducing surface runoff. [1]
(c) The saltmarsh absorbs wave energy, reducing the force of floodwater. Raised electrical systems, floating gardens, raised paths and permeable paving also reduce flood damage or maintain access during flooding. [2]
(d) Lower-income households may be most exposed to flooding and may be unable to afford repairs or relocation. Including them in planning helps prevent displacement and keeps essential services accessible. [2]
(e) Nature-based solutions can absorb waves, store water and provide habitats. However, they need land and time to establish, and dense urban areas or severe storm surges may still require flood walls or other hard defences. A combination of nature-based and hard-engineering measures is usually the strongest approach. [3]
(f) One justified priority is restoring the saltmarsh, because it provides broad protection by reducing wave energy for the neighbourhood. Alternatively, raising electrical systems is justified because it protects household safety and can be installed quickly. [2]
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