Research Proposal
1
Thesis Statement
Research Title/ Thesis Statement
2
Proper Urban Planning for Climate Change
Problem Statement and Substantiation
The world is getting highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The impact of climate change on
the human life is very severe. It is now a complex challenge in our century to ensure proper urbanization with
the consideration of climate change effect. Unplanned urban development causes harm to the human life
through significant amount of greenhouse gas emission through vehicles, energy generation, industries, and
biomass use. So, systematic urban planning concepts and approaches are crucial to successfully tackle impacts
of climate change in cities as well as human life.
3
Aims and Objectives of the Research
A resaech is mainly conducted to achieve some specific aims and objectives. So, it is necessary to
pinpoint the main aims and objectives of this resaerch. The key objectives of this research are as follows.

Understanding the concept of urban planning.

Understanding the concept of climate change.

Understanding the relatiosnship in between climate change and urban planning.

Understanding the urban climate change mitigation strategies.

Understanding the urban climate change adaptation strategies.
4
Method of investigation
4.1
Literature Review
Urban Planning
Urban planning is concerned with design of urban environment including environment (land, air &
water), transportation (passing into and out of urban areas), distribution networks etc (Encyclopædia
Britannica, 2014). The main focus of the urban planning is the organizing and functioning of town and
cities including environmental concerns, infrastructure, zoning etc.
Urban development planning has an effect on the human life. It prescribes the shape of the living
environments. A proper urbanization creates a better living place for the current and future generation
(Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2007). The role of proper urban planning is now more cited for the
effective tackling of climate change. Urban planning plays an important role in enhancing the resilience of
urban areas, especially for the urban poor people who are most vulnerable to climate impacts.
Climate Change
Climate change refers to the change in the earth's weather, including changes in temperature,
rainfall, and wind patterns (UK Environment Agency, 2008). Climate change can be described the
increase in earth's atmosphere caused by rising of particular gases especially carbon dioxide (State
Government of Victoria, 2013).
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (2011) identified ten indicators of
understand the climate change. In this case, are seven indicators i.e. humidity, sea level, tropospheric
temperature, temperature over land, temperature over oceans, sea surface temperature, ocean heat content
that are expected to increase, and there are three indicators i.e. sea ice, glaciers, snow cover that are
expected to decrease (ENSAA Technology, 2011).
The result of climate change includes increase in mean sea level, increase of natural calamities
(floods, storms, cyclones), more frequent warm days &nights, fewer cold days & nights, Increase of
frequency of heavy precipitation events, Increases of intense tropical cyclone activity etc. (Friesecke,
Schetke, and Kotter, 2012).
Relatiosnship in between climate change and urban planning
Urbanization and climate change are closely interconnected to one another. Due to unplanned
urbanization the climate change is happening and world is getting to unsuitable to live on for the human
being. With the rapid urbanization the activities i.e. destroying forests, breeding cattle, burning fossil fuels
etc. which lead to climate change have been increased (Hunt and Watkiss, 2007). Unplanned urban areas,
with high density of people, high concentration of industries, and infrastructure, are more likely to
confront the severe impacts of climate change.
Urbanization, a process of shifting from a rural to a more urban society, is escalating rapidly. A
per United Nation’s estimate in between 2011 and 2050, the population of the world will reach to 9.3
billion from 7.0 billion. At the same time, the number of people living in the urban as well as metropolitan
areas will reach to 6.3 billion from 3.6 billion (United Nations, 2014).
Although cities covers only 2% of the world surface areas, they consumes nearly about 78% of
the world’s energy and produce more than 60% of the world’s carbon dioxide level (UN HABITAT,
2014). This high carbon dioxide level attributed by the unproper urbanization makes the towns and cities
and towns across the world heavily vulnerable to the world climate change. People in the urban areas
across the world will be affected by the rising of sea levels, inland floods, frequent - stronger storms &
cyclones, and periods of extreme heat & cold. For the human being to live on safely in the world the issue
of proper urban development is very crucial.
Urban Planning strategies to meet climate change properly
Considering the gradual climate change attributed by improper urbanization and the impact of
climate change on human & natural system, a proper urban planning strategy should be developed and
implemented. The strategies undertaken in the urban planning to address the climate change appropriately
can be categorized in two heads, namely
Urban Climate Change Mitigation Strategies

Urban Climate Change Adaptation Strategies
Both mitigation and adaptation strategy look for avoiding the probable damages of global climate
change, and supporting the development of present & future generations in a sustainable manner (Stern,
2008).
Urban Climate Change Mitigation Strategies
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defined climate change mitigation as the
technological change and substitution that decrease the resource’s inputs & emissions per unit of output
with respect to climate change (Know, 2014). As per United Nation Environment Program (2013), climate
change mitigation strategy refers to efforts for reducing the secretion of greenhouse gasses. Climate
change mitigation strategy involves with implementation of programs and policies to reduce GHG
emissions and enhance sinks (Revi, 2008).
United Nation Environment Program (2013) pointed out usage of low carbon energy resources
(nuclear and renewable energy), improvement of insulation of buildings, and climate engineering as the
climate change mitigation strategies. Friesecke, Schetke, and Kotter, (2012) addressed four climate change
mitigation strategies, namely - extent & allocation of settlement development, new housing areas,
renovation of energy system, and planning of renewable energy system. As per Hall, Dawson, and Barr
(2009), climate change mitigation strategies include using of clean energy sources (green environment),
making older technology more energy efficient, and expanding forestation.
Urban Climate Change Adaptation Strategies
Several researches on the climate change have pointed out adaptation as a necessary means for
addressing the impacts of unavoidable climate change (NRC, 2010). Adaptation to climate change strategy
can be considered as undertaking of direct actions to minimize probable negative effects of climate change
before and as they happen (Füssel, 2007). As per Carmin and Robert, Urban climate change adaptation
strategy can be framed as a vital response to urban systems for building resilience to predicted climate
change impacts (Carmin and Robert, 2012).
Nelson and Adger (2007) in their research paper addressed the management of urban growth in the
climate sensitive zones, relocation of buildings, and building of proper infrastructure as the climate change
adaptation strategies. Juhola and Westerhoff (2011) addressed promotion of land & wildlife management
practice, establishment of building codes for extreme weather events, and choosing of tree plantation &
forestry practice as the climate change adaptation strategies. Ngigi (2009) stressed on the development of
climate change adaptation maps at the local, regional, and national level as a climate change adaptation
strategy.
4.2
Research Design
Research design refers to the way and procedure in which the research work will be conducted
(BRYMAN, 2007). It is the blueprint of collection, measurement, and analysis of data for research purpose.
There are several kinds of research designs including descriptive design, experimental design, exploratory
design, case studies, cross sectional design, etc. The research designed employed for this research design is
mainly descrptive research in nature. Descriptive Research attempts to describe a phenomenon by describing and
explaining the conditions of the present of a particular research problem (BRYMAN, 2007). Thorughout this
research, as a part of pinpointing proper urban planning for the climate change, we will try to explore what is
urban planning, what is climated change, relatioship between climate change and urban planning, several urban
climate change mitigation strategies planning, and several urban climate change adoptation strategies.
The structure taht will be followed in preparing this resaech paper is as follows.
Chapter # One: The first part of the reaserch paper that will mainly depict the research background, scope of
the research, and aims and objectives of the resaerch.
Chapter # Two: This part will present the literature review which emcompasses the review of the past studies &
researches conducted on the same topic.
Chapter # Three: The main body of the resaerch which will mainly involve with the studying, analyzing, and
dicussing of the research topic and issue.
Chapter # Four: The last part of the report that will make the conclusion of the research along with the scope of
the futuure research.
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Provisional Chapter Division
TITLE PAGE
ABSTRACT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
Introduction
Problem Statement
Objectives of the Study
Scope of the Study
Research Methodology
Limitations of the Study
Layout of the Study
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
Introduction
Definition and Concept of Urban Planning
Definition and Concept of Climate Change
Relationship in between Urban Planning and Climate Change
Urban Planning strategies to meet climate change
Summary
CHAPTER 3: STUDY, ANALYSIS, AND DISCUSSION
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
Introduction
Urbanization and Climate Change
The needs of the Urbanization planning strategies
Urban Climate Change mitigation Strategies
Urban Climate Change Adaptation Strategies
Summary
CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1
4.2
Concluding Remark
Recommendations for Future Research
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ANNEXURES
6
Literature References
Agency, T. (2008). Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2008-2011. London: The Environment Agency .
BRYMAN, A. (2007). Business Research Methods. London: Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Carmin, J. I. (2012). Urban climate adaptation in the global south: planning in an emerging policy domain.
Journal of Planning Education and Research , 19-34.
Encyclopædia Britannica. (2014). Urban Planning:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/619445/urban-planning.
ENSAA Technology. (2011). Defining Climate Change: http://www.ensaa.eu/index.php/climate-change/97defining-climate-change.html.
Frank Friesecke, S. S. (2012). Urban Planning for Climate Change. Position Paper of FIG Working Group .
Füssel, H. (2007). Adaptation planning for climate change: concepts, assessment approaches, and key
lessons. Sustainability Science , 265-275.
Hall JW, D. R. (2009). City-scale integrated assessment of climate impacts, adaptation and mitigation. World
Bank Symposium, Marseille.
Hunt, A., and Watliss. (2007). Literature Review on Climate Change Impacts on Urban City Centres: Initial
Findings. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.
Juhola, S. (2011). Challenges of adaptation to climate change across multiple scales: a case study of network
governance in two European countries. Environmental Science and Policy.
Know. (2014). Adaptation and Mitigation:
http://know.climateofconcern.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=article&id=143.
Nelson, D. A. (2007). Adaptation to environmental change: contributions of a resilience framework. Annual
Review of Environment and Resources , 395-419.
Ngigi, S. N. (2009). Climate Change Adaptation Strategies: Water Resources Management Options for
Smallholder Farming Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. The MDG Centre for East and Southern Africa of the
Earth Institute at Columbia University.
NRC. (2010). Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change. National Research Council. The National
Academies Press, Washington, DC, USA .
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. (2007). Supplement to Planning Policy Statement 1: Planning and
Climate Change. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, London .
Revi, A. (2008). Climate change risk: an adaptationnd mitigation agenda for Indian cities. Environment and
Urbanization 20(1).
State Government of Victoria. (2013). What is climate change?: http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/whatis-climate-change.
Stern. (2008). The Stern Review: Report on the Economics of Climate Change. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge .
UN HABITAT. (2014). Climate Change: http://unhabitat.org/urban-themes/climate-change/.
United Nation Environment Programme. (2014). Climate Change Mitigation:
http://www.unep.org/climatechange/mitigation/Home/tabid/104335/Default.aspx.
United Nations. (2014). UN World Urbanization Prospect: http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/Highlights/WUP2014Highlights.pdf.