This report outlines the strategies in place for the World Heritage City of Cartagena, Colombia to become an icon of climate compatible development, where the risk of climate change is converted into an opportunity for development.
The future of Cartagena is uncertain and vulnerable to climate change. Even a 2C increase in temperatures will likely raise sea levels in the area by 60cm by 2040. Further risks of drought, and increased rainfall have motivated action to prevent such events unfolding and hampering the future of its citizens.
The vision of Plan 4C is that by 2040, Cartagena de Indias will be recognised as a city that is a model of urban and coastal planning based on climate compatible development: where adaptation and mitigation measures will reduce indices of vulnerability to climate change, improve efficiency of public investment, the quality of life of its inhabitants and the competitiveness of its sectors.
Five strategies are outlined in this new report which detail how Cartagena – the first coastal city to have created a long-term vision in which the future climate will be an opportunity for economic development – are achieving climate compatible development:
- Climate compatible ports and industries
- Tourism sector committed to climate change
- Protection of historic heritage
- Neighbourhoods adapted to climate change
- Ecosystem-based adaptation