Green infrastructure as a tool for urban adaptation and mitigation in the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Abstract

Global warming is an unequivocal fact, increasingly affecting the ecosystems of the entire planet, with the increase in the increase of singular events (heat waves, torrential floods, droughts, gales, among others). Climate Change (CC), in addition, is reinforced in the cities by the presence of phenomena such as Urban Heat Island, air pollution, soil waterproofing or low albedo.

In this sense, it is essential to radically rethink the historically inherited urban development model, promoting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Likewise, it is necessary to know the effects of CC on the population and develop conducive methodologies to improve environmental conditions by adapting cities to Climate Change and reducing their effects on the population, from Territorial Planning, from urban design

The objective of this research in the evaluation of temperature increases in the last ten years in the city of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) will determine the most vulnerable areas to determine mitigation and adaptation strategies through green infrastructure.

The methodology implemented is the collection of meteorological and urban data of the city, the data will be an evaluation of the information that will determine the times of the year and the most vulnerable urban areas in the city. These areas of greatest modification are the main mitigation and adaptation strategies through green infrastructure.

The results obtained are that the city of Santo Domingo perceives a constant increase in temperature that is closely linked to certain environmental phenomena that have been occurring in recent years (drought, rainfall, among others). This increase is perceived mainly in the areas of the city where it lacks vegetation and urban permeability, generating floods in times of rain among other afflictions. An action plan is generated to achieve urban adaptation in these sectors.