Climate Adaptation Policy : How to motivate residents into green infrastructure using economic carrots

Keywords: green infrastructure, stormwater management, climate adaptation, dynamic modeling, economics, environmental planning
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 58

Abstract

The urban environment is facing a water pollution problem due to the increase of precipitation. The increase of precipitation as a phenomenon of climate change and the urban environment formed of impervious surfaces leads to water pollution because the stormwater running through the urban impervious surface collects pollutants and enters the sewer system. Recently there has been effort to adapt to this climate change by implementing green infrastructure at the household level. The rain barrel program at the City at Buffalo has been implemented as an adaptation strategy to reduce stormwater runoff. The rain barrel program requires the voluntary participation of residents because it is held at the household level. This study considers the social, economic, environment perspective of the rain barrel program in order to understand the components that effect the program. By using system dynamics, this study compares different scenarios in order to reach the scenario that increases the environmental effect of reducing runoff by increasing the participation through economic motivation. The expected result of this study is to consider the different components of the rain barrel program and propose a policy that reduces stormwater runoff by increasing the participation of residents. This study will contribute in finding a sustainable scenario to involve residents at the household level.