DESCRIPTION :

This research reveals that a long-term, strategic approach to climate adaptation of cities is needed. This strategy should be based on an understanding of the urban dynamics and on the flood risk of an urban area. An opportunistic adaptation approach, such as developed and demonstrated in this research, is required to take advantage of the adaptation potential of an urban area and to maximize the associated multiple benefits of adaptation interventions. Adaptation pathways seem to be well suited for this purpose given the support expressed by the stakeholders during interactive sessions demonstrating the OA approach in a real-life context.