The Quest for Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Urban Development Planning of Ambo Town, Ethiopia

A study was conducted during the period 2012/2013 on the quest for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into urban development planning of Ambo town. Though climate change and climate variability are expected obviously to pose threat to Ambo town and its dwellers, no comprehensive study was undertaken previously to understand the state of climate change and its negative impacts on urban development process. The general objective of this study is to assess the quest for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into urban development planning of Ambo town and propose strategic actions for mainstreaming. The methodological tools were chosen in order to best reach the objectives of the study. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis were employed to analyze the collected data.

The findings of the study reveal that climate change has posed physical, geographical, economical, social, environmental, and psychological urban vulnerabilities in Ambo town and the most vulnerable social groups to the negative impacts of climate change are old people, the urban poor, children, the urban handicaps, and women. The climate hazards identified in Ambo town are flash flood, water stress, urban heat waves, wind storms, and dust storms. While it is commendable to appreciate the good start of urban greening and beautification by Ambo town administration and its municipality, the town administration has to take critical and strategic actions to adapt Ambo town and its dwellers climate change and climate variability. This requires mainstreaming climate change into urban development planning process and taking urgent collaborative actions with stakeholders for sustainable urban development of the town.