COP26 TIDAL WALKS | Get Involved!
COP26 TIDAL WALKS LAUNCH TODAY - Find out how you can get involved!
Climate change is bringing significant changes in weather conditions around the world: a key impact closer to home will be a rising sea level and increasing flood risks. In conjunction with the RIAS and other chapter organisations, the EAA is launching ‘Tidal Walks’ to coincide with COP26 in Glasgow.
Tidal Map - Showing 2050 Tidelines
2050 Tideline - Leith
2050 Tideline - Musselburgh
2050 Tideline - Dunbar
Using data and projections from Climate Central, these tidal maps highlight the impact on Leith, Musselburgh and Dunbar of sea level rise by 2050 if we only make moderate cuts to carbon emissions. This demonstrates the significant impact of rising sea levels, and the need for resilient architecture that recognises this risk in order to be sustainable for the long term.
Driven by this demanding provocation, the RIAS COP26 Tidal Walk programme will bring together walks, points of interest, existing buildings and proposed architectural projects which are situated around these 2050 tidelines across Scotland. These routes for these walks will be promoted to all, to encourage individuals to engage with the challenges that rising sea levels will present and the elements of our architectural heritage which are at threat.
We would like to invite all EAA members to put forward a walk/project/building for inclusion in the RIAS #COP26tidalwalk programme. The walk/project/building must be in or near the 2050 tidelines. To contribute we request an image, location or route, a max 150 word description, or a link to a website. Contributions can be emailed to the EAA via mail@eaa.org.uk, or submitted via any of our social media channels using #cop26tidalwalks.
In the build up to COP26, the RIAS and EAA will promote these tidal walks as part of a Scotland-wide series, inviting everybody to walk along any part of the 2050 tideline and consider the need for climate resilience in architecture and our daily lives.
In the Edinburgh area, we are pleased to share two pilot walks highlighting the impact of rising sea levels in North Edinburgh:
Tidal Walk - Granton Waterfront by Collective Architecture
The successful transformation of Granton has the potential to reconnect the city to the water and build on wider ongoing regeneration projects to transform Scotland’s capital into a unique and resilient coastal city. At the heart of Edinburgh’s waterfront Granton sits central to a necklace of coastal communities. It stretches from Cramond to Granton Harbour and connects the surrounding communities of Pennywell, Muirhouse, Pilton, Trinity and Newhaven.
In association with Studio for New Realities, Collective Architecture have developed a Strategic Plan and Development Framework for around 200 hectares of open green space and parkland and around 50 hectares of potentially developable former industrial land. The principles of these have been developed to set out a climate resilient, place-based and inclusive approach to regeneration. It offers Edinburgh and the wider region the opportunity to mark a step-change in how it develops in a sustainable, resilient and responsible way.
Tidal Walk - Leith by GRAS
The Leith Tidal Walk connects key architectural landmarks of the past and present with the major impact of the 2050 tide line on Leith’s current form. The trail highlights historic architectural resilience in the form of Leith’s historic fortifications, which straddle the 2050 tide line and would enclose many of the town’s key features today.
These pilot walks will be developed further as part of the ongoing COP26 Tidal Walks programme, driven by the involvement of the membership. So grab your walking shoes and step out on one of the pilot walks, consider the impact of rising sea levels on your own home and get involved in #cop26tidalwalks today!
A full interactive tideline map can be found on the Climate Central website.