cartagena-inside-story-final-b530fcc6720cf9b1.pdf

This policy brief describes the process of developing the 'Guidelines for Adaptation to Climate Change in Cartagena de Indias', making Cartagena the first coastal city in South America to produce such guidelines. The initiative, supported by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and coordinated by the Institute of Marine and Coastal Research (INVEMAR), aims to integrate climate resilience into municipal land-use planning and zoning policies to protect the city's socioeconomic development and vulnerable populations.

• Cartagena is the first coastal city in South America to create 'Guidelines for Adaptation to Climate Change', which serve as a foundation for future municipal zoning policies and a full climate change adaptation plan expected in 2014.
• The city faces significant climate risks, including sea level rise, increased frequency and intensity of large storms, and flooding. Projections suggest that by 2100, a one-metre sea level rise could cause detrimental consequences for urban areas along Colombia's Caribbean coast.
• Climate change threatens critical ecosystems and human health in Cartagena. Coral reefs are susceptible to bleaching and ocean acidification, while mangroves—which protect against hurricanes and erosion—are threatened by sea level rise and development. Additionally, flooding and higher temperatures increase the risk of heat-related and water-borne illnesses like dengue and diarrhoeal diseases.
• Vulnerability is closely linked to socioeconomic status; over half of Cartagena's nearly one million inhabitants require state assistance, and many impoverished neighbourhoods are located in low-lying areas highly susceptible to erosion and flash flooding.
• The adaptation guidelines were developed through a participatory process involving 64 different civil society stakeholder groups, using scientific research, workshops, and interviews to ensure local priorities guided the vulnerability assessment.
• Land-use and zoning policies are identified as the most effective and cost-efficient entry points for integrating adaptation into municipal planning, specifically through 'soft' measures like the rehabilitation of mangrove habitats to act as natural infrastructure.
• The project highlights several lessons for other cities: the necessity of robust scientific underpinning, the time required to align diverse stakeholder expectations, and the importance of active support from both municipal and national government officials.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (n.d.). cartagena-inside-story-final-b530fcc6720cf9b1.pdf. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cartagena-inside-story-final.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. cartagena-inside-story-final-b530fcc6720cf9b1.pdf. n.d. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cartagena-inside-story-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=cartagena-inside-story-final-b530fcc6720cf9b1.pdf |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cartagena-inside-story-final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetworkndcartagenainsidestoryfinalb530fcc6720cf9b1pdf, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{cartagena-inside-story-final-b530fcc6720cf9b1.pdf}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cartagena-inside-story-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }