Climate change presents growing risks to urban areas through extreme precipitation, heat stress, and drought. Addressing these challenges requires not only targeted adaptation strategies but also a rethinking of how cities integrate multiple sustainability transitions. This thesis places climate adaptation at the center of five key urban transitions—energy, mobility, circular economy, environmental health, and nature inclusiveness—and explores their interrelations within the built environment. Using a grounded theory approach, the study combines a literature review with an exploratory multiple case study of Almere, Lelystad, and Urk—three municipalities in the Dutch province of Flevoland. The case study consists of three components: a policy study based on coding and analysis of 31 municipal policy documents, a project study analyzing three spatial redevelopment and three new development projects through qualitative analysis, and three supplementary interviews with municipal professionals. The policy analysis showed that municipalities pursue an integrated urban planning approach for climate adaptation, focusing on local water retention and blue-green infrastructure. This approach lays the foundation for emerging relations with other transitions.
Relations were categorized by a framework distinguishing geographical, physical, and project-based relations. Geographical relations concern the distribution of space, showing that the mobility transition can support climate adaptation by freeing space through reduced car infrastructure. Policies in all municipalities aim to reduce car use and promote active mobility, potentially opening up space for urban greening. Although this connection is not strongly emphasized in policy, redevelopment projects especially demonstrate its potential. Conversely, the energy transition competes for space, requiring extensive infrastructure. While policies call for spatial integration, project results are mixed. Some new developments coordinate both transitions, but in others the spatial demands of the energy transition compromise climate adaptation. Physical relations concern the shared use of infrastructure. Climate adaptation shows synergies with other transitions through green and blue-green infrastructure. It aligns with the environmental health transition, both relying on urban greening to promote a healthy environment. Policy documents highlight this overlap, with green spaces designed for recreation and health. Active mobility infrastructure also integrates with blue-green spaces, promoting aesthetics and micro-climates. Nature inclusiveness further supports climate adaptation by expanding green networks and ecosystems. While opportunities exist for integrating circular and energy transitions, practical applications like rainwater reuse and green roofs were not observed in projects. Successful integration relies on aligning stakeholder agendas in project-based collaboration. Although policy documents advocate for integration to reduce costs and disruption, interviewees noted that time pressure, limited expertise, and unclear priorities often limit implementation. Climate adaptation and urban greening were frequently treated as add-ons rather than core components. By clarifying the spatial-technical relations between climate adaptation and other transitions, this research contributes to a better understanding of how municipalities can navigate the complex demands of urban sustainability in practice.

Climate change increases the urgency of spatial adaptation to extreme heat, pluvial floods and droughts in urban areas. To accelerate climate adaptation efforts, Dutch government organisations have agreed to work towards a climate adaptive and water resilient country by 2050 in the Delta Plan on Spatial Adaptation (DPSA). The implementation of Blue Green Infrastructures (BGI) in urban areas offers a solution to achieve climate adaptivity and water resilience by restoring the natural water balance, storing and infiltrating rainwater and having a cooling effect on their surroundings. In parallel with the ambition to adapt to the effects of climate change, there is a noticeable shift in transport modes in Dutch urban areas. Municipalities are actively promoting sustainable and healthy means of transport, such as walking and cycling, while reducing car dependency, through steering policies and active urban planning. This research examines the potential for climate adaptation, resulting from the transition to green mobility, in urban areas in the Netherlands. To explore this potential various research methods are applied as part of a desk study and an exploratory multiple case-study, based on six cases at three spatial scales (City, Neighbourhood, and Street scale). The cases provided insight in the spatial relation between the mobility transition and climate adaptation and examined whether this transition provides an opportunity to meet adaptation goals. City scale cases demonstrated the potential to increase green space in different mobility scenarios compared to the current state. This was especially apparent in highly urbanised areas with a strong need for climate adaptation. Multiple design scenarios with different mobility measures, such as parking space removal and driving lane reduction, were analysed to study this spatial relation. Detailed cases at a neighbourhood and street scale showed that reallocated urban area can provide the space needed for BGI (e.g. rain gardens, permeable pavement). In this way, climate adaptation goals related to heat and pluvial flooding can be met. The interview survey with water, mobility and climate adaptation experts from municipalities, revealed different perspectives on the relation between mobility and climate adaptation, and identified several challenges for effective implementation of BGI. This study addresses these challenges and presents several policy and research recommendations to effectively harness the climate adaptation potential arising from the mobility transition.