KlimaExWoSt - Urban Strategies for Climate Change

Background and Goals

The aim is to develop and test integrated strategies and approaches for climate protection and adaptation. "KlimaExWoSt - Urban Strategies for the Climate Change", a field of research of the Experimental Housing and Urban Development (ExWoSt) (ExWoSt) programme of the German Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) has two sub-projects:

1. StadtKlima: Nine model projects are used for assessing municipal strategies and potential for dealing with the climate change. In this context, a so-called "Stadtklimalotse" or "city climate guide" – a planning-oriented, Internet-based guideline – is being developed to support local governments. The nine model regions are:

  • klimAix – Climate-conscious commercial area development in the member towns of the CityRegion association of Aachen (StädteRegion Aachen;
  • Bad Liebenwerda – eine Stadt zum Wohlfühlen (a town to enjoy): Facing the climate change;
  • Town meets climate change – integrated strategies for Essen;
  • JenKAS – Jena climate adaptation strategy;
  • NVK regional association of Karlsruhe - Internal development versus climate comfort;
  • Climate adaptation in Nuremberg: Summer in the city – sensible ways of dealing with the climate change;
  • The Regensburg model project;
  • Saarbrücken – Open space planning as an approach to adaptation measures;
  • Syke – Acting responsibly in the face of the climate change;

2. ImmoKlima: Eight pilot projects are used for assessing possible strategies and potential for dealing with the climate change in the real estate and housing industry. In addition, a target group-oriented instrument for supporting the assessment of climate risks is being tested ("ImmoRisk - Risk assessment of future climate effects in the real estate and housing industry"). The eight pilot projects are:

  • Integrated energy, modernization and user concepts in the Marienhöhe quarter in Tempelhof, Berlin;
  • Climate, environment and social issues in the mission statement of the Siedlungswerk Stuttgart – business strategies illustrated by the projects "FreiburgLeben" and "Seelberg-Wohnen" in Stuttgart;
  • Climate-conscious revitalization of an ensemble of protected buildings – intercultural encounter centre Bodhicharya, Friedrichshain, Berlin;
  • Klimapakt Hamburg-Niendorf Nord – Integrated energy, modernization and user concepts for a 1960s built environment;
  • Möckernkiez Kreuzberg, Berlin – integrated, sustainable development of a new city quarter by private stakeholders;
  • Sustainable business strategies of the TPP Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Günzburg: Examples of projects in Günzburg and Augsburg;
  • Development of the solar energy settlement "solarenergetische Siedlung Erfurt-Marienhöhe";
  • SolarGardenCity Hoyerswerda, old town – climate-conscious re-valorization of urban wasteland.

Content time

to

Research area/region

Country
  • Germany
Region of implementation (all German federal states)
  • Baden-Württemberg
  • Bavaria
  • Berlin
  • Saxony
  • Thuringia
Natural spatial classification
  • Alp and North Bavarian hills
  • Alps
  • Alpine Foothills
  • North-East German lowland
  • North-West German lowland
  • Upper Rhine Rift
  • South-Eeastern basin and hills
  • Central low mountain ranges and Harz

Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change

Step 1: Understand and describe climate change

Approach and results 

Information on the climate scenarios and parameters used are specified in the respective model regions of StadtKlima and the ImmoKlima pilot projects.

Parameter (climate signals)
  • River flooding
  • Heat waves
  • Altered rainfall patterns
  • Higher average temperatures
  • Extreme precipitation (incl. hail, snow)
  • Storm

Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact

Approach and results 

The climate change concerns urban areas first and foremost in terms of both cause and effect. The climate change continues to worsen the already serious problem of urban heat islands. The built environment, i.e., buildings plus infrastructure, entire neighbourhoods and cities, is particularly vulnerable to the foreseeable change in the climate (heat waves, extreme weather events, floods).

The climate effects considered are shown in the StadtKlima model regions and the ImmoKlima pilot projects in each case. The focus lies on construction, urban and regional development, spatial and regional planning, housing and real estate industry, human health.

Step 2b: Identify and assess risks - Vulnerability, risks and chances

Approach and results 

If relevant, vulnerabilities are described in the StadtKlima model regions and the ImmoKlima pilot projects in each case.

Step 3: Develop and compare measures

Measures and/or strategies 

The climate effects considered are described in the StadtKlima model regions and the ImmoKlima pilot projects in each case.

Step 4: Plan and implement measures

Measures and/or strategies 

For many years now, climate protection measures have been a regular concern of local politics. However, precisely how the cities, regions and other stakeholders can be expected to deal with the climate change and its effects in practice has not yet been sufficiently researched. For this reason, the practical requirements for adaptation are examined at different levels (region, city, neighbourhood, building), on the basis of good practice examples.

Participants

Funding / Financing 

Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS: now BMVI) and the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR)

Project management 

Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) within the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR);

for StadtKlima: Section I 5 - Transport and Environment;
for ImmoKlima:Division II

Cooperation/Partners 

Refer to the pilot projects of "ImmoKlima - Real estate and housing strategies and potentials in regard to climate change" and the model projects "StadtKlima – Municipal strategies and potentials in regard to climate change"

Contact

Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR)
im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung (BBR)
Deichmanns Aue 31-37
53179 Bonn

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Fields of action:
 agriculture  buildings  human health and care  spatial planning, urban and settlement development  tourism industry  transport and transport infrastructure  water regime and water management  woodland and forestry