Background and Goals
Regional planning can make an important contribution to the adaptation to climate change through its integrated orientation and its formal and informal instruments. This was demonstrated by eight model regions in the pilot project of spatial planning "KlimaMORO" that developed adaptation strategies to climate change between 2009 and 2014. These shall now be perpetuated and spread through the pilot project of spatial planning 'Actively supporting regions during climate change - Transfer KlimaMORO'. For this, regions will be supported with their activities on climate adaptation and a knowledge and experience exchange will be initiated.
In the transfer KlimaMORO project, 13 transfer regions are going to be involved. They cover almost all area countries of Germany, are affected by climate change in different ways, have different approaches to planning and have already dealt with the issue of climate adaptation in different intensities so 'stragglers' can learn from 'pioneers'. During the life span of the project, the regions will benefit from the advice by the research assistance as well as from the mutual exchange. For this, they will become part of the already by KlimaMORO established network of regions dealing with climate adaptation. Moreover, an exchange with the model regions of the project KlimREG is planned.
Content time
Research area/region
- Germany
- Baden-Württemberg
- Bavaria
- Brandenburg
- Mecklenburg Western Pomerania
- Lower Saxony
- Northrhine-Westphalia
- Saxony
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Thuringia
13 transfer regions:
Schleswig-Holstein Nord, Vorpommern, Uckermark Barim, Großraum Braunschweig, Planungsregion Düsseldorf, Südwestthüringen, Leipzig-Westsachsen, Oberes Elbtal/Osterzgebirge, Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien, Nordschwarzwald, Mittlerer Oberrhein, Region Oberland, Regierungsbezirk Oberbayern.
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
No separate climate scenario developed: using the findings of KlimaMORO I and II and the model regions involved there.
- River flooding
- Heat waves
- Altered rainfall patterns
- Higher average temperatures
- Sea level rise und storm surges
- Extreme precipitation (incl. hail, snow)
- Storm
- Dry periods
- short term = next year’s / decades
- medium term = to 2050
Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact
Using the findings of KlimaMORO I and II and the model regions involved there.
Step 2b: Identify and assess risks - Vulnerability, risks and chances
The climate is changing and the consequences will be felt more strongly. This shows, among other things, in the increased damage from floods in recent years. In addition to the increasing threat from floods more frequent heavy rains and heat waves as well as droughts affect the life, housing and economic activity of people. Regions have to face these challenges and take into account the expected impact of climate change at an early stage. It is about averting of danger, but also about exploring opportunities.
Step 3: Develop and compare measures
The regional level is an important level of action because the consequences of climate change show regional differences and adaptation strategies always have to be seen in a regional context. This clearly shows in e.g. the upstream and downstream riparian difficulties in flood prevention projects or the challenges of dealing with climate change in urban regions.
In Transfer KlimaMORO the results of KlimaMORO will be disseminated, regions continuously supported with their activities on climate adaptation and a knowledge and experience exchange initiated between regions. For this, the application and dissemination of the results into 13 transfer regions shall be analysed and guided. At the same time, crucial, effective elements of regional implementation processes for climate adaptation shall be investigated, success factors identified and results are prepared in a compacted format for the regions.
Regional panels will be initiated that
- enable a mutual exchange of work steps, experiences and challenges of regional climate change adaptation and an additional practical and scientific input for the work of the transfer regions and
- provide the opportunity for accompanying research to analyse regional activities of the transfer regions, to discuss the results of other performance modules with regional practitioners and to derive conclusions and recommendations for regions and regional planning policies at the federal and state level.
- 2011–2040 (near future)
- 2021–2050 (near future)
- 2036–2065
- 2051–2080 (far future)
- 2071–2100 (far future)
Step 4: Plan and implement measures
In addition to the regional panels the following steps will be carried out:
- Preparation of good examples of practical regional planning for climate adaptation: Selected pioneering approaches to practical regional planning for climate adaptation will be compiled. The essential process steps and action areas of regional climate change adaptation shall be taken into account. The results will be clearly portrayed to present the regions transferable options for action on climate adaptation.
- Practical test of the method manual climate impact rating: As part of KlimaMORO a 'Handbook of Methods for Climate Impact Assessment in Regional Planning' has been prepared. It shows a way to a regionalised climate impact assessment with a three-stage procedure of screening, reference and scenario methods. In Transfer KlimaMORO a practical test of the screening and reference methods will be done. For this purpose, the transfer regions will test the method. The usefulness and applicability of the method for regions will be tested.
- Technical expertise: Technical expertise will be developed as a technical support for the region. They align themselves to the support needs of the transfer regions. Topics will be, among others, an analysis and compilation of guidelines and advisory products, data and standards for regional planning climate adaptation as well as process steps for the integration of climate change adaptation in the updating of the regional plan.
- Advice Module: The results of the different project components are incorporated into an online-based consulting module for regions which supports the regions in the preparation and implementation of strategies for climate change adaptation. It will, among other things, give a quick overview of existing guidelines, advisory products and good examples as well as present other relevant information. On the one hand it shall present suggestions for a climate-adapted regional planning for the regions, on the other it shall structure the various existing sources of information on, among other things, methodological issues of climate change adaptation and hence make it accessible for the planning practice.
Participants
Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI)
Federal Institute for Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) at the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR)
National research assistance:
Raum & Energie, Institute for Planning, Communication and Process Management GmbH in cooperation with HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU).
Cooperation:
- Staatskanzlei Schleswig-Holstein, Planungsraum I in Schleswig-Holstein;
- Amt für Raumordnung und Landesplanung Vorpommern;
- Regionale Planungsstelle Uckermark-Barnim;
- Zweckverband Großraum Braunschweig;
- Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, Dezernat 32 Regionalentwicklung;
- Regionale Planungsgemeinschaft Südwestthüringen;
- Regionaler Planungsverband Leipzig-Westsachsen;
- Regionaler Planungsverband Oberes Elbtal/Osterzgebirge;
- Regionaler Planungsverband Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien;
- Regionalverband Nordschwarzwald;
- Regionalverband Mittlerer Oberrhein;
- Regierung von Oberbayern;
- Planungsverband Region Oberland.
Raum & Energie – Institut für Planung, Kommunikation und Prozessmanagement GmbH
Hafenstraße 39
22880 Wedel