Cluster Spatial planning and civil protection
Measures for the fields of action spatial planning, regional and land use planning and civil protection
Measures for the fields of action spatial planning, regional and land use planning and civil protection
In view of the local and regional manifestations of climate change, urban and spatial planning has a key role to play in climate adaptation. Adaptation is therefore being given greater attention in urban development promotion programmes. The 2020 administrative agreement for urban development promotion programmes (Verwaltungsvereinbarung Städtebauförderung 2020) refined and coordinated by the German federal government and Länder now makes “climate change mitigation or adaptation actions, notably through improving green infrastructure (e.g. urban green spaces)” a mandatory precondition to receiving public funding.
Numerous activities carried out to implement the measures of the “Green Spaces in the City” white paper (Weißbuch Stadtgrün, 2017) contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. One key element is the promotion of urban green space projects, notably within the framework of the abovementioned urban development promotion programmes, national-level urban planning projects (federal programme), the National Climate Initiative, the “Measures for adaptation to climate change impacts” funding programme, and pilot projects on climate adaptation and modernisation in urban areas. Further actions are concerned with disseminating information about tools for and good practice in climate-resilient urban development, and research on low-carbon and climate-resilient construction and climate-smart urban development. Actions are guided by the vision of developing an urban green infrastructure that maintains quality of life in cities and utilises green spaces to mitigate climate change and the impacts of heavy rainfall, heat and drought. To this end the federal government promotes a range of research projects, notably on climate-smart construction, climate-resilient urban redevelopment, water-sensitive urban development techniques, and ways to enhance urban nature. These activities build on small-scale recording and monitoring of the quantity and quality of urban green space elements, which increasingly employs remote sensing techniques (laserscan data, unmanned aerial vehicles, aircraft and satellite imagery).
The “sponge city” vision shall continue to be pursued in order to improve sustainable rainwater management in cities. In this thematic vein, approaches for decentral irrigation of urban green as precaution against drought will be developed further and a model recommendation formulated. Research projects will explore the requisite types, quantities and qualities of water in order to preclude adverse environmental or health impacts.
Beside spatial planning, civil protection also faces challenges that need to be addressed in the APA III context. The action for further development of risk communication on storm-related hazards to the public will improve existing information services, e.g. on heat (here there are links to the health cluster) and heavy rain. Such services will be embedded within comprehensive risk communication strategies. Furthermore, recommendations on cooperation between spontaneous helpers and volunteer responders in extreme weather event situations will be expanded and supplemented with a compilation of examples of good practice. This will involve an evaluation of experience gathered with civil engagement during storm events and a review of ISO Standard 22319:2017 in Germany. The United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) will create valuable impetus over the coming years. A strategic foundation for implementation of the framework is currently being elaborated. Major synergies are anticipated between disaster resilience enhancement and climate change adaptation. These shall be harnessed as added value for the implementation of both strategy processes.