Even warmer, even drier? Urban nature and development of open spaces in the context of climate change
Background and Goals
Sustainable population development must deal with the foreseeable impact of climate change on the populated area. Urban open spaces and vegetation as an expression of urban biodiversity and the ecosystem services they provided, particularly in terms of climate regulation, are central components of urban adaptation measures. However, urban open space are also exposed to the effects of climate change and are therefore limited in their ability to provide the ecosystem services expected of them.
The objective of the project is to draw up adaptation strategies for climate change based on a national transferable method for planning and management of green and open spaces in urban areas.
On the one hand, the aim is to come up with quantitative and qualitative analytical findings on influences, as well the need and options for adaptation of urban open space systems in terms of their effects on climatic factors. On the other hand, against the background of an analysis of the management potential and deficiencies of previous concepts for development of urban open space systems and the current challenges, possible actions for necessary future changes in urban open space development will be identified and developed. These results will be used to derive development perspectives and recommendations for planning and management of these spaces, both on a regional, city and district scale, in order to be able to effectively implement the identified functions and welfare effects of these spaces in terms of sustainable population development to adapt to possible impacts of climate change. The aim is for the results to have a high level of general applicability and to include practical planning recommendations.
Content time
toResearch area/region
Country
- Germany
Spatial resolution
urban areas
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
Approach and results
No climate scenarios developed.
Parameter (climate signals)
- Heat waves
- Dry periods
Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact
Approach and results
The background to the project is the anticipated increase in heat waves which, particularly in cities, have a significant negative impact on the wellbeing of urban residents and can lead to health problems. In the project, the potential of urban green spaces to improve the micro-climatic situation will be investigated. At the same time, the project will highlight restrictions or changes in the climatic adaptation potential of urban green space (e.g. water supply, change in species composition).
In addition to the potential of urban open spaces to reduce temperatures in urban areas, the risks of warning and increasing summer dry periods for the ecological performance of urban green systems will be studied.
Step 3: Develop and compare measures
Measures and/or strategies
On the one hand, the focus of the project is on the potential of different urban open spaces and green structures to contribute to a reduction in urban overheating. On the other hand, adaptation strategies and implementation guidelines will be produced, to illustrate how this potential can be maintained, more effectively used and supported by planning activity in cities. Objective: Urban resilience based on open space and urban green space.
Conflicts / synergies / sustainability
Maintaining and extending urban open spaces and green systems can result in conflicts with the objectives of climate protection, particularly in terms of the necessity of developing compact housing structures.
Participants
Funding / Financing
R+D project, financed by the Federal Office for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
Project management
Leibniz Institute for Ecological and Regional Development (IÖR)
Cooperation/Partners
TU Dresden, Chair of Meteorology
Contact
Leibniz-Institut für ökologische Raumentwicklung e. V. (IÖR)
Weberplatz 1
D-01217 Dresden
