KWU - climate change lower Weser region- inform, identify, act
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The research project is studying communication methods for climate change in the Unterweser region. In conjunction with players from tourism, urban and regional planning, and agriculture, methods and materials are being developed to convey an awareness of risks and opportunities, so that possible actions can be obtained. Work with the three groups of players is being carried out over two years in a series of workshops. The project managers are using a contact process to select people to be actively involved in the research process over the entire timeframe and who feel a commitment to the undertaking.
As part of the "Unterweser climate change" research project, new methods for communicating the issue of climate change adaptation are being tested and documented. The resulting products convey the necessity of dealing with climate change adaptation measures for defined groups of players. Six products have been developed by working groups from tourism, urban and regional planning, and agriculture, which will be continued independently by cooperation partners from the Bremen Sustainability Centre at the end of the research project.
Objectives
During the project, the participants in the workshops will be supported in developing their own media for addressing the issue of climate change in their target groups. The players' subjective theories will be recorded and combined with academic findings on climate research. The aim is to create target group specific actions and communication methods. The results of the workshops will be used to produce communication guidelines for the three target groups. At the same time, they will be transferred to other groups. Communication methods could be exhibitions, films, campaigns, websites, brochures, posters or teaching materials. Using these media, the players from the research project will communicate the findings from the targeted risk communication over a period of twelve months as an example.
Comparison between the IPCC climate projections (4th assessment report 2007), projections from the REMO and WETTREG regional climate models, and the climate projections from the KLIMU and KRIM projects.
Study of the climate effects for the agriculture, tourism and urban and regional planning sectors. For example, for agriculture these include: Extended vegetation period due to temperature increases, fertilisation effects due to an increase in carbon dioxide in the air, increased heat strain on farm animals, changed precipitation situation (volume and seasonal distribution) with changes in the soil water and groundwater balance and changed evaporation and evapotranspiration, reduction in groundwater depth to water tables, increase in groundwater regeneration rates, reduction in pedological moisture level, increasing soil moisture in summer and falling soil moisture with reduction in yield and increase in drainage volumes.
For example, for tourism these include: Improved weather conditions (weather reliability), damage to infrastructure due to extreme events, seasonal shift in tourism flows and changes in preferred holiday destinations (see KUNTIKUM project).
For example, for urban and regional planning these include: Increase in health risks due to periods of heat, particularly in cities, greater challenge and effort for the health system in prevention and care for the population, spread of vector transmitted diseases, higher infection potential of disease carriers, spread of allergens in the air or among flora, reduced quality and quantity of water, air and food, and a variety of consequences for urban water management (see Urban Water and URBAS projects) and the building and housing area (see ErKlim project).
Findings on vulnerability are combined in an area of expertise. This is based on the research report "Climate change in Germany - Vulnerability and adaptation strategies for climate sensitive systems" by the Federal Environment Agency (see also KLIMU and KRIM projects).
Possible adaptation options for the target groups are combined into different expertises. For example, adaptation measures for the agriculture target group include conversion and selection of appropriate types, changes in sowing dates, adaptation of crop sequences and introduction of new crop types, increase and preservation of biodiversity, improvement of irrigation and drainage, adaptation of fertilisation and plant protection and use of soil preserving and water saving cultivation methods.
Adaptation measures for the tourism target group include safeguarding and adapting infrastructure, flexibilisation and diversification of supply, improving awareness of risks and opportunities, improving communication and improving weather forecasting and warning systems.
Adaptation measures for the urban and regional planning target group include introduction of warning systems, research and monitoring, improving public health care, increased education, adaptation of urban planning and architecture, improving watercourse systems in urban areas, integration of urban planning and sustainable water management, facilitating sharing of experience and transfer of knowledge between bodies involved at all levels, increasing public awareness of the issue of water in the city, improving weather forecasting and warning systems, and emergency and evacuation plans.
The objective of the project was to formulate action, communication and adaptation strategies in conjunction with players from the areas of tourism, agriculture, urban and regional planning, which will then benefit the entire population. The products developed convey the necessity of dealing with climate change adaptation measures for defined groups of players. The following six products have been developed:
BMBF funding programme "klimazwei" - Research for Climate Protection and Protection from Climate Impacts;
Senator for Environment, Construction, Transport and European Affairs (SUBVE) Bremen;
Bremer Energie-Konsens
Sustainability Center Bremen (SCB) with ECOLO and ECONTUR
Alfred Wegener Institute of Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Bremerhaven;
Research Center Sustainability (artec), University of Bremen;
Institute of Labour and Economy (IAW), University of Bremen;
Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Bremen (Michael Schirmer);
Evaluation: Horst Rode
Sustainability Center Bremen
Jakobistraße 20
D-28195 Bremen