Bad Liebenwerda – eine Stadt zum Wohlfühlen (a town to enjoy): facing climate change

Background and Goals

With around 10,000 inhabitants and an area of just about 140 square kilometres, the city of Bad Liebenwerda is the smallest municipality among the StadtKlima model projects. This town in Brandenburg has already seen a significant depopulation in the past, with a further decline in the current population forecast by 2025. Already a recognized spa, Bad Liebenwerda wishes to achieve the status of a "Heilbad" (recognized medical health resort) by 2015.

With regard to the development of the spa town and the local tourism, the results of the climate change are causing some distress, particularly as significant effects are already evident on human health, air hygiene, water balance and water management, as well as open and green spaces.

Other hand, within the framework of developing the spa resort and adapting to the climate changes, the resulting need for action can also be seen as an opportunity. The health and well-being of the residents and visitors of the city of Bad Liebenwerda need to be secured. Moreover, the need for adaptation should be used as a location factor, to ensure that the local spa development, tourism, health and agriculture can derive particular benefit from the measures implemented.

Content time

to

Research area/region

Country
  • Germany
Region of implementation (all German federal states)
  • Brandenburg
Spatial resolution 

Bad Liebenwerda

Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change

Step 1: Understand and describe climate change

Approach and results 

The DWD (German Meteorological Service, national agency within the BMVBS Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development) provides the climate data necessary for the climate projections in all the StadtKlima projects.

Furthermore, for local projections, regional climate models and the Regional Climate Atlas of Germany of the Helmholtz Association were evaluated. The Atlas depicts different model runs of the dynamic regional models REMO and CLM for different development / SRES scenarios.

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

2031-2060

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

Approach and results 

Increasing heat stress in summer and decreasing thermal comfort cause health risks;
flooding from the Black Elster endangers central areas of the town;
more frequent heavy rain events put a strain on the existing infrastructure.

Step 3: Develop and compare measures

Measures and/or strategies 

The Bad Liebenwerda model project was based on the landscaping plan of the city. This offered a suitable framework for the development of climate-conscious implementation strategies. Central objectives were:

  •  the development of a municipal adaptation strategy,
  •  to raise the awareness of the population and local businesses by means of comprehensive public relations work,
  •  the implementation of the landscaping plan with regard to the climate change,
  •  the lasting protection of thermal comfort,
  •  the further development of green and open spaces, and

 the integration of the use of renewable energy.

Adaption measures:

  • Climate-conscious further development of settlement structures through extensive green and water (here: town moats), for which urban open spaces need to be adapted to changing functions and uses;
  • implementation strategy for the landscaping plan, taking into account agriculture and renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass);
  • raising the awareness of the population and local business stakeholders – particularly in the spa and health sector – through a citizens' information campaign, participation opportunities for businesses, and the artistic installation of information sources in the city.
Time horizon
  • 2071–2100 (far future)

Participants

Funding / Financing 

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

Project management 

Forschungsassistenz durch das Berliner Planungsbüro Plan und Praxis GbR

Cooperation/Partners 

Friends of Nature Park Niederlausitzer heathland eV;
Landkreis Elbe-Elster;
Vereinigung zur Förderung der Nutzung Erneuerbarer Energien (VEE), Sachsen

Contact

Stadt Bad Liebenwerda
Markt 1
04924 Bad Liebenwerda

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