Climate-resilient regions
Background and Goals
The project studies the vulnerability of (critical) infrastructure in the context of climate change. Approaches to design climate-resilient infrastructures will be developed. This includes the consideration of social, organizational and institutional consequences that are associated with the adaptation of existing or alternative infrastructures. Based on this, policy recommendations will be developed for actors at the federal level and other adaptation stakeholders (e.g. municipalities) for developing climate-resilient infrastructures.
Furthermore the dissemination and anchoring of "good examples" of climate adaptation measures in the society will be analyzed within this project. Recommendations shall be deduced to support the government by supporting the dissemination and anchoring of such examples for climate change adaptation. Moreover, the consideration of the social dimension regarding the activities for climate change adaptation will be investigated. Specific recommendations for action from the perspective of the federal government shall be deduced to strengthen the personal provision of particularly affected social groups or milieus.
The aim of the project is also the concept development for a so-called "Urban Living Lab", in which new infrastructure models can be developed and tested together with all relevant stakeholders.
Content time
toResearch area/region
Country
- Germany
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
Approach and results
there was no specific climate scenario developed
Parameter (climate signals)
- Altered rainfall patterns
- Higher average temperatures
Further Parameters
extrem events
Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact
Approach and results
The consideration of the social aspects regarding climate change impacts (and adaptation) has been neglected so far. There are cases that point out that the climate change impacts affect socio-structural and socio-spatial differentiated. Particularly vulnerable social groups such as elderly and sick people are demonstrably more affected by extreme weather events. Objective of this project is to figure out the socio-spatial and socio-structural aspects of climate change impacts in order to propose adaptation measures based on these results. The personal provision of particularly vulnerable social groups is intended to be strengthened by these.
Step 2b: Identify and assess risks - Vulnerability, risks and chances
Approach and results
Based on a vulnerability analysis of critical infrastructures it will be studied in which way those infrastructure systems can be designed more climate-resilient.
Step 3: Develop and compare measures
Measures and/or strategies
As part of a climate-resilient and climate-adapted region, infrastructure is a major priority. The collective term "infrastructures" includes not only technical and structural facilities and equipment but also people, organizations, processes, products, services and information flows.
Since both sides of infrastructures are of importance regarding the regional adaptation to climate change, the material and technical as well as the social aspects are considered. Thus besides considering the vulnerability of (critical) infrastructures and respective adaptation and resilience strategies also potential organizational and institutional consequences of changing the existing (critical) infrastructure or alternative infrastructures will be investigated. The aim is to provide policy recommendations for actors at the federal level and other adaptation stakeholders (e.g. municipalities) for developing such climate-resilient infrastructures.
Resilience means the capabilities of organizations and systems to maintain its core functions, when there are e.g. disturbances or interventions from the outside.
Participants
Funding / Financing
German Environment Agency (UBA)
Project management
ecolo – Agentur für Ökologie und Kommunikation, Bremen
Cooperation/Partners
ARSU – Arbeitsgruppe für regionale Struktur-und Umweltforschung GmbH, Oldenburg;
ECOLOG – Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung und Bildung GmbH, Hannover;
Contact
ecolo – Agentur für Ökologie und Kommunikation
Jakobistr. 20
28195 Bremen
