DynAKlim – Dynamic Adaptation to the Effects of Climate Change in the Emscher-Lippe Region (Ruhr Basin)

Setting up a regional web-based knowledge management system and a region-wide roadmap process for the Emscher-Lippe region, DynAKlim supports the Emscher-Lippe region in becoming a proactive and innovative acting conurbation showing a considerably strengthened adaptability.
The DynAKlim work program includes interdisciplinary research on the effects on the regional water cycle, pilot projects to test flexible adaptation measures and the elaboration of implementation-oriented solutions to all technical, economic, regional policy and social aspects in the "Regional Adaptation".
The project region Emscher-Lippe comprises 52 municipalities, including Duisburg, Essen, Bochum and Dortmund. Emschergenossenschaft and Lippeverband, three regional councils, the Regional Association Ruhr (RVR), six chambers of industry and commerce and three chambers of crafts assume duties of (self-) administration in the region. In addition to the river basins the project region is closely linked to the surrounding municipalities, economic structures and water boards.
To structure the project work six sub-objectives have been formulated in order to achieve the main project objectives:
Besides wet and moderately cold winters especially dry and hotter summers with recurrent heavy rains are predicted by climate scenarios for Germany. For the Emscher-Lippe region, an increase in mean annual temperature of + 2°C is expected to + 3.5°C by the end of the century. No significant changes in the mean annual total precipitation are expected (+ 5%), but a far less uniform distribution and a significant shift of precipitation from summer to winter. There are still regional climate simulations carried out such as for the urban climate.
Depending on the climate scenarios the certain effects of climate change will have significant impact on the living and economic conditions of the people, on security, quality and cost of supply and disposal, and thus on the economic performance and competitiveness of the region. The rural cultural and natural spaces in Lippeverband area will be affected as well as densely populated urban areas in the Emscher region. Effects considered are for example increased flood risk in urban areas, competing use of regional water resources, increased (drinking) water consumption, deteriorating raw water quality, health risks, etc.
The project focuses mainly on the potential impacts of climate change on the availability and use of water in the region and the associated consequences on the population, economy and environment.
People and goods protection can suffer damage depending on the intensity and duration of danger result such as a heavy rainfall event and their own vulnerability. Smith et al. (2000): "... vulnerability is understood to be a function of exposure to climate change impacts and the adaptive capacity of a system."
By now only few of the decision makers in politics, business and administration are adequately prepared to plan and decide under continuing uncertainty to adapt facilities and services efficiently to the continuous changes of a complex environment in the coming years. Most actors at local and regional level currently missing the knowledge, intersectoral networking and long-term effective coordination instruments, in order to actively participate in the necessary regional adaptation process.
Developing a foundation and important components for a future pro-active, anticipatory adaptation of regional planning and development processes to the projected impacts of climate change as well as a "Roadmap 2020" on climate adaptation. The roadmap also allows the integration of additional regional activities, sectors and areas of activity that appear the region to be relevant for the design of the adaptation process (for example, health, mobility, urban development). The steps of "roadmapping" includes to collect facts, integrate facts and develop visions, communicate, apply and build trust. In the dynamic process of the coordination of "roadmapping" on adaptation topics and adaptation priorities the experience of regional actors and the work results of the five thematic regional platforms of the project are introduced continuously.
Organization-, financing- and tariff- or fee structures for water management services come from a time when climate change was not an issue. Adaptation to climate change impacts means organizational challenges and increased financing needs in water management. Organisational structures and financing concepts are examined to figure out, whether they are suitable to meet the challenges of climate change, or whether restructuring is necessary.
The project has developed a monitoring manual in which a monitoring plan for the continuous assessment of the effectiveness of adaptation measures is described.
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) - research priority: "KLIMZUG – Managing climate change in the regions for the future "
Research Institute for Water and Waste Management, RWTH Aachen (FiW) e.V.
Technische Universität Dortmund;
Universität Duisburg-Essen;
RWTH-Aachen;
Emscher-Genossenschaft / Lippe-Verband; ahu AG Wasser - Boden - Geomatik; dr.papadakis GmbH;
IWW Water Center;
Rhein-Ruhr-Institut für Sozialforschung und Politikberatung e. V. (RISP);
Rufis - Ruhr-Forschungsinstitut für Innovations- und Strukturpolitik;
Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy (additional regional network partners and European partners)
Forschungsinstitut für Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft an der RWTH Aachen e.V.
Kackertstraße 15-17
D-52072 Aachen