KommAKlima: Local government climate change adaptation structures, processes and instruments

Awareness of the projected, unavoidable impacts of climate change and the required adaptations to that climate change is growing. KommAKlima, a project commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), dealt with local governments’ adaptation activities and the challenges which cities, municipalities and rural districts are currently facing in that regard. Nine model local governments across Germany (Bonn, Dortmund, Erfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Heidelberg, Oberallgäu district, Osterholz district, Rhein/Sieg district and Ueckermünde) were chosen and the administrative structures, processes and instruments they have for dealing with the consequences of climate change were examined, focussing on planning and construction as well as the environment and nature.
Individual and interdepartmental practical workshops involving the relevant players were organised in the nine model local governments involved in the project, each of which had different structural features and adaptation needs. The status quo as regards local government climate adaptation activities were elaborated and existing administrative structures, work and organisational processes, and instruments were analysed in regard to their relevance, possible applications and transferability to climate adaptation. Inhibiting and supporting factors for climate adaptation were also identified. The analysis involved cities which are already actively engaged in climate adaptation work as well as those which are still at the start of the adaptation process. This practical approach meant it was possible to highlight examples of transferrable methods and solutions for a relatively broad spectrum of local governments. In order to support local governments when it comes to the processes involved in adapting to climate change and establishing climate resilient structures, a series of practice-oriented documents have incorporated the project results in the form of guidance for local governments and provide ideas and information on implementation. In addition to identifying further needs for action, the publications also address issues such as gathering and processing climate-relevant data, acquiring and transferring climate-related knowledge, determining to what degree local governments are affected and dealing with uncertainties regarding projected climate change.
The model communes are: Bielefeld, Bonn, Dortmund, Erfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Jena, Karlsruhe, Oberallgau district, Osterholz district, Rhein-Sieg district, Ueckermunde
The global average temperature has risen by almost 1 ° C between 1901 and 2008. According to current climate projections, further global warming of between 2 ° C and 4.5 ° C is expected by the year 2100. In particular, greenhouse gas emissions (such as carbon dioxide, methane) are linked to so-called anthropogenic climate change. The global climatic changes cause different consequences depending on the climatic zones, such as:
With regard to long-term climatic trends, regional climate projections predict for Germany the following changes:
Certain regions in Germany are particularly vulnerable to this classify climate change:
Extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, floods and storms can lead to channel overload and have consequences for technical, social and transport infrastructure. Likewise, urban heat islands appear and act as heat storage, so that the inner-city temperature is higher than in the surrounding area. In urban areas, inversion weather conditions can increase the concentration of air pollutants combined with heat, air pollution and humidification.
Impact on the municipal action area Planning and Building
Impact on the municipal action area Environment and nature
Due to changing temperature and precipitation conditions as well as the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, it can
Impact on the municipal action area Health
Direct health impairments occur e.g. as a result of weather-related extreme events (such as heat waves, heavy storms and storms, floods). Floods and floods, for example, as a result of heavy rainfall events (especially in urban areas) harbor a large number of health risks. These include, among others:
In particular, long-lasting high temperatures (heat waves) mean
Urban areas have a particularly high vulnerability to the effects of climate change, due to their characteristics (for example, high density and population density, specific infrastructures, complex disposal systems, high vulnerability and damage potential and often exposed geographical location).
However, the potential health effects of climate change presented do not affect all individuals equally. Certain populations are particularly vulnerable to climate-related health risks. Due to environmental or personal factors, these so-called vulnerable groups are at increased risk for the consequences of climate change:
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, for example, is promoting the directive for the promotion of climate protection projects in social, cultural and public institutions:
There can be a multitude of synergies between climate protection and climate adaptation. Numerous measures can equally serve both climate adaptation and climate protection. Such a win-win action may e.g. the preservation and expansion of strategically planned fresh air corridors in the form of green spaces. Also roof and facade greening can help both to mitigate the effects of climate change in cities and to protect biological diversity and for the insulation of buildings and thus to reduce heating and cooling energy requirements.
A central prerequisite for the successful integration of climate adaptation in the municipal administration are inter-office cooperation structures. These are particularly important between the ministries of environment, urban planning and health. But also areas such as civil engineering, traffic or green spaces - depending on the specific field of action - must be informed and integrated in good time.
Structures and processes
Responsibilities
Instruments
For all nine model municipalities involved in the project Bonn, Dortmund, Erfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Heidelberg, district Oberallgäu, district Osterholz, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis and Ueckermünde extensive research was carried out in the run-up to the workshops.
Detailed profiles agreed with the municipalities contain:
Funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) under the title "KommAKlima - Local government climate change adaptation structures, processes and instruments"
German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu)
Bielefeld School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld