Idea & Strategy

City structures and the urban living environment are especially vulnerable to the consequences of dryer as well as wetter weather conditions such as temperature rise ("heat island effect") or wetter winters (increased flash-flooding). At the same time well functioning city regions are one of the most important pre-requisites for sustainable economic development. A mere reaction on the impacts of climate change will lead to a cost escalation for adaptive measures. Viable and cost-effective adaptation measures are only scarcely at hand.

Therefore, anticipatory strategies are needed for adapting the urban structures in a way that the impacts of a changing climate will not endanger the urban living environment. The Future Cities-Partnership develops concepts and implementation strategies which:

• are innovative - not yet implemented on the practical level

• save from greater financial loss - by operating proactively

• provide for synergy effects and cost-effectiveness - by applying combined measures.

The partners cooperate to develop, apply and improve assessment criteria for climate proof cities. Adequate action plans will be developed in each city region and priority measures will be implemented in small-scale investments. Focus is laid on existing urban structures. Broad dissemination of the results is ensured by distinctly targeting disseminators e.g. architects, housing companies, project developers.