Green cities of the future: Experts present solutions for climate change

Green cities of the future: Experts present solutions for climate change

Heat waves, heavy rain, social inequality and economic structural change – all of these challenges are putting strain on both cities and rural areas in Germany. At the HAT 2025, which took place at the Casals Forum in Kronberg, around 330 experts came together to discuss solutions to these problems. The focus was on the “green city” model, one of the three action dimensions of the New Leipzig Charter. Dabonline reports that the green city is described as the foundation of resilient urban development that is ready to face crises while creating sustainable living spaces.

In this context, AKH President Gerhard Greiner emphasized the central role of the profession in terms of climate adaptation and climate protection. The HAT 2025 was divided into four parts, with Dr. Stefan Carsten and Prof. Elisabeth Endres led the forum “Transformation society under (heat) stress”. Dr. Carsten spoke about the need to think about the mobility and spatial transition together and placed the focus of his remarks on improving the quality of stay in public spaces.

Innovative approaches and solutions

Prof. Endres, who is associated with the German Pavilion at the Architecture Biennale in Venice, reported on the Biennale contribution “Stress Test”. This article addressed the challenge of heat stress and overheated urban landscapes and presented solutions to promote climate-resilient urban development.

The website for the interdisciplinary research project “Green City of the Future” is also online, which represents an important step in the discussion about climate-resilient neighborhoods. This platform offers a wealth of information, ranging from profiles and checklists to practical examples, to give local administrations and planners clear direction. Green in the city highlights that the materials are divided into various topics such as neighborhood development and provide particularly practical tips for climate-adapted planning.

Global challenges and local solutions

The pressure that cities are facing due to increasing urbanization and the associated climate impacts is enormous. Astrophysical research data shows that more than half of the world's population already lives in cities, and this proportion will increase to two out of three people by 2050. This makes cities appear to play a key role in climate protection. International climate initiative reports that cities are responsible for around 70% of global energy use and CO2 emissions and are exposed to high pressure to adapt due to climate change.

Strategies to ensure climate-friendly and resilient urban development were already anchored in 2015 during COP21 and in the “New Urban Agenda” of the Habitat III conference. This strategic orientation also receives continuous support from the IKI, which promotes sustainable urban development. It is therefore essential to invest in future-oriented urban infrastructure in order to effectively meet the challenges of urbanization.