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Cologne at the limit: Politicians demand an immediate stop to the sealing of areas!
BUND Cologne is calling for a change in strategy to reduce land consumption in Esch/Auweiler in view of rising temperatures.
Cologne at the limit: Politicians demand an immediate stop to the sealing of areas!
The ongoing heat wave with temperatures near 40 degrees Celsius is forcing politicians and administration in Cologne to take action. The BUND Cologne district group has formulated clear demands in order to effectively counter the consequences of climate change. A change in strategy in urban development is called for in order to stop land and land consumption to net zero by 2030. These measures are urgent in order to continue to ensure a city worth living in and to minimize the consequences of excessive surface sealing.
The BUND is particularly critical of the planned new districts, such as the Kreuzfeld project with over 80 hectares, as well as the settlement expansions in Zündorf-Süd and other districts. The BUND warns that the already high level of surface sealing results in the loss of cold air formation areas and could thus further exacerbate urban heat islands. A comprehensive reassessment of land use is essential.
Demands for area reduction
In order to meet the requirements for living space and at the same time climate protection, the BUND suggests focusing on areas that are already in use. This includes the renovation of existing housing stock and the addition of living spaces on existing buildings. In addition, building over areas that are currently used for retail and parking spaces is seen as a sensible measure. In addition, municipal housing exchanges should be used to make better use of living space.
Currently, around 52 hectares of settlement and traffic area are being converted every day in Germany, which increases concerns about land sealing. Given the rising temperatures in cities, which are caused by sealing and development, the risk of flooding from heavy rain is also increasing. Experts point out that the original land use reduction targets, which had envisaged a reduction to 30 hectares per day by 2020, have now been postponed to 2030. This means that the pressure on municipalities is greater than ever to find viable solutions.
Find new ways
However, sustainable urban planning not only requires new building areas, but also creative approaches to improving the urban climate. Green roofs, greening of buildings and the desealing of areas could help to sustainably improve the microclimate in the city. Students and urban planners are faced with the challenge of both promoting the construction of housing and integrating environmentally friendly measures.
Given the changes described as “quite likely”, such as rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions, adapting to climate change in urban areas is essential. Attention should be paid to improving existing infrastructure. The multifunctionality of open spaces, parks and gardens could also help promote biodiversity and prevent excessive heating of the city.
Finally, BUND emphasizes that climate protection and the need for affordable housing must not be mutually exclusive. Forward-looking planning that considers all aspects of urbanization is required in order to meet the challenges of the future. The signs of the times are clear: it is important to act now in order to preserve Cologne as a city worth living in tomorrow.
BUND Cologne reports that... Surface sealing is a major challenge for sustainability and environmental protection in Germany, as well Deutschlandfunk notes. This provides an overview of measures to adapt and deal with climate impacts Federal Environment Agency.