Urban green spaces underutilized in European climate strategies

A study by researchers from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Justus Liebig University Giessen reveals that urban green spaces are underutilized in European climate strategies. After evaluating approximately 2,500 individual measures across the climate plans of 25 major European cities, researchers found that only 11.6 percent of these measures addressed green and open spaces. Most urban planning currently prioritizes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions rather than adaptation measures like cooling and rainwater absorption.

In response to the need for climate adaptation, Berlin is launching an initiative to transform grey urban areas into green spaces. The city is seeking small-scale surfaces, ranging from 2 to 20 square meters, such as driveways, front yards, or courtyard corners, to undergo DIY unsealing processes. The goal is to test how small-scale, community-driven unsealing can create micro-habitats and cooling islands by 2027, helping to mitigate the effects of heat and heavy rainfall in dense urban environments.