Concept study on adaptation to the impacts of climate change in Berlin (AFOK)

The Concept Study on Adaption to the Impacts of Climate Change in Berlin (AFOK) is an evidence-based report commissioned by the Berlin Senate to scientifically evaluate possibilities to strengthen adaptation efforts in Berlin, Germany. The aim of the AFOK process was to build an evidence-based framework for a comprehensive adaptation strategy for the city. The AFOK was commissioned in 2014 and published in 2016. The document contains climate scenarios for the city for years 2050 and 2100 and an analysis of vulnerability of different sectors in the city. It also identifies action areas for risk prevention and climate adaptation and proposes an interdisciplinary action plan. The AFOK was written by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and the Institute for Ecological Economic Research (IÖW) on behalf of the Berlin Senate in close collaboration with the department responsible for the city's adaptation strategy. To validate the research, stakeholder workshops and interviews were held with experts. Together with Berlin's two adaptation strategies (STEP KLIMA, 2011 and STEP KONKRET, 2016), the AFOK provides a comprehensive and legally binding framework for climate adaptation in Berlin, which is integrated with other municipal strategies, plans and instruments.

Overview

Type of instrument:

Knowledge, communication and innovation instruments›Knowledge and/or innovation

Challenges addressed

Water management (e.g. reuse)
Drought and fire risk
Flood risk: pluvial and fluvial / soil permeability
Heat stress and heat island effect
Human health, comfort and well-being

Consideration of nature-based solutions:

The document recognises the important role nature-based solutions can play under different action areas. For example, under action area "Buildings, Urban Development, Green and Public Space", the AFOK proposes creation of systematic strategy for roof and façade greening; creation of high-quality green open spaces; and increasing the resilience of urban green. Under action area "Water Supply and Distribution", the AFOK introduces the concept of sponge city (making the city more permeable via de-sealing and greening and increasing the surface water storage capacity, helping to cool the city during summer heat periods) and an promotes a wide range of NBS to decentralise rainwater management and spearhead water sensitive climate adaptation.

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Parks and (semi)natural urban green areas

Allotments, community gardens or agricultural areas

Blue areas

Green areas for water management

External building greens

Urban green space connected to grey infrastructure

Good practice characteristics:

Effective

Support multifunctional NBS

Sustainable in the long-term

Locally appropriate

Innovative

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

Department of Urbanism and Environment of the Senate of Berlin

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

AFOK has been commissioned by the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development and Environment and written by two independent research institutes, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and the Institute for Ecological Economic Research (IÖW), supported by experts from private companies in the fields of spatial planning, urbanism and landscape architecture. AFOK has been worked out in a transdisciplinary work process, in a close dialogue with the expert community and the Berlin administration. More than 100 experts from inside and outside of the municipality brought their knowledge and experience into the process via stakeholder interviews and three workshops.

Involvement of non-governmental actors:

Private sector, corporate, business

Researchers, university

Type of actor involvement:

Expert task force consultation

Civil society consultation through e.g. workshops, surveys

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

The measures proposed in the AFOK have to be primarily decided and implemented by the Berlin Senate and the Berlin districts. However, the plan mentions that the implementation of adaptation can only succeed if the business sector and urban society are actively involved.

Type of non-governmental actors involved:

Implementation of NBS (e.g. with government funds)

Targeted actors:

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Financing

Sources of funding:

Public national budget

Budget:

Unknown

Details about instrument financing:

The preparation of the AFOK has been funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety. The cost of commissioning the study is unknown.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Is a monitoring framework in place?:

Yes

There is no tracking system for AFOK itself. However, the document proposes a monitoring system for the 80 measures proposed in the document. The monitoring system should include the status of the measure, the impact of the measure, and the response to the measure.

Did an evaluation take place?:

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

On the basis of the AFOK, the Senate Department for the Environment, Transport and Climate Protection has developed a sectoral adaptation program that is part of the Berlin Energy and Climate Protection Program (BEK 2030), which was approved by the Berlin House of Representatives in January 2018. As a result, the Senate decided on an implementation concept (an action plan) for the BEK 2030 for the period up to 2021.

Success factors and lessons learned:

The AFOK has provided a scientific basis for climate adaptation processes in Berlin. In this respect, the instrument is effective as it provided Berlin's city administration with a catalogue of the most effective measures in response to the actually predicted climatic conditions. The instrument has been prepared in a highly participatory and transdisciplinary manner, and over 100 experts representing different branches of knowledge have been consulted in its preparation. In this respect, the document is both innovative and locally appropriate as it analyses the concrete challenges for Berlin and proposes measures aligned with the institutional landscape, social and economic realities and the environmental and climate conditions in the city. The instrument has a long-term orientation as it analyses the climate conditions until the year 2100, providing a clear, long-term pathway for the city. It recognises the role the multifunctional nature-based solutions can play in simultaneously responding to the various challenges the city is expected to face, such as inundation, heat stress and drought.

Sources and further information

References

List of references:

Naumann, S., Davis, M., Iwaszuk, E., Freundt, M., Mederake, L., 2020: Addressing climate change in cities – Policy instruments to promote urban nature-based solutions. Ecologic Institute, the Sendzimir Foundation: Berlin, Krakow. Available at: https://www.ecologic.eu/17604

Reusswig, F.; Becker, C.; Lass, W.; Haag, L.; Hirschfeld, J.; Knorr, A.; Lüdeke, M.K.B.; Neuhaus, A.; Pankoke, C.; Rupp, J., Walther, C.; Walz, S.; Weyer, G.; Wiesemann, E. (2016): Anpassung an die Folgen des Klimawandels in Berlin (AFOK). Klimaschutz Teilkonzept. Teil I: Hauptbericht; Teil II: Materialien. Potsdam, Berlin. Juli 2016. Available at: https://www.berlin.de/sen/uvk/klimaschutz/anpassung-an-den-klimawandel/programm-zur-anpassung-an-die-folgen-des-klimawandels/

Berlin Senate (2016), Program to adapt to the consequences of climate change in Berlin. Available at: https://www.berlin.de/sen/uvk/klimaschutz/anpassung-an-den-klimawandel/programm-zur-anpassung-an-die-folgen-des-klimawandels/this

Further documents

Documents:

afok_summary.pdf

Weblinks:

https://www.berlin.de/sen/uvk/klimaschutz/anpassung-an-den-klimawandel/programm-…