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Crafting a sustainable digital future
Picture yourself as part of the administrative team in a mid-sized German city with a population of 50,000. The urgent issues at hand require your focus — the increasing budget shortfall, providing housing for refugees, and developing homes and schools. Conversely, climate change and its impacts necessitate long-term and proactive strategies that are not yet fully operational. Moreover, there is a scarcity of data regarding climate change in your municipality. The rationale for allocating public funds towards "abstract" climate adaptation initiatives appears to be a secondary concern in the political discourse surrounding more immediate issues. In the absence of data, it becomes challenging to communicate the urgency and importance of climate adaptation to the city council, the community, and the media. This scenario highlights the intricate reality that municipalities are grappling with today.
While climate data for Germany underscores the urgency of the situation, municipalities struggle to commit to a climate-friendly future due to the lack of local data. Statistics indicating a tripling of "hot days" (days exceeding 30°C) in Germany from 1950 to 2021[1] do not automatically lead to specific adaptation strategies, as the local nuances of temperature rise remain unclear. In which urban locations does the heat become especially intense? In which areas are basements vulnerable to flooding from heavy rain? Where specifically is there a threat of water scarcity caused by a decrease in groundwater levels?
These questions are important to climate protection managers, political decision-makers and citizens alike. It is clear that actions need to be implemented to safeguard the quality of life for citizens and enhance the resilience of communities, which is also a clear expectation from the lawmakers[2]. How can municipalities grasp the effects of climate change and tackle their issues?
Grasping the effects of climate change: What does the future hold for local governments?
Extreme weather events are increasingly influencing urban life. Cities and municipalities frequently experience heavy rainfall, heat waves, and droughts multiple times each year. It is widely recognized that the frequency and intensity of these extreme events are on the rise. Heavy rainfall and flooding pose some of the most significant threats. When rain that typically falls over several weeks occurs within just a few hours, even the most advanced drainage systems can become overwhelmed. The flood disaster in the Ahr Valley in 2021 tragically highlighted the severe consequences that extreme rainfall can inflict..
At the same time, heat waves are becoming more frequent, particularly problematic in densely populated urban areas. The urban heat island effect worsens as sealed surfaces absorb heat and release it slowly during the night. Thus, the heat island effect represents a human-induced alteration of the local climate, significantly affecting the environment and the quality of life for citizens[3]. High temperatures and prolonged heat waves are especially taxing for vulnerable segments of the population. Elderly individuals, young children, and those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly at risk.. Statistics indicate that during extreme heat events, these groups are more susceptible to dehydration and heatstroke, and their chronic health issues may worsen. The Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG)) and the Robert Koch Institute have also reported an increase in heat-related mortality in Germany (deaths attributed to heat stress)[4].
Healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, are also heavily impacted by the heat, not only due to the increased number of patients requiring treatment for dehydration or heatstroke but also because the heat significantly affects existing patients and medical staff, complicating recovery and work[5]. In response to this critical situation, the BMG introduced a "Heat Action Plan for Germany" in 2023, urging states and municipalities to enhance public services for citizens with a focus on heat protection[6].
Droughts lead to a host of additional issues. Water shortages can threaten drinking water supplies, while parched soils put stress on vegetation and exacerbate the urban climate's heat. These various extreme phenomena can amplify one another, necessitating innovative and integrated solutions.
Information box
Urban heat island (UHI) effect: This term refers to the phenomenon where cities and urban areas are warmer than their surrounding regions. This is a result of the unique characteristics of urban environments. In comparison to surrounding areas, cities are more densely constructed, feature numerous sealed surfaces, have fewer green spaces and shade, and experience limited air circulation along with heightened air pollution.
The city's “overheating” is mainly driven by radiation effects (albedo): Buildings, bricks, and dark materials like roofs poorly absorb solar radiation, leading to significant heating during the day and retaining that heat until nightfall. Consequently, the urban environment also cools down at a slower rate. The temperature difference between urban and rural locales can be substantial. Research indicates that this difference can reach up to 10 °C.[7]. This phenomenon is observed in nearly all cities globally, including smaller towns with populations under 100,000. The issue persists year-round, not just during the summer[8].
Smart City: Technology dedicated to climate adaptation
Technologies and digital systems that tackle these and other challenges fall under the smart city concept. Smart city denotes the use of digital tools that are integrated to create a strategic, participatory, and cohesive approach to addressing new challenges and seizing new opportunities in urban development. The fundamental aspect is the interconnection of data streams and systems, which facilitates data-driven decisions and enhances the quality of life for citizens.
In terms of adapting to climate change, this implies that local governments utilize a variety of technologies and data sources to gain a deeper understanding, forecast, and react to climate-related risks. Sensors constantly gather environmental data, artificial intelligence interprets intricate patterns, and interconnected systems can automatically adjust to changes.
A key element of this process is the collection and analysis of data. Picture a network of sensors spread across the city that continuously tracks temperature, humidity, precipitation, air quality, and other metrics. This data is transmitted in real time to a central system where it is analyzed and made accessible for various applications.
Specific application: Urban heat monitoring with msg.ThermIQ
In response to the rising heat stress in urban areas, msg systems has collaborated with the Ismaning municipality to create a smart monitoring system. By integrating temperature readings from sensors, surface radiation data, and satellite information, we can determine not just the air temperature across the town, but also the level of perceived heat stress. This information is crucial for pinpointing heat islands and devising specific adaptation strategies. Learn more about this here: msg.ThermIQ | msg (only available in German)
Further use cases: Intelligent management of green spaces
Green spaces are essential for adapting to climate change, as they help with cooling and absorbing rainwater. Smart city technologies allow for optimal management of these areas. Soil moisture sensors assess the water needs of plants, while weather forecasts assist in adapting municipal requirements in the most efficient manner possible. This greatly minimizes the need for manual maintenance through on-site inspections.
Future prospects and ongoing development
The evolution of smart city technologies aimed at climate adaptation is still in its early stages. Improvements in artificial intelligence and machine learning are leading to more precise predictions and a better understanding of complex relationships. New sensor technologies are becoming more affordable and can be implemented on a larger scale.
The creation of digital twins for entire cities holds significant promise. These virtual models allow for the simulation of various scenarios and the testing of adaptation measures beforehand. This enhances planning processes and helps prevent expensive errors.
Sources:
[1] Wetter und Klima - Deutscher Wetterdienst - Basisfakten zum Klimawandel DWD (Weather and climate - German Meteorological Service - Basic facts about climate change (only available in German))
[2] KAnG - Bundes-Klimaanpassungsgesetz (German Climate Adjustment Law (only available in German)): The Climate Adaptation Act (KAnG) came into force on 1 July 2024. For the first time, it sets a strategic framework for precautionary climate adaptation at all administrative levels in Germany.
[3] Diskussionspapier des Deutschen Städtetages 01/2023: Damit Hitze nicht krank macht: wie Städte cool bleiben S. 5 (Discussion paper German association of cities and towns 01/2023: So that heat doesn't make you sick: how cities stay cool p. 5 (only available in German)
[4] Gesundheitsrisiko Hitze | BMG (Health risk heat BMG (only available in German))
[5] Details | Deutsche Krankenhausgesellschaft e. V. Details German Hospital Federation (only available in German))
[6] Hitzeschutzplan für Gesundheit – Impuls des BMG | BMG (Heat protection plan for health - Impulse by BMG (only available in German))
[7] BAFU 2012: Anpassung an den Klimawandel in der Schweiz – Ziele, Herausforderungen und Handlungsfelder, Erster Teil der Strategie des Bundesrates, Bundesamt für Umwelt, 2012 (Adaptation to climate change in Switzerland – goals, challenges and fields of action, Part One of the Federal Council's Strategy, Federal Office for the Environment, 2012 (only available in German))
[8] Parlow, E. 2011a: Besonderheiten des Stadtklimas, in Gebhard, H., Glaser, R., Radtke, U., Reuber, P. 2011: (Special aspects of urban climate) Geographie, 2. Auflage, Springer Heidelberg: 287-294, 2011 (only available in German)
Autorenprofil
Julia Schoch
Julia Hafenrichter works as a consultant in the Public Sector division at msg, where she focuses on creating smart solutions for challenges faced by municipalities. As a member of the Smart City team, she assists local governments in utilizing data-driven strategies to address climate change and aids them in implementing advanced technologies. Her expertise lies in sensor networks and AI systems aimed at promoting sustainable urban growth and enhancing climate resilience in urban areas.
