IndiKlimA workshop at the Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR) in 33 °C heat in Oberhausen brings the team closer together

On 4 and 5 August, the IndiKlimA research consortium held its second regular in-person workshop at the RVR visitor centre in Haus Ripshorst, Oberhausen. In midsummer heat of 33 °C, the team discussed, amongst other things, the definition of requirements for the target product and the interrelationships between target statements, areas of action and indicators in the progress monitoring of municipal climate adaptation. Throughout the one-and-a-half days, the high temperatures made the urgency of climate adaptation in relation to heat and drought very palpable.

The IndiKlimA project consortium was warmly welcomed by project partner Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR) at the Haus Ripshorst visitor centre. Marco Mersmann outlined the unique features of the site, which is situated in a former coal-mining area. This was followed by in-depth discussions on the feasibility of various indicators for local climate adaptation. For example, the consortium discussed at length the DPSIR framework, on the basis of which indicators are to be derived. The definition of the two indicator categories (impact indicators and response indicators) and the incorporation of the IOOI framework – a tried-and-tested framework in impact management (Input, Output, Impact, Outcome) – laid an important foundation for building a shared understanding of the complex mechanisms at work in climate adaptation.

Another key aspect of the discussion was the question of the intended purpose of the final product. The IndiKlimA project deliberately focuses on monitoring and evaluating progress in local climate adaptation and therefore explicitly does not aim for the final product to be used as a basis for decision-making when weighing up different climate adaptation measures. Instead, the aim is to enable local authorities to track their own improvements in climate resilience over time. Furthermore, the standardised indicators are intended to enable comparisons between local authorities. As the impacts of climate change vary greatly at local level and local authorities implement highly individual adaptation measures tailored to their specific needs, not all indicators can be equally relevant to all local authorities. A modular structure for the indicators is designed to ensure that these individual local differences are taken into account.

By discussing the compatibility of the indicators with existing frameworks (areas of action) of the State Office for Nature, Environment and Climate of North Rhine-Westphalia, the consortium ensured that efforts to adapt to climate change at local authority level are aligned with regional and state-wide strategies. Similarly, the various spatial levels represented within the consortium ensured that the needs of both the local practice partners in the Bergisch City Triangle (the cities of Remscheid, Solingen and Wuppertal) and those of Mettmann District and the Ruhr Regional Association (RVR) were taken into account. Disy Informationssysteme GmbH ensures that the eventual technical end product will be suitable for practical use. The Research Institute for Water Management and Climate Future at RWTH Aachen University (FiW) provides the scientific expertise through its overarching project coordination and development of indicators.

The next face-to-face workshop is scheduled for early October and will take place at disy Informationssysteme GmbH in Karlsruhe.