R2K-Klim+: Workshop focusing on practical and implementation issues

On September 1 and 2, a two-day workshop was held in Duisburg under the direction of the FiW as part of the R2K-Klim+ joint project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). The project is part of the “RegIKlim” funding measure in the federal program “Water: N,” which is part of the BMFTR's “Research for Sustainability (FONA)” strategy and is coordinated by the FiW. The aim of the workshop was to consolidate project results, prepare for their transfer into practice in the city of Duisburg, and initiate the next funding phase.

On the first day, the focus was on discussions with representatives from the BMFTR and the project sponsor DLR. A keynote speech “Why climate adaptation needs municipal control – the Duisburg perspective” kicked off the content-related part of the event. The project partners then presented their areas of research – from climate scenarios and their consequences for low and high water levels to the economic impact of extreme events. A live demonstration of the KLAUS decision support system showed its possible applications, followed by a discussion on the roadmap for integration into the city's administrative processes. Contributions to the “Klimakataster”, a climate data registry, from accompanying research were also included in the program. The day ended with a joint dinner and further discussions.

The second day was devoted to methodological insights. In addition to analyses of climate parameters and urban structures, the hydraulic simulation including basements was presented – a novel approach in which basement volumes were implemented in hydraulic models of heavy rainfall for the first time. This observation illustrates that basements can increase modeled building damage on the one hand, but at the same time act as retention spaces. In this way, they contribute to reducing flood depths and damage in public spaces, especially in lower-lying buildings. These differentiated effects are incorporated into ongoing cost-benefit analyses.

With around 25 participants, the workshop provided an opportunity to reflect on results, deepen knowledge, and strengthen close cooperation within the project network. The focus is now on the third funding phase, which will concentrate on the practical implementation of the concepts with the aim of supporting cities and regions such as Duisburg in effectively and equitably adapting to the consequences of climate change.