PIK – Climate change at the local level

What are you currently working on specifically?

Christiane Walter: The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) is working on around 200 projects – from global issues such as planetary boundaries and tipping points to regional issues such as water, agriculture and cities. The aim is to bring together findings from all levels and paint a coherent picture. In the LOCALISED project, we support cities and towns in implementing climate targets in concrete terms – this is often where the problem lies. To this end, we have developed the Climate Action Strategiser in collaboration with the Climate Media Factory. It supports towns and cities in creating efficient climate protection plans. The Citizen Engager, a handbook for working with citizens, complements the online tool.

Mr. Vendidandi, you are responsible for the technical implementation of the Climate Action Strategiser. Please explain how it works.

Komal Vendidandi: The tool enables towns and cities to select their region directly on a map. In collaboration with the Jülich Research Center, national decarbonization targets were scaled down to the regional level for this purpose. Once the region has been selected, different scenarios are proposed: the plan with the greatest emission reduction, the most socially acceptable approach, or the best strategy for climate adaptation. The basis for this is a database of around 380 measures that can be combined and then reviewed to see how they contribute to the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. For example, in regions with coal-fired power plants, the tool can calculate how much switching to renewable energies would reduce emissions and what costs would be incurred. In addition, towns and cities can import their own data to make scenarios more precise.

Mr. Hezel, you developed the program design. Who was involved?

Dr. Bernd Hezel: We involved various stakeholders: experts who are familiar with local transformation processes and national plans; small focus groups that tested prototypes and user-friendliness; and over fifty users from the field who gave us feedback on usability. This process took four years.

How exactly should the tool be used?

Dr. Bernd Hezel: It is aimed at people who develop climate protection strategies in cities or towns – often climate protection managers who are solely responsible for this task. The tool provides scientifically sound climate action plans that take into account the interactions between measures and set different priorities, such as costs, fairness or ambition. We see the program as a starting point: It offers robust options on the basis of which towns and cities can develop their own strategies together with other stakeholders.

So, at its core, it is a product that strengthens the implementation of climate protection at the administrative level?

Christiane Walter: Yes. That’s why we have three cities as partners in the consortium: Barcelona, Vienna and the “MAGGS” association of three Polish cities. We wanted to learn from them what would have helped them most at the beginning of their climate planning. Barcelona and Vienna are pioneers, with experience and model projects that are recognized throughout Europe. We are making use of this knowledge.

When it comes to climate protection for municipalities, is planning the problem – or is it implementation?

Dr. Bernd Hezel: Transformation is particularly difficult at the local level because the administrative culture hardly allows for disruptive change. Courage is rarely rewarded. As a result, those responsible prefer not to take any risks. Added to this are silo structures, poorly coordinated processes, and pseudo-participation that generates no support. Administrations often block more than they enable because they are trapped in their functions. What is needed are transparent procedures and spaces in which administrations are allowed to experiment.

Christiane Walter: This mentality then leads, for example, to departments not coordinating their work – sometimes the same street is dug up several times because traffic, energy and water are planned one after the other. Added to this is the shortage of skilled workers. That is why processes must become more efficient, transparent and inclusive. Citizens feel a connection to their hometowns. If you give them real opportunities to participate, you not only gain commitment, but also private ­capital.

What recommendations do you have for administrations, companies and initiatives that are shaping smart cities?

Christiane Walter: Administration, business and politics must not work separately from one another – we don’t have time for that when it comes to climate protection. Unclear signals are a hindrance, as the heating debate has shown. We need a clear, binding direction: The goal of climate neutrality must no longer be questioned, only the path to achieving it. At the same time, regulation alone is not enough.

Dr. Bernd Hezel: Applied to smart cities, this means that reliability can only be achieved if the population is involved at an early stage and takes responsibility. And: It will only be successful if it builds on existing initiatives and narratives instead of introducing artificial structures from the top down. Pure actionism according to the motto: “The main thing is to do something,” is useless.

The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) was founded in 1992 and is now one of the leading research institutes in the field of climate, sustainability and transformation. Its goal is to provide scientifically sound findings on global and regional climate impacts and to identify ways forward.

Climate Media Factory was founded in Potsdam in 2011 and combines science communication with design and media production. Its goal is to present complex research findings on climate and sustainability in a way that makes them understandable, accessible and relevant
for action.