Understanding changes in land use

Green spaces cool our residential areas and provide relief from the summer heat.

The Climate Adaptation Act (KAnG) came into force nationwide in the summer of 2024 and provides a strategic framework for preventive measures in the face of the climate crisis.

The German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change specifies the efforts of the federal government and calls on cities and municipalities, among others, to protect the population – especially older people and children – from heat. The aim is to safeguard the health and quality of life of all people in Germany.

In large cities (over 50,000 inhabitants), around three-quarters of the population benefit from the cooling effect of urban greenery.

In overheated cities, green spaces can provide relief: water bodies, unsealed soil and plants cool the air through water evaporation; trees provide valuable shade.

The IÖR used geodata from all over Germany to calculate how much urban greenery can cool the environment. Tree crowns, ground cover, size and location of the areas were taken into account and finally the so-called cooling capacity was calculated. With good cooling capacity, a temperature reduction of at least 2.1 degrees Celsius can be achieved.

In 2018, 76 percent of people in the 165 largest German cities (with over 50,000 inhabitants) benefited from good to very good cooling capacity provided by urban greenery. The map shows the proportion of the population that can benefit from this cooling capacity for each of these cities.

By developing indicators, ecosystem services can be measured and specifically controlled.

The contribution that ecosystems make to human well-being is referred to as ecosystem services. Three types of services can be distinguished: the provision of raw materials and natural products (e.g. wood, crops), the regulation of natural processes (e.g. heat regulation, greenhouse gas sequestration) and socio-cultural services (e.g. recreation).

The IOER is engaged in the scientific analysis and assessment of ecosystems. The development of indicators for measuring ecosystem services is a central component of its research work. The indicators developed are presented in the Ecosystem Services Information System. The information system is continuously being further developed.

The indicators for ecosystem services help cities and municipalities to develop effective climate adaptation measures. Companies, but also individuals (e.g. at home or in the garden), can contribute to the performance of ecosystems by allowing biodiversity and giving nature a place.

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