Urban Oases and Refreshment Spots: Strategies Cities Employ to Combatt Heatwaves
In a bid to prepare for the increasing summer heat, several German cities are implementing innovative strategies to create cooler urban environments. While specific heat relief strategies for Brunswick, Goslar, Helmstedt, Gifhorn, Wolfenbüttel, Wolfsburg, Peine, and Salzgitter were not found in our search, we can outline some key methods being adopted by urban areas worldwide that could serve as models for these cities.
One such strategy is the implementation of **cool roofs**. Cities like Atlanta are mandating white or reflective roofs to significantly reduce temperatures by reflecting sunlight, thereby lowering ambient temperatures by several degrees during peak heat. This approach cools buildings and neighbourhoods, reduces energy consumption, and leads to cost savings and healthier urban environments.
Another essential strategy is **urban greening**. Increasing tree canopy and green spaces help shade streets and buildings, reducing urban heat island effects. Cities like Goslar are creating cooling spots through shade providers and targeted tree plantings, while Wolfsburg is investing in tree planting, permanent perennial, and grassy areas, using drought-resistant tree and plant species.
**Smart building codes** are also being updated to incorporate heat mitigation elements. This includes cool roofs mandates, improved insulation, and ventilation standards. The city of Peine, for instance, has an integrated climate protection concept that includes urban greening and unsealing, with a focus on creating an attractive and healthy living environment.
**Public cooling infrastructure** is another common urban response. Cities often set up cooling centers and water features to provide relief during extreme heat waves. Although this specific information was lacking for the cities in question, these strategies are common urban responses.
In addition to these strategies, cities are also encouraging citizen participation. For example, Gifhorn offers green sponsorships for citizens to actively contribute to the urban climate, and citizens in Gifhorn can participate in an ideas map to suggest locations for drinking water fountains and other climate-related improvements.
Several cities are also developing climate adaptation concepts and heat action plans. The city of Wolfsburg, for instance, is working on a climate adaptation concept and heat action plan, expected to be published by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, the city of Gifhorn is relying on the ideas and wishes of its citizens in planning its climate adaptation concept (KlaK).
In Wolfenbüttel, greened seating islands have been added to the renovated pedestrian zone, although it will take time for the trees to grow enough to provide shade. The city of Salzgitter has created a dedicated position to deal with strategies for adapting the city to climate change, with a focus on heat protection in public spaces, sustainable development of urban green spaces, and climate-adapted urban planning.
Peine participates in Refill Germany and provides an overview of free drinking water refill locations, while Wolfenbüttel is also part of this initiative. The city of Brunswick has a map of cool places, listing publicly accessible parks, green areas, shaded seating benches, shaded paths, refreshing drinking fountains, water games, and swimming opportunities.
The city of Brunswick has been addressing the issue of heat in a cross-departmental manner for some time, and climate protection and climate adaptation standards have been adopted in Wolfsburg, including provisions for tree planting on residential properties and the prohibition of gravel gardens.
In conclusion, while there is no direct information on heat relief strategies specifically for Brunswick, Goslar, Helmstedt, Gifhorn, Wolfenbüttel, Wolfsburg, Peine, and Salzgitter, these cities could benefit from adopting similar heat relief strategies tailored to their regional climate and urban form. Embracing cool roofs, urban greening, smarter building codes, and cooling infrastructure, along with encouraging citizen participation, could help these cities create cooler, more livable urban environments as summer temperatures rise.
- Some cities are implementing cool roofs to reflect sunlight and cool buildings, like Atlanta's mandate for white or reflective roofs.
- urban greening, such as increasing tree canopy and green spaces, is an essential strategy to counter urban heat island effects, as seen in Goslar's shade providers and Wolfsburg's tree planting initiatives.
- Smart building codes with heat mitigation elements, like cool roofs mandates and improved insulation, are being updated to create healthier urban environments, as demonstrated by Peine's integrated climate protection concept.
- Public cooling infrastructure, offering cooling centers and water features, is a common urban response to extreme heat waves, although specific implementation details might vary between cities.
- Cities are also engaging citizens in climate-related improvements, like Gifhorn's green sponsorships and citizen-driven ideas map for climate adaptation.
- Cities are developing climate adaptation concepts and heat action plans, such as Wolfsburg's expected climate adaptation concept and heat action plan by the end of 2025, and Gifhorn's citizen-oriented ideas map for climate protection (KlaK).
