Digital citizen participation: Shaping Hamburg’s green oases together!

Digital citizen participation: Shaping Hamburg’s green oases together!

A significant kick-off event for the digital platform will take place on April 24, 2025 in the City Science Lab at HafenCity University in Hamburgparticipate.meinstead of. The event, which takes place between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., aims to promote citizen participation and sustainable urban development. Admission is free, but registration is required by April 22, 2025. In addition to an introduction and a live demo, the program also includes a panel discussion entitled “Digital Plastering”, in which experts will discuss the challenges and opportunities of digital citizen participation.

The digital platform is based on the City of Hamburg's Digital Participation System (DIPAS) and aims to convert sealed areas from 5 m² into green oases. In Hamburg alone, 39% of the city's area is sealed, and with the increase in heat waves and heavy rain, the need for more greenery and living space for people and animals is greater than ever. The projectPlasteris therefore particularly relevant and is being driven forward by several initiators: the City Science Lab at HafenCity University, the Code for Hamburg e.V. association and the Lokalkraft network.

Goals and challenges of digital citizen participation

The kick-off event comes at a time when the need and potential for digital participation in urban development is becoming increasingly clear. According to an analysis by the Bertelsmann Foundation, an anthology is currently being initiated that addresses the challenges faced by municipalities in the transformation to sustainability. The focus is on participatory approaches and digital tools to include various interest groups in municipal transformation processes.

The results are intended to present recommendations for action and good practice examples from cities, districts and municipalities. Topics such as digital participation, evaluation methods and incentive systems for helping to shape sustainable development are on the agenda. Interested parties can submit their abstracts by March 1, 2025, with the aim of creating exemplary contributions to the design of the cities of tomorrow.

Importance of citizen participation in urban planning

The relevance of citizen participation is also underlined by the population's increasing willingness to help shape political decisions. Studies show that citizens are often excluded from planning, which can lead to resentment and resistance. This is particularly important in large construction projects where the direct influence of citizens on the environment and living conditions is noticeable.

There is an area of ​​tension between the desire for transparency and participation and the skepticism towards political institutions. In order to ensure the effective involvement of the population, representative approaches are necessary. Digitalization also offers opportunities, but participation processes must be made transparent and accessible to all population groups. The future of urban development lies in a cooperative approach that includes all voices and addresses social inequality to some extent.

Overall, the event and the associated projects illustrate the growing importance of digital opportunities for citizen participation in urban development. The path to a sustainable city of the future requires a commitment from all actors - be it administration, politics or citizens - that is based on cooperation and exchange. This not only involves overcoming challenges, but also creating a participatory and integrative guiding culture.

There is great anticipation for the event on April 24th and the future-oriented discussions, as it offers an important platform to demonstrate solutions for sustainable urban development and improving citizen participation.