Urban Transformation: How Cities Must Adapt to Climate Change

Urban Transformation: How Cities Must Adapt to Climate Change

Cities face major challenges in the face of ever-increasing urbanization and the resulting social, environmental and economic inequalities. Stefan Rettich, an expert in urban development, emphasizes that cities should no longer grow outwards. Instead, development must take place inwards in order to make better use of existing spaces. This is considered necessary because many inner-city buildings, such as former factories or slaughterhouses, have fallen out of use. Historically, the expansion of urban areas in Europe took place primarily through the demolition of city walls and through industrialization, when factories and commercial areas emerged. The conversion of ramparts was often linked to the construction of the first train stations, which promoted urban mobility. uni-kassel.de reports that there is more space in cities than is often assumed.

Stefan Rettich and Sabine Tastel address the need for sustainable urban development in their book “The Obsolete City – Paths to Circularity”. This will address the future use of areas that are currently being questioned. These include cinemas, churches, gas stations, department stores and bank branches, reflecting the changing urban landscape. The example of Campus North illustrates how globalization and the knowledge society can stimulate positive developments.

Urban transformation as a challenge

Urban transformation refers to profound and often disruptive changes that have long-term effects on urban living spaces. These changes are influenced by political, economic, technological and social developments. A central aspect is advancing digitalization and climate change, which represent significant influences on the direction of urban transformations. abes-online.com highlights the need for cities to adapt to climate change, while at the same time contributing to the exacerbation of the problem.

Still, the challenges facing cities are complex. The UN Agenda 2030 defines clear targets for sustainable development, particularly through SDG 11, which focuses on sustainable cities and communities. The focus here is on aspects such as living space, transport and environmental protection. Municipalities play a crucial role, but are often not directly involved in the framework conditions, which makes implementation difficult.

Sustainable development and social justice

In recent decades, urbanization has increased worldwide. Over 50% of the world's population already lives in urban areas, in Germany it is even around 75%. United Nations forecasts show that around 70% of the global population will live in cities by 2050. This development brings with it the expectation that city residents will have better access to income, housing, education, health and mobility. bpb.de highlights the central questions of sustainable urban development, including how and by whom these processes can be designed and what resources are necessary for this.

The challenges in urban development are complex and require a balanced approach to economic, social and ecological aspects. It turns out that there are no universal solutions and those responsible must also take the needs of future generations into account. Education and knowledge transfer are crucial to promote sustainable and inclusive urban development.

In summary, it can be said: The transformation of urban spaces is not only a structural challenge, but also a comprehensive social process that must be actively shaped in order to ensure participation and sustainability for all residents. The path to circular and sustainable urban development is the shared responsibility of politics, business and society to ensure the long-term quality of life in cities.