Transformation of cities: solutions for climate-friendly urbanization!

Transformation of cities: solutions for climate-friendly urbanization!

The UCFL Days are just around the corner on October 9th, 2025 and will take place on October 16th and 17th, 2025 at the Technical University of Braunschweig. This event is a central platform to discuss the results and work of the first project year of the Urban Climate Future Lab (UCFL) and to further develop the strategic roadmap. UCFL's goal is to research the interplay between climate change, climate adaptation and urbanization and to develop innovative solutions to the challenges facing cities. The event will be enriched by speakers and an international team of experts who come from various cities such as Singapore, Shanghai, Graz and Cape Town.

The public keynote speech by Professor Philippa Tumubweinee, entitled “An unstoppable force: African Urbanization”, will take place on the evening of October 16th in the student house of the TU Braunschweig. During the UCFL Days, current results of the research presented in the SpACE Lab at the ISU of the TU Braunschweig will also be presented. The project is funded by the future.niedersachsen program of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation.

Research for sustainable transformation

As part of the Urban-Rural Future initiative, the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFTR) has pooled research funding to develop sustainable solutions for the transformation of cities and regions. The aim of this initiative is to reduce climate-damaging emissions, ensure energy security and improve the quality of life in urban areas. According to the BMFTR, the aim is to create a close connection between climate protection, economic innovations and the elementary needs of citizens, such as affordable housing and mobile accessibility.

To promote sustainable mobility and climate-resilient urban districts, numerous projects are being launched that are supported by citizen participation and innovative approaches. The NaMoLi project was implemented in Darmstadt, which offers new mobility solutions without having to own a car. In Chemnitz, the NUMIC project is being funded, which focuses on citizen participation to improve cycle and pedestrian paths.

Cities under increasing pressure

Cities are currently facing the challenge of rapidly increasing urbanization as well as social, environmental and economic inequalities. Urban development experts like Stefan Rettich recommend shifting the focus from expanding urban boundaries to making better use of inner-city spaces. Former building structures that are no longer used could be converted into new, functional concepts. This goes hand in hand with the need to sustainably redesign historical urban spaces.

The UN Agenda 2030, in particular SDG 11, sets goals for sustainable cities and communities and requires municipalities to be included in the framework to overcome these challenges. The global forecast shows that by 2050, around 70% of the world's population will live in cities. It is therefore crucial that politics, business and society take joint responsibility to ensure the quality of life in urban areas.