Case Study: Hamburg Metropolitan Region

1. Pre- foresight

The Metropolitan Region of Hamburg (MRH) is directly connected to the North Sea and close to the Baltic Sea (see figure 1). It has about 4.3 million inhabitants and consists of the City of Hamburg with 1.7 million inhabitants and 14 counties in the north and the south of Hamburg. A specific condition is the complex administrative structure: the MRH covers three federal states (Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein), but while the whole of Hamburg is included Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein do only partially belong to region, with their capitals Hannover and Kiel outside the MRH.

The contribution of the Hamburg project partner in the BaltCICA project focuses on two main aspects: a) the analysis of climate adaptation process-related governance (instrumental and procedural dimension) and b) the development of concrete adaptation measures facing the consequences of climate change (physical dimension).

In line with the analysis of climate adaptation governance, a preceding actor mapping took place and, as a follow up to this, practical partners have been identified within a stakeholder analysis. Finally, both groups, the practical partners as well as identified stakeholders, have been invited to the scenario workshops in June 2010.

2. Data and inputs

As a preparation for the MRH scenario workshops, three different future scenarios have been created to display possible future trends in line with climate change. In the scenarios “await”, “protect” and “adapt”, different courses of action have been described.

The results of the stakeholder analysis are constantly updated in order to outline the climate change community in the MRH.

Together with practical partners, brainstorm sessions have been arranged to debate about stakeholders concerns and ideas.

Contour- level maps have been created to support the participants on the scenario workshops.

Based on literature and internet research, a collection of good practice examples has been created with a special focus on countries of the Baltic Sea Region.

3. Information transmission

The developed future scenarios have been distributed to the participants of the scenario workshops in advance in order to raise the awareness for the topic and create a basis for start off discussion at the event itself. The contour- level maps have been presented on the scenario workshops to support the participants.

The results and outcomes of the project are communicated to practical partners on a workshop event, taking place every 6 months. On this event, further steps, needs and concerns are discussed and evaluated.

4. Interaction

Scenario Workshops took place in Hamburg on the 2nd and 22nd June 2010 to discuss and evaluate climate change impacts in the MRH together with affected stakeholders. In addition to that, adequate adaptation measures and future visions have been created together with the participants.

Another workshop was organized in February 2010 to bring together practical partners and scientists from the HCU to discuss the state of scientific knowledge and outcomes within the HafenCity University and the BaltCICA project in specific. The state of the project work was presented as well as future steps. Practical partners had the possibility to express needs and concerns.

A climate change colloquium has been organized at the HafenCity University and hosted national and international experts from the planning and climate research sector. The subjects of the speeches have been used to deepen the knowledge about climate change concerns in the MRH.

5. Output

The results of the stakeholder analysis are constantly added with new or changed contacts in order to keep the list up to date. Also the list of good practices is complemented regularly throughout the time of the project by all project partners.

A documentation of the 1st practical partner workshop was emailed to the participants. Based on that, new forms of cooperation and interaction could be created. The documentation of the scenario workshops was also send to the participants of that event, displaying the outcomes and results. Based on that, policy recommendations will be created to support decision makers.

A climate adaptation governance concept is created to display and analyze the general arrangement and network structures in the MRH.

With the beginning of 2011, a feasibility study on resilient settlement structures and their implementation in Hamburg begins and will last to the end of the project.

In March 2011, the Regional Conference of all northern German federal states will take place in Hamburg to discuss aspects of climate change within the northern region of Germany with a special focus and coasts and coast protection. The HCU will host one workshop on this event to, among other contents, present and discuss the outcomes of the scenario workshops to a broader audience of expert stakeholders.

In September 2011, the international BaltCICA summer school will take place in Hamburg to give the opportunity to master students and young researchers to get in touch with a research community which focus on climate change adaptation in the Baltic Sea Region and especially with Hamburg.

Involved persons:

HafenCity University Hamburg: Prof. Jörg Knieling, Philipp Schuster, Uwe Schönherr, Lisa Kunert

Partners are the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg represented by the Ministry of Urban Development and Environment (BSU), the Technical University Hamburg-Harburg, Department of River and Coastal Engineering (Prof. Erik Pasche) and the International Building Exhibition IBA 2013.