Communicating adaptation

knowledge to support strategy

development and implementation

on local level

Petra Mahrenholz, Clemens Haße, Susanne Kambor, Andreas Vetter

German Federal Environment Agency

KomPass - Climate Impacts and Adaptation in Germany

OVERVIEW

1. Objectives and linkages

2. Defining target groups

3. Examples for information sharing

4. Conclusions

Communicating adaptation knowledge

TARGETS anpassung.net

• Provide IAV knowledge

Data access

Funding programs and scientific projects

Adaptation activities

Aggregated research results

• Network platform

• Exchange information among users

LINKING INFORMATION: WITH GERMAN STATES

Communicating adaptation knowledge

Metadata for regional studies: exposition maps and text

here: temperature change

LINKING INFORMATION: WITH GERMAN CLIMATE PORTALS

Communicating adaptation knowledge

LINKING INFORMATION:

LINKING INFORMATION: WITHIN THE EU

Communicating adaptation knowledge

Nearly 100 datasets from „project catalogue“ had been translated, supplemented

and adapted to data field requirements. Further 50 sets will follow.

TARGET GROUPS anpassung.net

To determine our target groups:

• Online survey

We contacted 370 persons personally

With 25 questions

171 responses (46 %)

TARGET GROUPS anpassung.net

Survey results Development of Personas

Virtual persons = prototypical users attributed with specific characters (photo, personal features, etc.)

User perspective

Empathize with the situation and the needs

Personas for 4 main target groups: actors in municipalities; Federal/State Governments; enterprises/I-NGOs; Scientists

Communicating adaptation knowledge

ANPASSUNG.NET – USER SHARE

Communicating adaptation knowledge

36%

18%7%

8%

31%

Federal, State, Municipalities Enterprises, I-NGOsE-NGOs MediaScientists

DECISION SUPPORT TOOL: “KLIMALOTSE”

• Online guide for developing and implementing adaptation strategies

• Main target groups:

– Municipalities

– Small and medium-sized enterprises

• 5 main steps

DATABASE: “TATENBANK”

• Implemented adaptation measures

• Main target groups:

– Municipalities, regional administrations

– Companies for public services

– Non-governmental institutions

• Aims:

– Promoting networks between actors

– Learning from realized projects

– Source for identifying good practice

CALL FOR GOOD EXAMPLES

• Combined with start of database (2011)

• Over 100 entries (external users)

• Assessment criteria: Effectiveness and cost-benefit

Side effects

Stakeholder participation und acceptance

Feasibility and transferability

• No prize money, but public final award ceremony, public relation, short film

… THE BEAMING WINNERS

Communicating adaptation knowledge

GOOD EXAMPLE: CITY OF WUPPERTAL

• Adaptation strategy for the urban drainage system

• Situation: Strong slope gradient Heavy rain events and flash floods

• Approach: Advanced modelling and

visualisation technologies

Information to property owners at high risk about appropriate measures

FUNDING SCHEMES FOR MUNICIPALITIES

• National Climate Initiative: financial support for

community based adaptation strategy (since 2011),

integrated land use strategies (mainstreaming of

adaptation) and workshops (planned 2013)

• National Adaptation Strategy: financial support for

SME based adaptation strategy, pilot projects in

municipalities, fostering of regional networks,

training and education activities

CONCLUSION

• Setting objectives and a well focused content ease cooperation with further climate change platforms

• Evaluation of information formats with the help of online surveys is necessary

• Definition of Personas and consequently addressing the different user requirements enhance communication success

• Action on local level needs information on good examples and funding schemes

Communicating adaptation knowledge

Petra Mahrenholz

petra.mahrenholz(at)uba.de

www.anpassung.net

www.tatenbank.anpassung.net

www.umweltbundesamt.de

CONTACT:

METTOOLS VIII, Leipzig, 22.03.12