Climate Change-Adapted Municipal Infrastructure Planning in the Hanseatic City of Wismar

Old port of Wismar, storm surge on 2 January 2019.
Source: Wismar University of Applied Sciences

The joint project HWI-PLAN, carried out jointly by the University of Wismar and the Hanseatic City of Wismar, is intended to pave the way for sustainable urban development in Wismar that is supported by citizens and adapted to climate change.

Due to its location on the Bay of Wismar, the expected storm surge water levels in Wismar are among the highest on the German Baltic coast. In addition, the inland waters burst their banks during backwater from the Baltic Sea and during heavy rainfall events. In combination with poorly or inadequately developed flood defences, there are increased flood risks in the Wismar urban area. In recent years, specific deficits in the networking of the stakeholders involved have been identified as part of the processing of various projects and plans relating to flood and disaster protection for the Hanseatic city of Wismar. Furthermore, no standardised planning and action packages were available for the implementation of the requirements of the Flood Risk Framework Directive.

The main objective of the joint project "HWI-PLAN" was to implement and stabilise the innovative climate change-adapted negotiation and participation formats developed in the project in the municipal planning of the Hanseatic city of Wismar in order to arm the public infrastructure with water-related issues against the effects of climate change in the long term. Significant progress has been made here towards climate change-adapted planning in the Hanseatic City of Wismar. For example, the Office for Sustainable Urban Development, Project Management and World Heritage was established in 2024 and a municipal heat planning project was launched. In addition, the results of the HWI-PLAN project will be sustainably integrated into student teaching at Wismar University of Applied Sciences, so that a modern and future-oriented education is maintained and further promoted. 

Partner: Hanseatic City of Wismar


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