The Urban Climate Planning Guidelines were developed in 2022, based on climate modelling and the resulting climate analysis. To evaluate thermal conditions, the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) index was applied for daytime, while nighttime assessments relied on air temperature. These parameters were also used to evaluate the map representations for the two scenarios. Compared to the 2015 edition, green and open spaces were newly included in the assessment. Their daytime thermal comfort was determined based on PET. Comfort levels at night were ascertained using their cooling (compensatory) effect on settlement areas affected by thermal stress (cf. Climate Analysis 2022).
A combined evaluation based on both assessment maps is also available. This overall assessment consolidates key elements, such as areas of cold-air generation and their influence zones, airflow paths, and distinctions between inhabited and uninhabited parts of the city. These details are incorporated from the Climate Analysis map for reference purposes. This overall assessment also integrates all relevant information for evaluating Berlin’s urban climate (cf. Climate Analysis 2022).
The map highlighting areas particularly affected by urban climate impacts and climate-vulnerable areas draws on two types of data. Areas were classified as highly affected if they fell into the top two thermal stress classes of the overall assessment. To identify climate-vulnerable areas, additional datasets were included. Population data (cf. SenStadt 2022) was thus used to identify neighbourhoods with an above-average share of children under six and/or adults over 65, as well as regions without overnight use (i.e. areas with fewer than 10 inhabitants per hectare). In addition, information on the location of facilities with sensitive use, such as hospitals, as well as the availability of nearby public green spaces (cf. SenStadt 2020f), were also taken into account.
Recommended measures were derived from the Urban Development Plan Climate (StEP Klima 2.0; cf. SenStadt 2021b). These recommendations draw on Berlin’s urban structure type mapping (cf. 06.08 Environmental Atlas 2020) and do not reflect climate adaptation measures that are already implemented or currently being planned. Instead, they are based on theoretical options grounded in the characteristic urban development features of each structure type.