Environmental Justice Berlin 2013

Results according to boroughs

Mitte borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 10: Multiple load in the Mitte borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 11: Multiple load in the Mitte borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

Mitte is one of the Berlin boroughs with the heaviest load: With 8 out of 20 planning areas with five- and fourfold load (i.e. 40.0%), a disproportionally high number of areas with high loads are situated here. This problem becomes even more evident in view of the number of inhabitants. Mitte accounts for almost half of all affected inhabitants in Berlin who live in the areas with the heaviest loads (99,481 out of altogether 204,116 of all Berlin inhabitants (48,7 %)).

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

The northern districts of Wedding outside of the S-Bahn ring (PLAs Westliche Müllerstraße, Reinickendorfer Straße, Sparrplatz, Soldiner Straße, Gesundbrunnen) as well as western Moabit (PLAs Beusselkiez, Heidestraße) are areas with particularly high loads. The historical city centre also forms an area with significant load; by contrast, Spandauer and Rosenthaler Vorstadt (PLAs Oranienburger Straße, Charitéviertel, Invalidenstraße) are subareas with a comparatively lower load in the borough.

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

The thermal load in the usually very densely built-up areas is a pervasive problem (high categories). Whereas the prognosis area Centre (0101) is characterised by high air pollution almost throughout, the other prognosis areas to a higher extent include planning areas with a medium load. As regards the distribution of the social condition, the situation is reversed; here the prognosis area Centre (0101) – in contrast to the other prognosis areas – can largely be classified as average, in parts even as good.

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

The particular load of the prognosis areas Gesundbrunnen (0103) and Wedding (0104) and to a lesser extent Moabit (0102) becomes evident when the population numbers in the highest load categories 4 and 5 are included. Out of altogether 348,102 inhabitants (28.7%), 99,481 people live in these prognosis areas.

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 12: Multiple load in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 13: Multiple load in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

The Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough belongs to the most heavily disadvantaged boroughs in Berlin with respect to environmental justice. Two- to threefold loads of the planning areas are the norm. The number of inhabitants negatively affected by several core indicators is also higher than in the Berlin average (borough 212,898 (77.8 %), Berlin 1,771,903 people affected (50.4 %)).

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

The borough as a whole is a focal point of the loads; only some planning areas, for example next to the Tempelhofer Freiheit (PLA Chamissokiez), in eastern Kreuzberg (east and west of the Görlitzer Park, PLAs Reichenberger Straße, Wrangelkiez) and in western Friedrichshain (PLAs Barnimkiez, Weberwiese) show a onefold load.

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

Except for the noise load (which is slightly below the average), all core indicators and the social condition are worse than in the Berlin average. Thus, there is a need for action in nearly all fields of environmental justice.

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

The share of inhabitants from Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg who live in a load-free planning area is very low. 77.8% (212,898 inhabitants) live in planning areas with at least a twofold load. Consequently, along with the challenges resulting from the social condition, they are also exposed to at least one health impairment.

Pankow borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 14: Multiple load in the Pankow borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 15: Multiple load in the Pankow borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

Regarding the distribution of planning areas according to load, Pankow roughly corresponds to the Berlin average. The same is true with respect to the distribution of the population for the different load levels.

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

The inner-city parts of the borough and the edge of the inner city are the focal points of the planning areas with multiple loads. The most problematic planning areas are situated in the prognosis areas northern and southern Prenzlauer Berg (0306 and 0307, respectively), which are characterised by Wilhelminian architecture and by residential and commercial use.

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

With respect to the four environment-related core indicators, the air pollution shows a strong upward deviation compared to the Berlin average (borough 72.5%, Berlin 57.9%). Moreover, the high share of medium problem density (borough 87.5%, Berlin 59.1%) merits attention. The other core indicators correspond to the Berlin average.

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

While the share of planning areas with no load or with smaller loads (onefold or twofold) is above the Berlin average, the share of the number of affected inhabitants is higher than in the entire city. Of particular note are the people who live in the planning areas with twofold load (37.7% Pankow, 27.2% Berlin average). The high population density in the inner-city planning areas will have an impact here.

Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 16: Multiple load in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 17: Multiple load in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

In comparison to the entire Berlin area, the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough performs worse with respect to areas with no, onefold and twofold load (borough PLAs with no, onefold and twofold load 73.3%, Berlin 79.6%). This classification is also reflected in the number of affected inhabitants (borough 221,782 (68.7 %), Berlin 2,702,351 (76.8 %)).

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

The S-Bahn ring and the city expressway ring draw a relatively clear line between the planning areas with no or small load and the western inner city with a comparatively homogeneous (twofold to threefold) load. The planning areas with multiple loads outside of the inner city (e.g. PLAs Königin-Elisabeth-Straße, Schlangenbader Straße) can be attributed to areas with a high traffic load (federal motorway, railway facilities).

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

As regards the individual core indicators, the availability of green spaces and the air pollution are below average in comparison to the entire city area. Regarding the social condition, the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough is above the Berlin level.

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

As much of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf population is concentrated in the inner-city planning areas which usually have a higher load, the share of affected persons who live in PLAs with four- or threefold loads is significantly higher than in the Berlin average (borough 31.3%, Berlin 22.6%). Overall, 101,088, i.e. nearly a third of all inhabitants of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough, live in PLAs with three- or fourfold load.

Spandau borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 18: Multiple load in the Spandau borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 19: Multiple load in the Spandau borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

In comparison to Berlin, the Spandau borough roughly corresponds to the average of the entire city. However, the few planning areas with multiple loads to the east, west and north of the historical city centre are densely populated (92,597 inhabitants live in PLAs with multiple loads). The upcoming closure of Tegel airport will presumably result in a load reduction, as noise in particular will be reduced significantly.

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

The planning areas in the new city and in the Falkenhagener Feld (particularly PLAs Darbystraße, Germersheimer Platz, Eiswerder, Kurstraße, Ackerstraße, Carl-Schurz-Straße, Gartenfelder Straße) form the spatial focal points. In these areas, there are threefold or fourfold loads (Carl-Schurz-Straße) as well as social challenges.

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

In comparison to the Berlin average, the Spandau borough does much better with respect to the number of planning areas with good availability of free spaces (borough 87.2%, Berlin 55.5%). Regarding air pollution, Spandau also belongs to the boroughs with smaller loads in comparison to the entire city. The high share of planning areas with high noise load (PLAs with high noise load: borough 59%, Berlin 19.2%) is a clear “outlier” in the negative sense. A look at the spatial distribution suggests Tegel airport and its approach path as a fundamental cause.

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

The number of people affected by a onefold load is significantly higher than in the Berlin average. 44.7% fall under this category (Berlin 22.4%). The remaining, worse categories show smaller shares. All in all, this yields a better overall picture compared to Berlin.

Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 20: Multiple load in the Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 21: Multiple load in the Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

Steglitz-Zehlendorf is a borough with small environmental loads, in comparison to the entire city. Only the planning areas in the densely built-up area of the Schloßstraße centre as well as individual planning areas in the Südende/Lankwitz area exhibit some load.

The number of people affected is low both in relation to the overall population of the borough and in comparison to Berlin. 16.6% (49,567 inhabitants) live in planning areas with multiple loads.

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

The former borough of Zehlendorf can be classified as load-free in its entirety. Regarding the former borough of Steglitz, a more differentiated picture emerges. The densely built-up area with nearly inner-city character around the Schloßstraße and the Wannseebahn and Westtangente includes planning areas with two- or threefold load.

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

The Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough exhibits low shares of problematic load levels regarding all core indicators, with the exception of thermal load. Accordingly, the share of planning areas with a small load is high. Only 7 out of 41 PLAs show multiple loads.

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

Almost three quarters (71.0%) of all inhabitants live in load-free areas, only around 16.6% of the population live in areas with two- or threefold load. There are no planning areas with four- or fivefold load.

Tempelhof-Schöneberg borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 22: Multiple load in the Tempelhof-Schöneberg borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 23: Multiple load in the Tempelhof-Schöneberg borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

Regarding the distribution of planning areas, the borough is slightly above the Berlin average. As regards the affected inhabitants, while there is no population with four- or fivefold load, the share of people affected by a threefold load is significantly higher.

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

The inner-city part of the Tempelhof-Schöneberg borough is characterised throughout by varying degrees of multiple loads. Even the areas of Friedenau (0703) and Tempelhof (0704), which adjoin the S-Bahn ring from the south and are characterised by a comparatively high urban structural density and mixed use, usually exhibit a two- or threefold load.

South of the Teltow Canal there are no planning areas with appreciable loads.

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

The divergence from the Berlin average is relatively small for many of the factors. The most negative deviation occurs for air pollution. While the share of PLAs with high air pollution amounts to 41.3% in the Tempelhof-Schöneberg borough, the share in the entire city only amounts to half of this value (24.4%).

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

Regarding the proportion of people affected in the different load levels, Tempelhof-Schöneberg also roughly corresponds to the Berlin average. The slightly higher share of affected persons in areas with a threefold load is “balanced” by the lack of four- and fivefold loads as well as a higher share of inhabitants in load-free planning areas.

Neukölln borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 24: Multiple load in the Neukölln borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 25: Multiple load in the Neukölln borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

The south of the borough of Neukölln hardly suffers from any load. By contrast, the densely developed planning areas of northern Neukölln, which are also characterised by social challenges, exhibit medium or high loads throughout (especially PLAs Wissmannstraße, Flughafenstraße, Körnerpark, Glasower Straße, Bouchéstraße, Reuterkiez, Donaustraße, Rixdorf, Treptower Straße Nord, Gewerbegebiet Ederstraße, Gewerbegebiet Köllnische Heide, Buschkrugallee Nord). At the same time, a large number of Neukölln inhabitants is concentrated in these planning areas. All in all, the Neukölln borough roughly corresponds to the Berlin average.

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

The focal point of the multiple loads is the north of Neukölln, i.e. the planning areas within the inner-city limits as well as areas which still have Wilhelminian character and immediately adjoin the S-Bahn ring from the south. In these areas, the loads are medium to high throughout. By contrast, the situation in the south of Neukölln is largely characterised by small or no loads.

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

The most pronounced downward deviation occurs for the distribution of classifications for the status index. Thus, the share of PLAs with a high or very high problem density amounts to 52.0% in Neukölln, while the share amounts to 22.8% for the entire city. Regarding the environmental factors, the lack of availability of green spaces and the comparatively higher thermal load stand out particularly.

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

Around two thirds (61.6%) of the inhabitants of Neukölln are affected by at least a twofold load (Berlin 49.8%). Accordingly, a higher percentage of inhabitants is affected by a heavier load in Neukölln. However, in contrast to inner-city boroughs with a similar urban structure like Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Mitte or even Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, the downward deviation in comparison to the Berlin average is less significant.

Treptow-Köpenick borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 26: Multiple load in the Treptow-Köpenick borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 27: Multiple load in the Treptow-Köpenick borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

All in all, the environmental load of the Treptow-Köpenick borough is small – this is true for the number of planning areas as well as for the absolute number of persons affected. Thus, next to Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Treptow-Köpenick belongs to the Berlin boroughs with the smallest load.

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

Few planning areas exhibit any load at all (one- or twofold load), namely the densely built-up areas of Alt-Treptow, Schöneweide as well as the historical centre Köpenick with its outskirts.

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

All indicators in Treptow-Köpenick are better than average in comparison to the entire city of Berlin. Particularly the factors availability of green spaces, air pollution and thermal load are significantly better. The status index also turns out better. Only in the case of the indicator noise, the situation is only slightly better compared to the Berlin average.

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

Three quarters of all inhabitants (182,471 inhabitants, 74.2%) live in load-free areas. 17.5% of the people affected live in planning areas with a onefold load. This makes Treptow-Köpenick the borough with the smallest load in Berlin.

Marzahn-Hellersdorf borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 28: Multiple load in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 29: Multiple load in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

In comparison to the entire city, the Marzahn-Hellersdorf borough does well, with few planning areas with multiple loads. This is also true for the distribution of the different load levels over the affected inhabitants.

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

There is a clear distinction between the planning areas that are not densely built-up and often characterised by areas with detached houses and the two areas with the large settlements Marzahn and Hellersdorf. In contrast to the detached houses, both large settlement areas include some planning areas with multiple loads (e.g. Marzahner Promenade, Helle Mitte).

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

The values for all core indicators are above the Berlin average in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf borough. This is especially true for the good or very good availability of green spaces.

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

The comparatively small load in the planning areas is also reflected in the share of the population. 74.5% of the Marzahn-Hellersdorf inhabitants (189,435 inhabitants) live in planning areas with no load or with a onefold load (Berlin 49.6%).

Lichtenberg borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 30: Multiple load in the Lichtenberg borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig 31: Multiple load in the Lichtenberg borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

Due to the large share of 59.8% of planning areas with onefold load (and correspondingly a higher share in the population), the Lichtenberg borough cannot be classified as overall better than average. However, all in all, the degree of multiple loads is lower than in the Berlin average.

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

Areas with a greater and a smaller load are nearly evenly distributed across the borough. The reasons for this are to be found in small-scale factors.

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

Overall, Lichtenberg lies slightly below the Berlin average. Especially the higher share of planning areas with high noise load and thermal load are clearly evident. 22 PLAs in the borough (68.6%) have a high thermal load (Berlin 51.0%).

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

Concerning the numbers of inhabitants in the different classifications, the borough is situated in the mid-range: Lichtenberg has fewer planning areas with no load, but at the same time also proportionally fewer planning areas or affected inhabitants with multiple loads than the entire city.

Reinickendorf borough

Representation of the core indicators of the planning areas in comparison to the entire city

Fig. 32: Multiple load in the Reinickendorf borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to planning areas

Fig. 33: Multiple load in the Reinickendorf borough due to the core indicators noise, air pollution, availability of green spaces, thermal load as well as status index (social issues) according to inhabitants affected in all planning areas (deviations are due to rounding)

Overall assessment on the Berlin scale

Although the Reinickendorf borough has a disproportionate share of planning areas with fivefold load, the share of the population and the number of the planning areas with multiple load is smaller than in the Berlin average. The situation will presumably improve considerably after the closure of Tegel airport.

Spatial focal points of the multiple load

The south-east of the borough (in particular PLAs Letteplatz, Klixstraße, Scharnweberstraße, Dannenwalder Weg) is the spatial focal point of the planning areas with multiple load. More densely built-up structures with a Wilhelminian mixed character as well as the approach path for Tegel airport are located here.

Thematic focal points of the multiple load

Most of the factors are distributed according to the Berlin average, partly slightly better, but also partly worse. The share of planning areas with a high noise load is significantly worse (borough 36.7%, Berlin 19.2%).

Number of affected persons in the planning areas with a particularly high load

In comparison to the entire city, the distribution over the different load classifications is more favourable in Reinickendorf. Only in the segment of the highest loads, the share of fivefold loads stands out compared to the Berlin average (borough 6.7%, Berlin 0.7%). It is striking that 91.0% of all inhabitants affected by a fivefold load live in the borough of Reinickendorf (17,738 inhabitants out of altogether 19,228 inhabitants).