Climate change and its consequences: Recommendations from experts from Kleve for Kleve

An overheated city centre, dwindling wetlands, drying ponds and depleted soils – these were just some of the horror scenarios that were presented to the 50 or so interested citizens in Kleve’s town hall on the evening of 29 October.

The panel, chaired by Andreas Gebbink, head of the NRZ Kleve / Emmerich district editorial office, discussed in a tour d’horizon, often in agreement, sometimes controversially, with Dr Barbara Hendricks, former Federal Minister for the Environment, Jannik Berbalk, Fridays for Future Kleve, Dietrich Cerff, NABU Naturschutzstation Niederrhein, and Prof. Dr Sylvia Moenickes and Prof. Dr Florian Wichern from Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW), the consequences of climate change for Kleve.

The scary word ‘renunciation’

In addition to a little theory on the Paris Climate Agreement¹, the audience was offered a lot of practical insight and expertise, such as soil science, the consequences of arable farming and humus formation in forests. There was also food for thought on how to pay attention to one’s own actions. In this context, it was regretted that acting or failing to act in a climate-responsible manner is often associated with doing without – it is also perceived as slow, more expensive and more complicated.

More heat, more drought, more heavy rain – what to do in Kleve?

The experts unanimously agreed that in future Kleve will experience more hot days, i.e. days with temperatures above 30°C, tropical nights in which the temperature does not fall below 20°C and heatwaves, periods of hot days lasting several days. So how can the city of Kleve remain liveable in the future? The measures recommended by the panel of experts formed a colourful potpourri, no doubt inspired by their respective areas of expertise and backgrounds.

• Creation of near-natural rest areas and niches for cold and hot periods for people in poor housing situations or in vulnerable age groups
• Introduction of a sustainability test criteria comparable to the ‘economic efficiency’ test point for decisions made by the city of Kleve
• Restoration of hedges
• Expansion of the sewerage system for heavy rainfall events
• Shading of bodies of water such as the Kermisdahl and Spoy Canal
• Expansion of local public transport and removal of heat islands in summer in the form of parked cars in large areas close to the city centre

Incidentally, the much-lamented lack of trees in Kleve’s city centre cannot be remedied by planting trees, as large trees do not fit into the city’s narrow alleyways. Here, for example, the focus should be on green façades as an alternative.

Individual interest important for the community

Luc Boekholt, green, environmental and landscape planner for the city of Kleve, who organised the series of events together with Dirk Posdena, head of the Climate Protection, Environment and Sustainability department on behalf of the city of Kleve, was delighted with the positive response. ‘‘The cosy circle’, as our deputy mayor, Heinz-Joachim Schmidt, addressed those present today, are committed citizens who are concerned about climate and species protection. We are aware that ecological issues are currently competing with many other pressing issues. This should be an additional incentive for us to keep the consequences of climate change for Kleve in the public consciousness. The visitors to tonight’s event are important multipliers who will hopefully pass on the newly gained knowledge.’

A final learning from the evening: even for scientists, however meticulously they work, climate change is a major experiment with an uncertain outcome – in Kleve and worldwide.

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¹ The Paris Agreement was adopted at the World Climate Conference on 12 December 2015. 195 countries committed to curbing climate change and a climate-friendly reorganisation of the global economy. The central aim of the agreement is to limit the global temperature rise to well below 2.0°C and preferably 1.5°C.