Climate walk in Kleve

During the climate walk with the Verbraucherzentrale NRW in Kleve on 30 September 2024, practical examples of ways to mitigate the consequences of climate change were shown.

The climate walk is an offer launched by the Verbraucherzentrale NRW  to show interested parties what measures individual municipalities and citizens have taken so far to adapt to climate change around the home. In addition, practical information is shared. In cooperation with the city of Kleve, the VHS Kleve and the Verbraucherzentrale NRW, our project invited people to a climate walk in Kleve on Monday, 30.09.2024.

From green roofs to municipal climate adaptation projects

Even the rainy autumn weather didn’t stop the group of more than 20 people from visiting specific examples of climate change adaptation in Kleve’s lower town area. The walk started at the Kleve town hall with dog and baby. Christian Bors, climate protection manager for the city of Kleve, presented the city’s solar panels on the roofs of the town hall. Carmen Heese, Head of the Verbraucherzentrale NRW in the Kleve district, gave an insight into the structure of green roofs, the costs and subsidy options. On the parking areas in front of the town hall, the infiltration-capable paving of car parks was discussed and various alternatives presented.

Due to the poor weather, a visit to the climate-resilient schoolyard of the Montessori school was cancelled. The next stop on the walk was therefore Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW). Prof. Dr habil. Jens Gebauer and Prof Dr Natalie Leibach from HSRW) welcomed the climate walkers at the tropical greenhouse with its educational and show gardens. Students presented their plant tests in the garden: Which plants grow well and also not so well in the region? What climate adaptation measures can be taken?

Finally, Lena Wiest, nature conservation officer from the NABU Niederrhein nature conservation centre, provided information about the “More life for the Spoy Canal” project. In this pilot project, floating islands planted with native aquatic plants were placed in the Spoy Canal in August this year.

I can do that!

For our Innovation Manager Society at TransRegINT, Florian Gaisrucker, the climate walk in Kleve was a welcome opportunity to engage in dialogue with participants and promote further offers. “Climate change is a social issue and it has visibly arrived in society,” said Florian, who was delighted with the many participants who braved the weather. “The climate walk showed in a simple yet impressive way how we ourselves can help to adapt to the new climatic conditions and be prepared to face future weather extremes.