MONARES Guideline for the Analysis of Measures to Increase Climate Resilience

This guideline helps municipalities increase the effectiveness of their climate adaptation action. It contains criteria and methods for determining the climate resilience of cities and assessing the impact of corresponding measures.

Cities play a key role in adapting to climate change, because many measures to increase climate resilience (e.g. protection against flooding or heat) require implementation at the municipal level. The Hanseatic City of Hamburg, for example, is promoting the greening of roofs. In Berlin, the Senate has created multifunctional areas on the Rummelsburger Bucht with tree trenches that hold back precipitation in the event of heavy rains. Other cities (e.g. Freiburg, Offenbach) are informing their citizens about proper conduct during heat waves. 

Climate resilience through adaptation

Many cities and municipalities have already developed strategies and taken action. In view of the urgency of adapting to the climate crisis, it is important to find out which activities contribute most effectively to increasing resilience, not only in order to learn quickly, but also to legitimise the use of resources on a broader basis.

Analysis can be used to increase climate resilience

This guideline was developed with these things in mind. Modular in structure, it contains step-by-step instructions for the analysis of adaptation action. The guideline also presents methods for data collection, from the evaluation of surveys to the analysis of living laboratories. Practical examples make the subject matter more accessible. At only 42 pages, the guideline is a concise document that helps cities analyse their climate adaptation action.