About the region

Bremen is the capital of the German state of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, a two-citystate consisting of the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven. The region has a population of over half a million residents.

Main climate risks

floods

The regions has been experiencing an increase in heavy rainfall events, leading to heightened risk of river flooding [1]. Around 86% of the state of Bremen is at risk of potential flooding, where around 515 000 people live in this area [2].

Focus during Pathways2Resilience

Bremen seeks to develop a comprehensive plan for water management to make it climate resilient and more flexible as well as to cope with water-related challenges more effectively. The plan will focus on the (1) promotion of a near-natural rainwater balance, (2) prevention of heavy rainfall through temporary storage and reduction of surface runoff of rainwater, (3) promotion of evaporative cooling to improve the urban climate and use of rainwater for irrigation. The applicant also aims to produce a water management plan that accounts for different climate scenarios and develop adaptation pathways, especially with regard to future sea-level rise.

Regional Resilience Journey

Bremen has high readiness for the first RRJ and medium readiness for the second and third RRJ step.

Bremen has the highest capacities for Knowledge and Data, followed by Capabilities and Skills and Governance, Engagement and Collaboration.

Key community systems priority areas

  • water-management

  • nature-based-solutions

Key enabling conditions priority areas

  • governance-engagement-collaboration

  • experimentation-learning-adjustment

References

[1] –

Alexandra Dehnhardt. “Climate Resilient City of Bremen.” Ioew. Accessed October 28, 2024.

[2] –

Christof Voßeler and Till Scherzinger. “Climate Change Adaptation Strategy: Bremen. Bremerhaven.” The Senator for Environment, Urban Development and Mobility, August 2018. Accessed October 28, 2024.