Hitze, Starkregen, Trockenheit: Klimarisiken in Städten und die Rolle naturbasierter Maßnahmen – Infographic series

Infographic illustrating nature-based solutions for climate risks such as heat, drought, and heavy rainfall, with icons representing sun, dry conditions, and rain.

Hitze, Starkregen, Trockenheit: Klimarisiken in Städten und die Rolle naturbasierter Maßnahmen – Infographic series

Publication: Infographic
Citation: Ecologic Institute (2026): Hitze, Starkregen, Trockenheit: Klimarisiken in Städten und die Rolle naturbasierter Maßnahmen. Commissioned by the German Environment Agency (UBA), project “Climate Adaptation Naturally! Nature-based solutions for communities". Infographic series. Berlin.

Climate change affects cities in multiple ways: heatwaves are becoming more frequent, heavy rainfall increasingly leads to flooding, and prolonged periods of drought place growing pressure on urban water resources. This infographic series provides an overview of key climate-related risks and demonstrates how nature-based measures can help mitigate them.

The series is aimed at municipal decision-makers as well as professionals in planning and administration, supporting a deeper understanding of the links between climate risks and suitable adaptation measures.

The infographics address the following thematic areas:

Nature-based solutions for heat
Nature-based solutions for heavy rainfall, flash floods, and flooding
Nature-based solutions for drought and low water levels
Overview: nature-based solutions for climate risks

The infographics were developed as part of the project “Climate Adaptation Naturally! Nature-based solutions for communities” for the German Environment Agency (UBA).

Ecologic Institute as part of the ‘Climate Adaptation Naturally! Nature-based solutions for communities' project on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency, 2026

Nature-based solutions can help reduce heat, regulate the water cycle and enhance biodiversity all at the same time.

Contact

Jenny Tröltzsch

Coordinator Adaptation

Senior Fellow

Naturbasierte Maßnahmen für klimaresiliente Städte – Infographic series

Zehn Ansätze für die kommunale Praxis

Year 2026

Publication:Website

The toolkit brings together tried-and-tested instruments and organises them along a typical municipal workflow: from initial orientation and planning through to implementation, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation. Local authority departments, planners and other stakeholders will find concise fact sheets outlining each tool, advice on how to apply it at different project stages, as well as links to further resources and practical examples.

Toolkit for Nature-Based Climate Adaptation

Year 2026

Publication:Brochure

Nature-based climate adaptation can only be effective if it reaches the people it is meant to serve. Inclusive public communication plays a key role in this process: it helps ensure that nature-based solutions are not only planned and implemented but also understood, accepted and shaped by a wide range of communities. This guide, published by the German Environment Agency, provides practical guidance on how municipalities can design inclusive communication strategies for nature-based climate adaptation.

Inklusive Öffentlichkeitsarbeit für naturbasierte Klimaanpassung

Wege zur Teilhabe vulnerabler und schwer erreichbarer Gruppen

Year 2026

Publication:Brochure

Nature-based climate adaptation unfolds not only in urban space but also in public perception. Measures such as urban greening, water retention or heat action plans require clear and targeted communication in order to be understood, accepted and supported. A new short guide published by the German Environment Agency outlines how municipalities can use press work strategically to communicate nature-based climate adaptation in a clear and structured way.

Wirkungsvolle Pressearbeit für naturbasierte Klimaanpassung

Ein Kurzleitfaden für Kommunen

Year 2026

Publication:Brochure

What do shaded paths, green roofs and restored waterways have in common? In many cities, they are already part of the urban landscape – yet often remain unnoticed. This guide, published by the German Environment Agency, focuses on these existing measures. It explains how municipalities can use city maps to make nature-based climate adaptation visible, place it in context and communicate it in a transparent and accessible way.

Naturbasierte Klimaanpassung mit Stadtkarten

Ein Leitfaden für Kommunen

Year 2026

Publication:Fact Sheet

Nature-based solutions are central to climate change adaptation. Urban green spaces and waterbodies can reduce heat in cities, for example. How can local authorities implement such measures despite limited resources? This paper presents financing options based on practical examples – from crowdfunding to green bonds – and assesses which ones are suitable and when. It also provides recommendations on how the federal and state governments can provide support.

Jenseits öffentlicher Gelder: Wie Kommunen naturbasierte Lösungen für die Klimaanpassung finanzieren können

Year 2025

Event:Conference

On 17 and 18 November 2025, the closing event of the project "Natural Climate Adaptation!" commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency and the Federal Environment Ministry took place in Berlin. The event was organised in cooperation with the 14th KlimAdapt network meeting.

Ways to Successful Nature-based Climate Adaptation

17 - 18 November 2025
Berlin, Germany

Publication:Report

The study, developed under the ReFoPlan project "Natürlich Klimaanpassung! Resiliente naturbasierte Lösungen für Kommunen", provides an overview of the current state of NbS implementation for municipal climate adaptation in Germany. It identifies key barriers that hinder local action – from limited resources to conflicting interests – and highlights strategies and tools that can help overcome them.

Naturbasierte Lösungen für klimaresiliente Kommunen stärken

Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze

Year 2025

Publication:Website

Nature-based solutions, such as green spaces or river restoration, can make a valuable contribution to municipal climate adaptation. The new topic page 'Nature-based climate adaptation' on the Federal Environment Agency's website highlights different aspects of such approaches and offers municipalities targeted support in their planning and implementation. In addition to information on the legal framework and funding issues, it also contains practical examples and helpful publications. Ecologic Institute designed and implemented the content of the website on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency.

Naturbasierte Klimaanpassung in Kommunen

UBA topic page

Year 2025

Language: German
Credits: Content: Jenny Tröltzsch
Graphic Design: Lena Aebli
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Published in: UBA topic pages: Naturbasierte Klimaanpassung in Kommunen
Published by: Ecologic Institute, Germany
Year: 2026
Dimension: 4 Infographics
Project: Climate Adaptation Naturally!
Project ID: 50125
Keywords: Adaptation

Biodiversity

Cities

Communication

Nature-based Solutions + Green Infrastructure

climate risks, climate impacts, heat waves, heavy rainfall, flooding, flash floods, drought, low water levels, urban climate, climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, sponge city, water management, urban resilience, climate impact adaptation, risk assessment, adaptation strategies, integrated planning, water balance, evapotranspiration cooling, biodiversity, environmental planning, decision support

Germany

visualization, infographic, science communication, information design, data visualization, environmental communication

Attachments

Klimagefahren-Hitze-Trockenheit-Regen-50125-web.pdf (817.07 KB)

NbS_Hitze.pdf (331.71 KB)

NbS_Klimagefahren.pdf (368.16 KB)

NbS_StarkregenSturzflutenHochwasser.pdf (300.93 KB)

NbS_TrockenheitNiedrigwasser.pdf (263.83 KB)

Further Links

PublicationInfographicNaturbasierte Maßnahmen für klimaresiliente Städte – Infographic series

Black-and-white illustration showing urban nature-based solutions, including trees, water management, and green infrastructure, alongside a city map with marked locations.

Cities are increasingly facing challenges from heat, heavy rainfall, and drought. Nature-based measures offer a wide range of approaches to address these developments while simultaneously improving quality of life in urban areas. This infographic series developed by... Read more

Ecologic Institute (2026): Naturbasierte Maßnahmen für klimaresiliente Städte: Zehn Ansätze für die kommunale Praxis. Commissioned by the German Environment Agency (UBA), project “Climate Adaptation Naturally! Nature-based solutions for communities". Infographic series. Berlin.

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