Citizen dialogs promote commitment and acceptance for climate adaptation measures

The joint project of TH Köln and the University of Cologne, funded by the RheinEnergie foundation “Jugend | Beruf Wissenschaft” (Youth | Career Science), offered participants exciting insights into current research results - including data from weather stations, results from surveys and workshops as well as simulations on the implementation of adaptation measures. The dialogs brought together citizens interested in the project and its topics, some of whom actively contributed to the project work, for example by installing weather stations to collect data.

Raising awareness

At the events, the project managers explained the importance of topics such as urban climate and heat reduction - explicitly using the city of Cologne as an example - and explained microclimatic differences in the two study areas south of Frankfurter Strasse in Cologne-Mülheim and in the area around Volksgartenstrasse in Cologne's Südstadt district using measurement data from the weather stations. In addition, various adaptation measures were examined in more detail and their advantages and disadvantages presented. The participants used the subsequent open discussion round with great enthusiasm to ask questions and make their own suggestions. The citizens expressed great interest in receiving research results and information material in order to pass on knowledge and thus raise awareness of the issues and support the project work.

Temperature measurement with thermal imaging camera (Image: Daniela Zimmermann)

Experience the heat effect for oneself

A highlight of the events was a poster tour, during which participants learned more about green infrastructure, the positive effect of biochar in soil and the urban heat island effect. Experiments also illustrated the heat effect of various surface materials. Participants were able to use thermometers and a thermal imaging camera to measure the different temperatures of urban surfaces such as asphalt, gravel, grass and wild vegetation.

Bridging gaps in knowledge

The feedback from citizens was consistently positive: "It was a great event. Many gaps in our knowledge were closed," reported one participant. Another citizen commented: “The weather station at home gives me a better understanding of local temperature differences.” The potential urban planning approach in model simulations was also met with enthusiasm: “Simulating urban planning changes in models before ‘the excavators roll in’ is an excellent idea.”

The AKT@HoMe project

Together with the University of Cologne, researchers from TH Köln are working on the AKT@HoMe project to investigate how measures and methods for adapting to the consequences of climate change can increase urban resilience to heavy rainfall events or heatwaves. A particular focus is on the dialog between science and citizens in order to increase the acceptance of climate change adaptation measures. The project is funded by the RheinEnergie foundation “Jugend | Beruf Wissenschaft” (Youth | Career Science) and will run until the end of March 2026. The Citizen Dialogs took place in June 2025 in the Lutherkirche (Südstadt) and on the premises of the TH Köln in Schanzenstraße in Mülheim.