Sponge city Bremen: New ways to combat climate impacts and floods!

Sponge city Bremen: New ways to combat climate impacts and floods!

At a time when climate change is presenting cities with immense challenges, Bremen has today taken a decisive step towards adapting to these changes. The kick-off event for the “Sponge City Bremen” initiative took place on June 23, 2025, at which Senator for the Environment, Climate and Science, Kathrin Moosdorf, welcomed numerous actors from administration and institutional areas. As the Bremen Senate Press Office reports, this innovative concept aims to make the Hanseatic city fit for the future by making better use of rainwater, creating more infiltration areas and promoting green places in the city.

Weather extremes such as heavy rain, heat waves and drought are already part of urban reality, and Bremen wants to meet these challenges with clever measures. The sponge city principle is intended not only to increase the quality of life of citizens, but also to adapt the city to the consequences of climate change. The planned measures for rainwater management and greenery are a real success against flooding and are intended to keep the city pleasantly cool on hot days.

Involvement of the actors

A central element of the event was the exchange between the various actors in order to develop a viable action plan. In the first phase, employees from administration and administrative-related institutions should be actively involved. We are working together on a concept that optimizes information chains, examines legal framework conditions and develops practical model solutions. The Website of the Federal Environment Agency points out that such concepts are not only necessary in Bremen, but are part of the German adaptation strategy to climate change (DAS), which was launched by the federal government.

The “Sponge City Bremen” initiative is financially supported by the EU project “Pathways2Resilience”. A key component is the goal of retaining rainwater where it occurs, be it on roofs, in parks or along streets. These approaches are intended not only to improve the water cycle, but also to sustainably increase the quality of life in the city.

Looking to the future

In the second phase of the project, the action plan will be made public and supplemented with ideas from local councils, citizens and interest groups. The population is thus actively involved in the process, which not only increases acceptance but can also produce creative approaches for implementation. The ideas that arise here have the potential to reposition Bremen as a model city for climate adaptation.

The development and implementation of sustainable concepts such as the sponge city raises hope that urban centers will not only become more resilient to climate change, but also lively and attractive living spaces for all citizens.* The Expertise in climate adaptation is increasingly integrated into urban planning, promoting long-term resilience and preparing our cities for the challenges of the future. Together we can sustainably improve the quality of life in our cities.