Green Network Hamburg

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Hamburg

Region

Europe

Native title of the NBS intervention

Grünes Netzwerk Hamburg

Short description of the intervention

While Hamburg has already had an impressive green infrastructure, it is now (since 2013) implementing an interconnected green network that will cover the 40 % of its area and support commuting by bicycle, recreation and climate change resilience. The project is planned to be completed by 2034. (Reference 9) The project aims to connect the two green belts, parks, recreational areas, cemeteries and animal habitats to each other with green paths and with the already existing “green axes” leading from the agglomeration to the urban core. The green network could not only absorb more CO2 but also prevent flooding by soaking up an increased amount of rain- and seawater caused by storms. (Reference 1, 2). An extensive network of cycle paths is also being built as part of the project. (Reference 2)

Address

Hamburg
Germany

Location

The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city

Total area

70000000.00m²

NBS area

70000000.00m²

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Residential

Public Greenspace Area

Central Business District / City Centre

Website of the intervention

https://www.hamburg.com/residents/green/11836450/green-network/

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

unknown

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

2013

End date of the intervention

ongoing

Present stage of the intervention

Ongoing

2. Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

- improving climate change adaptation, including the reduction of the heat island effect (Reference 1)
- limiting the effects of floods caused by precipitation and sea storms (Reference 1)
- making the city more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, promoting cycling and commuting by bicycle, decreasing the use of cars in the city.
- providing green corridors that connect animal habitats and increase biodiversity
- attract educated and competent people to live in the city
- preserve and strengthen Hamburg's 'Green Metropolis' image (Reference 1, 3, 4)
- improving key recreational areas
- promoting a healthy lifestyle and environment (Reference 9)
- strengthening the Alster-Elbe Green Corridor
- connecting the two large parks in Winterhude and Harbourg to the green network
- improving and connecting the landscape axes and the two green rings
- improving Volkspark, the Eimsbütteler and the Wilhelmsburger-Dove-Elbe-Axis
- implementation of green streets and squares around the Museumsinsel
- strengthening the Second Green Ring by closing gaps, improving signposting and linking it with the adjacent residential areas (Reference 3)

Quantitative targets

- covering 40 % of the area of Hamburg with green surfaces (approximately 7000 hectare) (Reference 1, 2)

Monitoring indicators defined

- size of green surfaces in hectares
- interconnectedness of the network (Reference 1, 2)

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)

Climate change adaptation

Climate change mitigation

Water management (SDG 6)

Flood protection

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Green space creation and/or management

Regeneration, land-use and urban development

Regulation of built environment

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Enabling opportunities for physical activity

Creation of opportunities for recreation

Economic development and employment (SDG 8)

Economic development: service sectors

Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?

Reduce the impacts of climate risks events on urban places and communities

Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?

Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature

Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)

Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?

Sequester and store carbon

Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?

Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)

Invest in public transport/bicycle infrastructure as a means to prevent car use

Raise public awareness of behaviours, lifestyle and cultural changes with mitigation potential

Implementation activities

The present stage of the intervention is unknown (in September 2020), but the following implementation activities are planned:
- Building an extensive network of bicycle lanes
- strengthening the Alster-Elbe Green Corridor
- connecting the two large parks in Winterhude and Harbourg to the green network
- improving and connecting the landscape axes and the two green rings
- improving Volkspark, the Eimsbütteler and the Wilhelmsburger-Dove-Elbe-Axis
- implementation of green streets and squares around the Museumsinsel
- strengthening the Second Green Ring by closing gaps, improving signposting and linking it with the adjacent residential areas (Reference 1, 3, 4 and 9)

Type of NBS project

Creation of new green areas

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Grey infrastructure featuring greens

Alley or street trees and other street vegetation

Institutional green space

Riverbank/Lakeside greens

Parks and urban forests

Large urban parks or forests

Green corridors and green belts

Blue infrastructure

Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Coastlines

Vegetation Type

Please specify how many trees were planted

unknown

Amenities offered by the NBS

Benches and drinking water stations

Playgrounds

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Provisioning services

Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)

Regulating services

Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)

Air quality regulation

Coastal protection

Carbon storage/sequestration

Flood regulation

Habitat and supporting services

Habitats for species

Cultural services

Aesthetic appreciation

Recreation

Mental and physical health and wellbeing

Scale

Spatial scale

Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level

Beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiaries

Local government/Municipality

Citizens or community groups

Please specify other local relevant strategy

The project is supported by the federal government’s “National Urban Development Projects” support programme (Reference 6).

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Government-led

Non-government actors

Citizens or community groups

Unknown

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

"Currently some 30 city staff are developing the green network, aided by personnel in the city's seven districts. "The visionary thinking is done by the civil servants, not by the politicians currently in charge. When politicians make the green web a priority, it will be an extensive network indeed, covering some 7,000 hectares" wrote the Guradian in 2014 (Reference 1).
The project is supported by the federal government’s “National Urban Development Projects” support programme (Reference 6).

Key actors - initiating organization

Local government/municipality

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

National government

Local government/municipality

Please specify other participatory methods

"A key element of the project is public participation in the form of an extensive, multi-level participatory process to help plan and implement the landscape axis. For the first time ever, citizens will be able to actively decide how €1 million in funding should be allocated to measures within this project" writes a municipal document (Reference 5).

Land owners

No information found

Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used

Dissemination of information and education

Other

Policy drivers

NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy

Unknown

NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan

The project is supported by the federal government’s “National Urban Development Projects” support programme (Reference 6).

NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"

The brochure of the project writes that following previous open space concepts "a comprehensive Open Space Concept – the “Open Space Interconnecting System” – was produced as part of the Landscape Programme [Landschaftprogramme Hamburg]. It connects the designated Landscape Axes with the Green Rings. The Landscape Programme was adopted by the city parliament in 1997 as an environmental blueprint. It comprehensively determines Hamburg’s aims for the environment and open space provision". Furthermore, "the »GrünesNetzHamburg« [Green Network Hamburg] is not only an important part of the [city's] Landscape Programme, but can also be found in the latest development plans – Spatial Masterplan and Unitary Development Plan – as a general principle for the protection of Hamburg as a Green Metropolis" (Reference 3).

Mandatory or voluntary intervention

Mandatory (based on policy)

Intervention is mandatory

Spatial planning guidance

Enablers

Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

The brochure of the project writes that "a comprehensive Open Space Concept – the "Open Space Interconnecting System" – was created as part of the Landscape Programme. It connects the designated Landscape Axes with the Green Rings. The Landscape Programme was adopted by the city parliament in 1997 as an environmental blueprint. It comprehensively determines Hamburg’s aims for the environment and open space provision" (Reference 3).

Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section

The brochure of the project writes that "the "GrünesNetzHamburg" is not only an important part of the [city's] Landscape Programme, but can also be found in the latest development plans – Spatial Masterplan and Unitary Development Plan – as a general principle for the protection of Hamburg as a Green Metropolis" (Reference 3).
In 2011, Hamburg was chosen to be the Green Capital of the EU (Reference 4). This programme aims to promote and award commitment and innovation to resolve environmental challenges in cities (Reference 5). The Green Network is in line with the green strategy that the Green Capital Award projected and it is mentioned in the selective report of the city ("Hamburg: European Green Capital: Five years on") being published in 2016 (Reference 6).

If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.

City specific green space strategy or plan

General municipal plan

Other

Please specify other vegetation type

green paths, green axes, green surfaces, green network (Reference 1, 2)
Second Green Ring (Reference 1, 3, 4 and 9)

Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project

Unknown

Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project

Unknown

Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

"Hamburg will complete the initial steps of the project by the end of 2019 at a cost of €5 million. Two-thirds of the funding will come from the federal government’s "National Urban Development Projects" support programme" writes a municipal document (Reference 6).

Co-finance for NBS

Yes

Co-financing governance arrangements

Unknown

Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?

Unknown

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?

unknown

What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?

unknown

What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?

unknown

Please specify cost savings

Unknown

Please specify total cost (EUR)

"Hamburg will complete the initial steps of the project by the end of 2019 at a cost of €5 million. Two-thirds of the funding will come from the federal government’s National Urban Development Project's support programme" - writes a municipal document (Reference 6). However, the current state of the project (in September 2020) is unknown.

Source(s) of funding

Public national budget

Public local authority budget

Type of fund(s) used

Earmarked public budget

Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Business models

Risk reduction model

Green densification model

Green health model

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Public actor (e.g. municipality)

5. Innovation

Type of innovation

Technological

Infrastructural innovation

Please specify technological innovation

The green network will be unique in covering an area from the outskirts to the city centre. The intervention will enable the citizens to commute and move around the city exclusively by bike and by foot in a comfortable green environment (Reference 1).

Novelty level of the innovation

The innovation is completely new without connections to previous initiative(s)

Please specify novelty level of the innovation

As Angelika Fritsch, a spokeswoman for the city's department of urban planning and the environment told the Guardian in 2014, "[o]ther cities, including London, have green rings, but the green network will be unique in covering an area from the outskirts to the city centre. In 15 to 20 years you'll be able to explore the city exclusively on bike and foot" (Reference 1).

Replicability/Transferability

Unknown

Please specify Replicability/Transferability

unknown

6. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Climate change

Lowered local temperature

Reduced emissions

Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters

Enhanced carbon sequestration

Environmental quality

Improved air quality

Reduced noise exposure

Water management and blue areas

Increased protection against flooding

Improved stormwater management

Green space and habitat

Increased green space area

Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales

Please specify other economic impact

Attraction of qualified people to the city (Reference 1)

Description of environmental benefits

One of the most important expected impacts is the increase of green surface in the city, which will contribute to increased CO2 absorption, a better climate, and better habitat connectivity. The urban heat island effect will be reduced. The expected decrease of cars in the city because of the bicycle lanes will also contribute to these benefits. The protection from flooding will affect the city’s capacity to address climate change hazards. (Reference 1,3, 9)
Increased habitat connectivity (Reference 1,3, 9) The reduction of cars will decrease noise exposure. (Reference 1, 7)
As Angelika Fritsch, a spokeswoman for the city's department of urban planning and the environment told the Guardian in 2014, "[o]ther cities, including London, have green rings, but the green network will be unique in covering an area from the outskirts to the city centre. In 15 to 20 years you'll be able to explore the city exclusively on bike and foot" (Reference 1).

Economic impacts

Increase in GDP

Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)

Attraction of business and investment

Increased market share for green economies

Other

Please specify other socio-cultural impact

Better aesthetic appreciation of the city and reduced noise exposure (Reference 1, 7)

Description of economic benefits

The more pedestrian- and bike-friendly nature of the city is expected to attract more of the people that the city needs to remain competitive. The better image and liveability of the city is expected to attract competent people, business investment and thus will lead to economic development. (Reference 1)

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts

Indicators

unknown

Environmental, social and economic impacts

Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)

Economic development and employment (SDG 8)

Environmental quality

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Regeneration, land-use and urban development

Water management (SDG 6)

Analysis of specific impact categories

Job creation: The NBS created ...

No information available

Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?

No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project

COVID-19 pandemic

Unknown (in July 31, 2020)

Methods of impact monitoring

Process of recording NBS impacts

No evidence in public records

Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS

Unknown

Evidence for use of assessment

Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Impact assessment mechanism

Name of any specific impact assessment tools

unknown

Use of GIS in mapping impacts

No evidence in public records

Citizen involvement

Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation

Yes

Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment

Other

Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment

Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation

Yes

Please specify

Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment

Unknown

7. Sources

References

Web links relevant to the intervention

Reference 1: Green network in the Guardian

Reference 2: Green network on newatlas.com

Reference 3: Brochure of the project in English

Reference 4: Green network on lifegate.com

Reference 5: European Green Capital

Reference 6: Hamburg – European Green Capital: 5 Years On

Reference 7: Second Green Belt

Reference 8: Green Hamburg: Green Network

Documents relevant to the intervention

Attachment	Size
Reference 3: Brochure (1.43 MB)	1.43 MB

List of references

1. Braw, E. (2013). Hamburg's answer to climate change. The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/hamburg-answer-to-climate-change [Accessed: 01 Sept. 2020].
2. Lavars , N. 2014. The Green Network: How Hamburg could be car-free in 20 years. Newatlas.com. [online] Available at: http://newatlas.com/green-network-hamburg/31077/ [Accessed: 01 Sept. 2020].
3. Landeshauptstadt Hamburg. (2017). Grünes Netzwerk: The Landscape Programme Hamburg. Hamburg: Landeshauptstadt Hamburg.
4. Bressa, R. (2016). How Hamburg is becoming Europe’s greenest city. Lifegate.com. [online]. Available at: http://www.lifegate.com/people/news/hamburg-green-city-europe [Accessed: 01 Sept. 2020].
5. ec.europe.eu. (2017). European Green Capital. [online] Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/index_en.htm [Accessed: 01 Sept. 2020].
6. Ministry of Environment and Energy. (2016). Hamburg – European Green Capital: 5 Years On: The city takes further. Hamburg: Ministry of Environment and Energy. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Hamburg-EGC-5-Years-On_web.pdf [Accessed: 01 Sept. 2020]
7. hamburg.de. (2017). Materialien zum Grünen Netz: Karten, Grafiken und Downloads. [online]. Available at: http://www.hamburg.de/gruenes-netz/3907750/karte/ [Accessed: 01 Sept. 2020].
8. Hamburg.com (nd.) Green Hamburg: Green Network. [online]. Available at: https://www.hamburg.com/residents/green/11836450/green-network/ [Accessed: 02 Sept. 2020]
9. Coutts, C. (2015). Green Infrastructure and Public Health. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 286-291. Available at: https://books.google.hu/books?hl=hu&lr=&id=dVyFCwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA286&dq=gr%C3%BCnesnetz+hamburg&ots=llXmMjli-d&sig=eQi61QeDxNJH5gSEYy4KmPbap-8&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=hamburg&f [Accessed: 02 Sept. 2020].

Comments and notes

Comments

2020 comments:

reference couldn't be found for this indicators text:
- overall size of green surfaces in the city
- interconnectedness of the green network
- decrease of cars in the inner city

Public Images

Green Network of Hamburg (2016)

Photographer: Axel Iwohn, retrieved 08/22/2018 from Oliver Ristau