State of Play Analyses for Braunschweig, Germany
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State of play analyses for Braunschweig, Germany Contents Socio-economic characterization of the region ............................................................... 2 General ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................. 6 Regulatory and institutional framework ........................................................................ 14 Legal framework ...................................................................................................................... 14 Standards ................................................................................................................................ 16 Other institutional aspects ...................................................................................................... 17 Identification of key actors ............................................................................................. 18 Existing situation of wastewater treatment and agriculture ......................................... 19 Characterization of wastewater treatment sector: ................................................................ 19 Characterization of agricultural sector: .................................................................................. 20 Existing related initiatives ............................................................................................... 22 Discussion and conclusion remarks ................................................................................ 26 References ...................................................................................................................... 26 Deliverable 1.1: Regional state of play analyses Socio-economic characterization of the region General Location ( https://mapchart.net/europe-detailed.html) Region Braunschweig Figure 1 Region Studied by German Cluster AVBS &TTZ Braunschweig, also called Brunswick in English, is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker River which connects it to the North Sea via the Aller and Weser Rivers. Today, Braunschweig is the second-largest city in Lower Saxony and a major centre of scientific research and development. Climate This area is characterized by equable climates with few extremes of temperature and ample precipitation in all months. It is located poleward of the Mediterranean climate region on the western sides of the continents, between 35° and 60° N and S latitude. Unlike their equatorial neighbours, marine west coast climates are located beyond the farthest poleward extent of the subtropical anticyclone, and they experience the mid-latitude westerlies and traveling frontal cyclones all year. Precipitation totals vary somewhat throughout the year in response to the changing location and intensity of these storm systems, but annual accumulations generally range from 500 to 2500mm (20 to 98 inches), with local totals exceeding 5000mm (197 inches) where onshore winds encounter mountain ranges. Not only is precipitation plentiful but it is also reliable and frequent. Many areas have rainfall more than 150 days per year, although the precipitation is often of low intensity. Fog is common in autumn and winter, but thunderstorms are infrequent. Strong gales with high winds may be encountered in winter. Deliverable 1.1: Regional state of play analyses The average amount of precipitation for the year in Braunschweig is 703.6 mm. The month with the most precipitation on average is June with 76.2 mm of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is January with an average of 45.7 mm. Figure 2 Precipitation The average temperature for the year in Braunschweig is 7.8°C. The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of 17.8°C. The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 0°C. Figure 3 Temperature Geographical location: 52° 16’ 09” northern latitude 10° 31’ 16” eastern longitude Population: 248 023 (status on December 31st. 2017) Area of the city: 192 km² Dimensions north-south: 19.1 km east-west: 15.7 km Figure 4: Geography Deliverable 1.1: Regional state of play analyses Highest Point: Geitelder Mountain, 111 m above sea level Geography Population As of 2015, the population of Braunschweig was 252,768. Today Braunschweig is among the twenty German cities found to be most attractive to young people between the ages of 25 and 34, leading to an influx of younger residents. Religion In 2015, 91,785 people or 36.3% of the population were Protestant and 34,604 (13.7%) people were Roman Catholic; 126,379 people (50.0%) either adhered to other denominations or followed no religion. Immigration A total of 64,737 of Braunschweig's residents, including German citizens, had an immigrant background in 2015 (25.6% of the total population). Among those, 25,676 were non-German citizens (10.2%); the following table lists up the largest minority groups: Table 1 Population and their Nationalities Rank Nationality Population (2018) 1 Turkey 4,899 2 Poland 3,568 3 China 1,405 4 Italy 1,232 5 Russia 691 6 Spain 691 Economic data (GDP, share of GDP by sector…) In 2016, the regional gross domestic product (GDP) in Lower Saxony was €265.0b, accounting for about 8.4% of German GDP (Eurostat, 2018). In terms of growth, the region average annual growth rate between 2006 and 2015 was 2.4%, slightly below to the national one (2.6%) (Eurostat, 2018). Regarding wealth, regional GDP per capita in purchasing power standards, it reached €31,500 in 2016, which amounts 87.5% of the German average (€36,000) (Eurostat, 2018). In terms of exports, Lower Saxony is the fourth most important exporter of Germany. The region exported in 2016 the equivalent of €88.3b, which represents 8.8% of the total exports in Germany (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2018). It is ranked behind Baden-Württemberg (€201b representing 19.9%), Bavaria (€191b representing 19.0%) and North Rhine-Westphalia (€191b representing 19.0%) (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2018). The economically active population amounted to 3.93m in 2017, which is 9.5% of the national total (Eurostat, 2018). Most employees work in services (70.6%), 27.4% in industry and 2.0% in the agricultural sector. These figures are globally in line with the national averages (71.3%/27.4%/1.3%) (Eurostat, 2018). In 2017, unemployment (3.8%) was the same as the German average. It is, however, unevenly distributed and reaches double the average in some cities (Eurostat, 2018). Deliverable 1.1: Regional state of play analyses In 2016, Lower Saxony is the fourth German region having the most companies registered on its territory with 228,515 companies representing 8.3% of the total German companies, behind Baden-Württemberg with 464,279 companies representing 13.4% of total German companies, Bavaria with 619,311 companies representing 17.8% and North Rhine-Westphalia with 716,044 companies representing 20.6% of total German companies (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2018). The share of SMEs (less than 250 employees) of Lower Saxony (99.57%) is similar to the German average (99.58%) (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2018). The regional economy is characterised by internal disparities. Urban areas like Hanover, Braunschweig, Göttingen as well as the surroundings of Hamburg are in a very different economic position than the far fewer dynamic areas in the east or the north-west of the state. The sectoral structure of the Lower Saxony economy is dominated by the automotive and auto- parts sector. Other fields of activity include the food sector, life sciences, shipbuilding and the maritime industry, chemical industry, renewable energies, aerospace, raw materials and mining, materials testing and calibration as well as optical technologies (Lower Saxony, 2018). Urban structure From November 1981, the urban area was divided into 22 urban districts in accordance with the Lower Saxony Municipal Code (NGO) in force at the time. Currently there are 19 city districts as shown in the Figure 5. For each Municipality a District Council is elected - with a number specified in the City Charter of at least 7 and no more than 19 members, depending on the number of inhabitants. In addition to the general representation of the interests of their respective districts and the promotion of their positive development within the city of Braunschweig as a whole, the district councils are responsible for decisions on the matters assigned to them by the Lower Saxony Municipal Constitution Act (NKomVG) and the main statutes of their own sphere of influence and by citizens' polls in the district. In addition, the municipal district councils have the right to be Figure 5 Districts – Urban Structure consulted on urban land-use planning and on other issues of their own and transferred sphere of activity before decisions are taken by the council and the administrative committee, to demand residents' meetings to be held by the chief administrative officer, to submit proposals, give suggestions and express concerns. For the purpose of voting in political elections, the city is divided into 169 general constituencies and 36 postal constituencies. In municipal elections, the electoral area for the election of municipal councils is the area of the respective municipality, for the election of the representation (City Council) and the direct election of the chief administrative