TOWARDS A BLUE-GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE RUHR METROPOLIS: THE EMSCHERGENOSSENSCHAFT AND LIPPEVERBAND AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECOLOGICAL REDEVELOPMENT OF THE RIVER EMSCHER, TO REGIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION, AND TO CROSS-COMMUNITY URBAN DEVELOPMENT 22.93 22.94 THE ROLE OF EGLV IN THE CONTEXT OF GREEN TRANSITION − Service providers around the water cycle in the Emscher and Lippe Region − Holistic approach to water management − Important driving force for structural change in the region in the context of blue-green infrastructure − Linkage between, on the one side, water-based ecological improvements and climate change adaptation in the city, and, on the other side, cross- community urban development − Promoting new governance structures to meet the challenges of green transition in a polycentric and highly heterogeneous region 22.93 22.94 THE EMSCHER CONVERSION The largest infrastructure project in Germany − Budget frame: > 5 billion Euros − Construction of 4 decentral wastewater treatment plants − 435 km of sewers − 326 km of renatured water courses FREE OF WASTEWATER IN 2021/22 22.93 22.94 A REGIONAL APPROACH TO INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT − Modernisation of the technical wastewater infrastructure − Development of the Emscher (and tributaries) as linear habitat with new ecological areas and leisure facilities − Underground sewer network is constructed to separate waste and river water − Designing of the landscape and the urban shape − The Emscher River and its tributaries are re-converted − Improving the quality of life from highly modified open wastewater channels with concrete beds into near natural stream systems − Economic improvement of the Emscher region 22.93 22.94 WATER-SENSITIVE URBAN PLANNING Cross-community cooperation agreements - Channelling wastewater into an underground canal creates new spaces for innovation above ground - Wide range of different community-based projects - Targeting the areas of education, community involvement, residential improvement, culture and ecology - Restoring the Emscher and its tributaries to the local people - Enhancing the quality of life in neighbouring areas 22.93 22.94 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN THE CITY “Klimaresiliente Region mit Internationaler Strahlkraft“ Main Rationale - Originated at the Ruhrkonferenz 2019, funded by the Ministry of Environment - Regional consensus for sustainable urban drainage - Letter of Intent signed in 2020 by all mayors of the 16 Emscher municipalities - Project extended to all 53 municipalities of the RVR region 22.93 22.94 CLIMATE ACTION FOR ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE Urban drainage Urban water Urban planning adaptation green-blue attractive, to climate infrastructure sustainable MAIN GOALS AIMS UNTIL 2040 MEASURES − Create a water-sensitive, attractive − 25% Less Stormwater Runoff to − Integrated Project Management and sustainable region (sponge city) Wastewater Treatment Plant − Stormwater disconnection (from − Design of the region under the − 10% More Evaporation sewer system) challenge of climate change − Green roofs and facades − Build synergies by cooperation (within and between municipalities and water boards) 22.93 22.94 FUTURE TRANSITION. FUTURE CITIES Impulses for cross-community partnerships Ecology Economics Education Art & Culture Urban Development Health Tourism Participation 22.93 22.94 THE EMSCHER CONVERSION A Window of Opportunity for a stronger cross-community approach to Green Transition. Together, Further. - Promoting Sustainable blue- and green infrastructure - Strengthening the region‘s ecologic, social and economic resilience © Allbau AG - Transferring the experiences of the Emscher conversion to other projects - Promoting an innovative approach to integrated, regional infrastructure development THANK YOU FOR LISTENING [email protected].