Viewpoint Berlin: Strategic urban development in Berlin – Challenges for future urban green space development

Abstract

Global changes such as climate change and demographic change next to a more diverse urban society and restricted municipal budgets represent significant challenges urban planning has to deal with today and in the near future. This viewpoint presents insights from urban planning on urban green and open space development and respective planning processes for the city of Berlin, Germany. An environmental development strategy – the Urban Landscape Strategy – is introduced and presented as a success story due to a number of reasons. These reasons include specific aspects related to strategy development, illustration and communication as well as the use of reference projects and implementation programs. Finally, the administrative structure which combines urban planning and green and open space planning in one joint department is shown to significantly contribute to positive planning processes for the entire city.