{"id":39250,"date":"2024-11-13T23:43:51","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T22:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greencitysolutions.de\/?p=39250"},"modified":"2024-11-15T00:09:52","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T23:09:52","slug":"city-centers-in-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greencitysolutions.de\/en\/city-centers-in-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"City Centers in Transition"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u201ecima.monitor Germany Study on City Centers 2024″
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On October 21, the “Germany Study on City Centers 2024”<\/em><\/strong> (\u201eDeutschlandstudie Innenstadt 2024\u201c<\/em><\/strong><\/a>) by CIMA<\/em><\/strong><\/a> Beratung + Management GmbH, in collaboration with the German Association for City and Urban Marketing (Bundesvereinigung City- und Stadtmarketing Deutschland e. V.<\/em><\/strong><\/a>) and the German Retail Federation (Handelsverband Deutschland e. V.<\/a><\/strong><\/em>), was officially presented in Berlin. This latest study surveyed over 5,000 citizens<\/a>. The \u201ccima.monitor Germany City Center Study\u201d<\/a> was conducted for the second time, following the 2022 study, as a “representative panel on perceptions of ‘city centers,’ ‘shopping,’ ‘accessibility,’ ‘sustainability,’ and ‘leisure, tourism, & living’ in German (inner) cities”<\/a>. CIMA\u2019s focus is generally on the future of cities, communities, and regions.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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source: cima<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Urban Areas in Focus<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Cities and urban areas are the living spaces of the future. “In 2007, more people worldwide lived in urban areas than rural areas for the first time, and by 2050, around 66 percent of the global population is expected to live in cities”<\/a>. Cities are not only the “engines that generate value driving economic recovery”<\/a> but also the places “where the fight for a green recovery will be won or lost”<\/a>, as they consume 78 percent of the world’s energy and produce more than 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions<\/a>, according to UN Habitat<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. Additionally, urban areas are at the center of climate change and its impacts: “Globally, 80% of cities face extreme climate-related events”<\/a>. Urbanization, however, also presents “some of the greatest opportunities and challenges in today\u2019s world”<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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More about “Urban October\u201c, World Population Day, World Habitat Day & World Cities Day<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Photo: Nerea Marti Sesarino<\/p>\n<\/div>

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A “Scientific Foundation in the Debate on the Future of City Centers in Transition”<\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n

City centers remain attractive hubs for shopping, leisure, and dining. According to the study, shopping<\/strong> and dining are still the primary reasons for visiting city centers. However, there is a growing call for an improved “City-Life Balance”<\/strong>, which includes a harmonious blend of urban vitality and relaxation spaces. Mobility transition<\/strong> is another key aspect, with alternative transportation options such as bicycles and e-scooters gaining popularity. A central point is the increasing importance of climate-friendly urban development<\/strong>: people are calling for more green spaces and improved air quality to enhance the quality of stay in city centers. The demand for “green climate oases”<\/strong> tops the list.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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CIMA-Monitor 2024<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Last year, the World Economic Forum emphasized that “nature is the most resource-efficient solution to creating resilient, vibrant, and future-proof cities”<\/a>. As the WWF<\/a> <\/em><\/strong>aptly stated, “Nature must be at the heart of our cities”<\/a>. In 2021, a “groundbreaking study” by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD<\/a><\/em><\/strong>) found that “utilizing nature in infrastructure projects could save $248 billion annually<\/a>“.<\/p>\n

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“With more greenery, better air quality, and more social gathering spaces, our city centers can become more resilient and vibrant”<\/a>, says Ingeborg Lang, Head of Urban Transformation at CIMA. “As places of lived democracy, they have the potential to develop into centers of community and future planning. Change is well underway, and the best times are still ahead”<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>

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Photo: GCS<\/p>\n<\/div>

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“A Better City, A Better World is Possible!”<\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n

The current analysis identifies the need for action to promote sustainability, quality of stay, and mobility options. Investments in greening and air filtering solutions<\/strong> can improve urban air and counteract urban overheating. To adapt cities to climate needs, respondents prioritized three key actions<\/a>:<\/p>\n