The project addresses the growing social challenges posed by the climate crisis in urban areas and is part of the “Innovation Campus Sustainability” (established in 2024, financed by the state of Baden-Württemberg). Increasing heat stress particularly affects socially disadvantaged and vulnerable population groups. Climate adaptation measures can unintentionally exacerbate these inequalities if intersectional perspectives – such as regarding age, gender, ethnicity, or class – are not systematically considered. Against this background, the project aims to evaluate and further develop heat adaptation measures at the neighborhood level in collaboration with marginalized groups. The aim is to reduce social inequalities and contribute to sustainable, resilient cities in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5, 10, 11, and 13.

The focus is on two real-world laboratories in the Weingarten (Freiburg) and Oststadt (Karlsruhe) districts that learn from each other. In close cooperation with local actors and affected population groups, existing measures are analyzed, needs are assessed, and new approaches are developed in a co-creative process. The aim is to develop, test, and continuously refine socially just and intersectionally informed solutions for climate adaptation.

The project pursues four subordinate objectives for measuring impact:

1. Empowering marginalized groups through active participation in real-world labs and experiments.
2. Developing concrete, intersectional climate adaptation measures at the local level.
3. Transferring knowledge on issues of intersectional climate justice in science, politics, administration, and civil society.
4. Critically expanding the scientific debate through publications and presentations of the project results within the scientific community.

Following a comprehensive analysis of stakeholders and needs, existing heat adaptation measures are co-evaluated and best practices identified. In a co-design process, measures are developed to reduce or avoid negative social consequences. These approaches are tested in real-world experiments, documented and analyzed from an intersectional perspective, and continuously adapted. A comparative evaluation of the real-world labs forms the basis for concrete recommendations for action. The results are presented in scientific publications, policy briefs, and a brochure, and are discussed in a final workshop with potential transfer partners.

In the long term, the plan is to continue the real-world labs beyond the end of the project. While the “District Future” in Karlsruhe is already established as a long-term real-world lab, the continuation of the one in Weingarten is to be ensured through cooperation with the Forum Weingarten and through links to activities of the city of Freiburg.

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