The balance or more specifically the imbalance between green spaces and traffic areas has a significant impact on the quality of life in German cities. In all major cities today, the amount of asphalted traffic area per capita significantly exceeds that of green spaces. Green spaces are more than just climate buffers; they are important social anchor points that offer recreation, promote social interaction and provide a non-commercial space in the densely built-up urban landscape.
Asphalt dominates the urban landscape
The analysis created by Gustav Neustadt (Datawrapper), based on data from the BBSR (2022), paints a clear picture: Despite politically declared goals for more urban greenery (‘White Paper on Urban Greenery’), the sealed traffic area per inhabitant is greater than the green space in all cities surveyed. In Stuttgart, only around 14 m² of green space per capita is available (compared to almost 42 m² of traffic area). Augsburg and Mannheim are in a similar range. Potsdam is the positive exception, with only a 13% difference between green space and traffic area. But even there, each person has around 40 m² of roads, car parks and other sealed surfaces, compared to just over 35 m² of green oases. It should be noted that the data set does not distinguish between freely accessible parking areas and, for example, historic parks such as Sanssouci in Potsdam, which charge admission fees.
Increase in sealed areas
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the total area used for settlements and transport expanded by 29.2% between 1992 and 2023. During the same period, the area used purely for transport increased by 10.3%. A positive trend can be observed in the amount of land newly sealed for transport each day: this fell from 24 hectares per day in 2000 to just 2 hectares per day in 2023. However, the target of reducing the daily consumption of land for settlement and transport to 30 hectares per day by 2030 is still a long way off. The total area newly sealed each day has stagnated at around 50 hectares per day over the last 5 years (uba.de).
Consequences for the climate and urban life
The rapid expansion of traffic areas and the associated sealing have profound consequences for the climate and the social fabric of cities. Asphalted areas dramatically exacerbate the heat island effect, which greatly reduces the quality of life in the summer months and exacerbates the consequences of extreme weather, such as heavy rainfall, as water cannot seep away. The available green infrastructure is irreplaceable for recreation, biodiversity and climate protection, but is particularly lacking in densely built-up neighbourhoods.
New concepts and urban development trends
In view of these challenges, local authorities are looking for innovative solutions. One promising approach to climate adaptation in cities is the sponge city concept. This refers to a city’s ability to absorb water ‘like a sponge’ and then release it again at a later stage, for example through evaporation, infiltration or targeted reuse (e.g. for irrigation). This enables cities to respond to extreme weather events such as heat waves and heavy rainfall.
