Tailored to the spatial conditions of Styrian municipalities, the project “Grüne Zentren” (Green Urban Centers) examined the role of blue–green infrastructure in climate‑change adaptation. In the first phase of the research project, the Institute of Urbanism conducted a data‑driven analysis to identify climate‑related impacts in the Styrian Central Region, including heavy rainfall, drought, flooding, landslides, and increased heat stress. Relevant datasets were collected, purposefully consolidated, layered, and evaluated, and then subsequently made available to all municipalities for use in their ongoing development processes. Selected municipalities were then examined in greater detail through interviews with mayors. A comprehensive report summarizes the findings on measures carried out so far and outlines the specific actions needed in moving forward.
The second phase of the project produced a manual that provides the entire Styrian Central Region with a practical tool offering concrete measures for municipal implementation. It outlines how the planning and realization of blue–green infrastructure can succeed through the strategic use of spatial‑planning instruments, and which parameters must be considered to ensure high‑quality implementation.
