METAPOLIS: an inter- and transdisciplinary platform for a sustainable development of rural-urban- relationships in Lower Saxony, Germany

Authors and Affiliations: 

Boris Schröder-Esselbach 1,2, Michael W. Strohbach 1, Vanessa M. Carlow 3 and the METAPOLIS consortium

1 Institut für Geoökologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany

2 Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany

3 Institute for Sustainable Urbanism, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany

Corresponding author: 
Boris Schröder-Esselbach
Abstract: 

METAPOLIS is the network of large, medium and small municipalities in a rural matrix, linked by flows of traffic, data, goods and services and linked to the hinterland by green infrastructure [1]. Since April 2016, stakeholders and scientists from the Technische Universität Braunschweig and the Leibniz Universität Hannover use the METAPOLIS approach to study rural-urban relationships in Lower Saxony, Germany.

In our project, we developed three visions for the region in order to facilitate a broad discourse on paths to sustainable development in Lower Saxony:

LIVABLE CITY FOR EVERYONE - addressing the questions of demographic change, diversification of lifestyles, migration, and participation.

5-MINUTE CITY - addressing the challenges of providing affordable mobility, goods and services to urban and rural areas.

BLUE-GREEN REGION - addressing the challenges of climate change, transition to renewable energy, sustainable resource use and biodiversity conservation, human well-being and sense of place.

In this presentation, we will provide an overview on the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research activities in the METAPOLIS project and present first results with a focus on Green Infrastructure.

References: 

[1] Neumann, D, M Sedrez, VM Carlow (2016). Scenarios for sustainable development of the Lower Saxony METAPOLIS. In: Schröder, Jörg; Carta, Maurizio; Ferretti, Maddalena; Lina, Barbara (Eds.), Territories - Rural Urban Strategies. Berlin: Jovis.

Oral or poster: 
Oral presentation
Abstract order: 
5