Advancing Societal Engagement in Urban Climate Adaptation: The Co-Development and Operationalization of PALM-4U

Recognizing the necessity for accessible urban climate modeling tools, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research initiated the development of a user-friendly solution nearly a decade ago to support adaptation planning. The objective was to create a tool applicable by non-expert modelers in municipal administrations, engineering consultancies, and academic institutions, ensuring its long-term availability and usability.

From 2016 to 2023, the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) coordinated two funding periods dedicated to the co-development of PALM-4U, an urban climate model designed for practical application. Utilizing a transdisciplinary Living Lab approach, PALM-4U was co-developed in collaboration with 13 medium-sized and large German cities, two consultancies, and a broad network of research partners. While the first funding phase aimed at creating a first evaluated prototype, the second funding phase focused on enhancing practical applicability, capacity building, and devising a sustainable continuation strategy.

To facilitate PALM-4U’s transition into a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model post-funding, GERICS developed multiple implementation strategies. An initial conference to build a Community of Practice attracted over 200 participants representing a variety of stakeholders working in the field of climate-resilient urban development. The conference contained a mixture of talks, podium discussions, an Urban EXPO and discussion fora to stimulate discussion and exchange. A pivotal workshop during that conference engaged approximately 20 urban planning experts in discussions on the potentials of Living Labs to foster science-practice interactions. Key topics included practitioners’ needs and expectations from GERICS, as well as their own roles in sustaining the application.

The insights gained from this process are now being systematically structured and will be shared at ICUC12. This presentation will provide valuable lessons on how stakeholder involvement can drive the successful transition of scientific tools into operational practice, bridging the gap between research and real-world urban climate adaptation efforts.