Berlin (dpa/sn) - The federal government is funding climate projects in the states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia with almost 29 million euros. In the final selection made by the Bundestag for the "Adaptation of Urban Spaces to Climate Change" program, eleven projects from the three countries were considered, said the Dresden FDP politician Torsten Herbst on Thursday. "Urban areas should be able to store more water and release it again over longer periods of time, especially in view of longer periods of heat. Planning and building in connection with water cycles will be of great importance for urban development in the future."
The highest amount of funding is earmarked for Ernst-Abbe-Platz in Jena, at just under 6.4 million euros, the redesign of which is estimated at 7.5 million euros. The Wilhelmsplatz in Görlitz is also to be made fit for climate change and will receive around 3.3 million euros from the federal government. Other projects include the water system in the Lützschena Castle Park (2.8 million euros in funding), which is about the historic water management in the Leipzig floodplain landscape, the district park in Hettstedt (2.55 million euros) and the historic city wall promenade in Zerbst ( about 1.8 million euros).
With the program, the federal government supports not only the redesign of squares but also the construction of parks and green spaces or the upgrading of neighborhoods and traffic areas. In total, the federal government is funding 64 projects this year with a total of 173 million euros. Jena is the fourth largest project in terms of funding.
