Viersen invests in climate-friendly urban development and construction planning

Climate and Construction Planning: How Viersen is Shaping the Future

In April 2026, the city of Viersen has embarked on a path to enable climate-friendly urban development through a wide range of initiatives and reforms. In a meeting of the Committee for Urban Development and Planning, key measures were approved that are intended to guide the city towards climate neutrality and sustainable construction. The focus was particularly on the "Guidelines for Climate-Friendly Urban Planning," the implementation of climate-friendly energy standards, and the legal anchoring of climate protection goals.

Climate-Friendly Urban Planning as the Standard

The introduction of a guideline document and a checklist for climate-friendly urban planning marks a milestone for Viersen. These documents will become a fixed part of future construction planning to ensure that climate aspects and climate protection issues are integrated early in the planning process. Topics such as urban climate, energy supply, open and green spaces, and mobility are systematically considered.

The checklist serves as an internal administrative tool and will be included in the justification of zoning plans. The guideline, on the other hand, is aimed at investors, politicians, and the administration, supporting them in implementing concrete climate protection measures. The goal is to reduce CO₂ emissions to less than 2 tons per person and year by 2035 – an ambitious target that is to be concretely implemented through the new planning perspective in Viersen.

Legal Foundations and Obligations

Viersen is not acting in isolation but is following a wide range of state and federal legal requirements. The North Rhine-Westphalia Climate Adaptation Act (KlAnG) obliges municipalities to consider climate impacts in their planning. At the same time, the Federal Climate Adaptation Act, which came into force in July 2024, is mandatory and stipulates an obligation to take account of climate change and a prohibition on worsening conditions for land and buildings.

Other relevant laws include the Heat Planning Act (WPG) and the State Heat Planning Act (LWPG), which provide for a decarbonized heat supply by 2045. In addition, the North Rhine-Westphalia Building Code (BauO NRW) prescribes a gradual solar obligation for new buildings and roof renovations, with a minimum coverage of approximately 30% being binding.

These legal foundations form the basis for the new planning instruments in Viersen and show how strongly the city is responsible for integrating climate protection and sustainability into construction planning.

Monitoring and Planning Tools

To monitor and optimize the implementation of the new measures, Viersen is using various monitoring and analysis tools. The Settlement Land Monitoring 2026 provides an overview of the development of residential and commercial land. In 2026, 130.02 hectares of land reserves were recorded, with residential land areas increasing by 3.7%, while commercial land areas decreased by 18.8%.

In addition, Urban Climate Analyses, Heavy Rainfall Advisory Maps, and Municipal Heavy Rainfall Risk Maps are used for risk assessment and climate impact analysis. In this way, the city can commission studies on urban climate modeling to analyze and optimize the effects of its planning.

Outlook: Viersen as a Model City for Climate Protection

Viersen is clearly on a course that combines climate protection and sustainable urban development as central pillars of modern urban planning. With the introduction of the guideline document, the compliance with state and federal legal requirements, and the use of modern monitoring tools, the city has laid a solid foundation.

The challenge now lies in implementing these measures in practice and winning over investors, citizens, and authorities alike. Viersen has shown that it is possible to combine climate protection with urban renewal – not only out of concern for the future, but as an opportunity for a liveable, resilient, and sustainable city.