| 05 Jun 2025
Review article: Re-viewing Berlin's Urban Parks from the Perspectives of Socio-Economic Inequality, Climate Resilience, and Sustainable Management
Abstract. Berlin, known for its rich history and lively cultural tapestry, boasts an extensive network of urban parks that serve as vital lungs for its residents, providing recreational opportunities, ecological services, and respite from urban life. These green spaces face multifaceted challenges from shifting socio-economic dynamics and escalating impacts of climate change. This review article delves into the intricate interplay between socio-economic conditions and the impact of climate change on Berlin's urban parks.
More than 200 research articles, reports, and policy papers on urban parks, green space management, biodiversity, socio-economic challenges, and climate change are reviewed that explores how the combined impact of socio-economic vulnerabilities and climate change intensifies the need for sustainable, equitable, and resilient urban ecosystems. By adopting an intersectionality perspective, it examines the complexities of these issues and reviews current management practices and policy approaches. The review emphasizes the importance of inclusive green space planning, social engagement, and targeted policy interventions to address these challenges.
Socio-economic disparities play a significant role in shaping unequal access to urban green spaces, highlighting the broad relationship between social inequality and the use of these public resources. The imbalances in access, quality, and affordability of these spaces, examining their implications for different communities are explored. Gentrification, often driven by the appeal of green neighbourhoods, raises the spectre of displacement and social exclusion, making the intersectionality of socio-economic and environmental issues ever more pressing. Simultaneously, climate change poses new and escalating threats to urban parks in Berlin, with rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss challenging these green oases. Case studies reveal innovative approaches, such as community-driven transformations and climate-resilient park designs, that hold promise for achieving sustainability.
Competing interests: Dr. Katrin M. Nissen is a guest editor for the special issue of NHESS.
Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
This review paper aims to analyse how socio-economic conditions and climate change impact Inequality, Climate Resilience, and Sustainable Management of the urban parks in Berlin. The topic is pertinent and has growing importance in recent years.
The aim of the study is not clearly stated in lines 99-100. Sustainability is a very generic term, but in this paper, it seems that the focus is on the sustainable maintenance of urban green spaces and their contribution to "urban resilience to climate extremes" and not bout the adaptability of green spaces in Berlin to "climate change". This has to be clarified because the analyses of the bibliography are about resilience.
The last paragraph of the introduction, lines 105-109, does not mention the description of the case study.
Chapter 5 does not show the Impacts on Berlin from climate change. Berlin has a moderate continental climate (Dfb), and it was the same moderate continental climate 100 years ago. Figure 5 shows an increasing trend in temperature, but this might be the effect of urbanisation because the population doubled in this period. As it is correctly written in lines 349-350 UHI would still exist in cities even without global warming, as it is inherently linked to the urban form and density.
Chapter 5.4. Biodiversity Loss is about the huge effect of urbanisation and not about the light effect of temperature change in Berlin.
In line 447, Air and Water Purification is about lower precipitation, but Figure 5 does not show a significant change. The ozone problem is due to UHI and transportation pollution and not because of climate change.
The title of chapter 6 repeats twice Berlin’s Urban Park management.
Chapter 6 should discuss all urban green spaces (green infrastructure) and not only parks.
Chapter 6 is a well-documented discussion; however, the conclusion chapter is very extensive and should be shortened. The last two paragraphs can be deleted.
The paper can be accepted after the above minor revision