New interactive tool highlights where climate action is most needed

What does a climate-neutral, livable city look like—and what concrete actions can help us get there? The new Climate Action Navigator (CAN) from HeiGIT (Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology) offers data-driven answers.

This interactive online tool supports cities, NGOs, and community initiatives in identifying and addressing key areas for climate action—scientifically sound, locally adaptable and practical. The tool is aimed at harnessing open geodata—such as OpenStreetMap—for effective climate protection.

Identifying challenges, taking action

By 2050, an estimated 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. In Europe, that number is already 75%. This makes it clear that urban areas play a key role in driving the transition toward greater climate protection. But how can we turn that knowledge into action?

The CAN provides answers—offering insights much like an energy efficiency rating, but for whole neighborhoods, and across multiple dimensions of urban climate action. The dashboard highlights where walking and cycling infrastructure needs improvement, which districts have high heating emissions, and where land consumption is becoming a concern.

The CAN brings together a range of assessment tools focused on topics such as active mobility, heating emissions, and land use. It is based on open data sources such as OpenStreetMap, remote sensing data and census data. These data serve as the foundation for spatial analyses that enable cities, planners, NGOs, and local initiatives to develop targeted and effective climate strategies.

“To build climate-resilient cities, we need shared perspectives, reliable data, and real-world experience. With the Climate Action Navigator, we want to bring together technical expertise and local knowledge to help cities rethink infrastructure and make it fit for the future,” says Kirsten von Elverfeldt, community engagement manager.

Three tools for one goal: Targeted climate action

The first version of the dashboard includes three assessment tools:

hiWalk and hiBike assess how walkable and bike-friendly a city is. hiWalk analyzes factors such as the type of pathways (e.g., pedestrian zones or shared traffic), surface quality, and elevation changes. This helps determine how safe, comfortable, and accessible the infrastructure is for pedestrians. hiBike focuses on cycling infrastructure and also takes into account potential risk areas—including the risk of “dooring,” i.e. the danger of suddenly opening car doors alongside parked cars. Both tools highlight where existing infrastructure is already safe and user-friendly—and where there is room for improvement.

In Berlin, for example, hiWalk data shows that districts with more designated pedestrian routes, such as Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, have significantly higher levels of foot traffic compared to districts like Spandau.

Heating Emissions analyzes CO₂ emissions from residential heating using data from the 2022 German national census. It incorporates factors such as building age, energy source, and living space per person. This allows not only for visualizing emission hotspots, but also for identifying potential savings through renovations or a switch to renewable heating systems.

More tools—focusing on traffic emissions, land consumption, or local CO₂ budgets—are currently in development.

Shaping cities together: Co-creation as a guiding principle

The development of CAN is rooted in close collaboration with local partners—because sustainable urban transformation requires practical knowledge just as much as a solid data foundation. Our indicators are not defined “from above,” but developed together with municipal experts, civil society organizations or transport initiatives. For example, the hiBike tool was developed together with Radlobby Austria (cycling advocacy group) to systematically record real danger spots in the cycling network. Each indicator is geared towards specific local challenges and can be flexibly adapted.

“As a cycling advocacy group, we need reliable data and clear assessments to develop and back up targeted demands—it’s the only way the mobility transition can succeed. hiBike opens up many new possibilities for us,” says Roland Romano, a spokesperson from Radlobby Austria.

“In Lagos, there are neighborhoods that hardly see any cars—the context is different. Thanks to co-creation, HeiGIT, LUDI, and other partners have been able to work together to develop indicators that provide a more realistic view of local mobility needs in West African cities, like Lagos,” comments Olamide Udoma-Ejorh, Direktor von LUDI, Lagos Urban Development Initiative.

“The added value for PLANUM lies in the interdisciplinary design of the decision-making tool: Our many years of experience in transport planning and in research projects in the field of active mobility flow directly into the development—this makes hiWalk particularly sound,” adds Marie-Therese Fallast, PLANUM Fallast & Partner, Graz.

Enjoy the perfect blend of retro charm and modern convenience with the Udreamer Vinyl Record Player. With 9,041 ratings, a 4.3/5-star average, and 400+ units sold in the past month, this player is a fan favorite, available now for just $39.99.

The record player features built-in stereo speakers that deliver retro-style sound while also offering modern functionality. Pair it with your phone via Bluetooth to wirelessly listen to your favorite tracks. Udreamer also provides 24-hour one-on-one service for customer support, ensuring your satisfaction.

Don’t miss out—get yours today for only $39.99 at Amazon!

Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support

If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.

As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!