Spatial planning plays a crucial role in addressing climate change, for example by minimising land consumption through long-established concepts such as promoting compact settlement structures. Compact settlements are essential for protecting agricultural production areas, preserving green spaces, and maintaining unsealed soils and forests as CO₂ sinks. They also support adaptation to climate change, sustainable mobility patterns, and the transition to renewable energy sources. Compact settlements and dense building structures increase the efficiency of grid-connected energy systems, reduce travel distances, and improve the viability of public transport. However, compact does not mean overcrowded, cluttered or impervious, but rather rich, with a high density and variety of functions and services in a small area. Mixed-use developments that combine living and working spaces also help to balance peak and base loads in the electricity grid, leading to greater energy and resource efficiency.

In short, spatial planning and its underlying concepts have gained importance due to the escalating challenges municipalities and their citizens face from climate change.

Thematic areas such as climate adaptation, sustainable mobility, and renewable energy are deeply interlinked with spatial planning and can be described as focus topics for climate action. For example, spatial planning can identify optimal sites for renewable energy generation (solar, wind, and biomass) and secure areas for grid expansion and storage. At the same time, planners must balance various land uses to minimise conflicts and ensure harmonious development.

This chapter, structured around the focus topics of climate adaptation, sustainable mobility, and renewable energy, provides guidance and examples for integrated planning and relevant measures. At the end of the chapter, the IN-PLAN Checklist is included to screen integrated planning efforts.