Abstract

The article is based on a research project which has focused on analyzing current patterns of action for responding in spatial terms to the climate. It is empirically based on a comparison between Bratislava and Leipzig – two cities which have to cope with different forms of change, including demographic and economic change. In both cities there are potentials to strengthen a so-called “climate justice of space”. The article analyzes whether current strategies of urban development integrate mitigation. Therefore, a new polyrational terminus has been developed: the “energy truth” which helps the actors to be aware of climatic demands in the spatial policy field. The challenge of integrating energy policy into spatial development can be compared with the experience gained through coping with other forms of change. Based on these experiences, a main hypothesis has been defined in the theoretical part: Current urban strategies in both cities do not include the topic of mitigation as it is discussed in theory. The empirical part has shown that in both cities “energy truth” is connected with so called linear and emergent strategies. On the whole, the analysis of linear strategies shows that compared to theoretical concepts there are more potentials than what is currently planned in urban development. The main hypothesis has to be put into place. But in future, it would not only be important to analyze linear but also emergent strategies. Therefore a new methodological concept for analyzing emergent strategies has to be developed.