Dr. Wolfgang Haupt

Further Information

Research

Wolfgang’s research is primarily situated at the local level. His current work focuses on climate governance (climate mitigation and adaptation), transnational municipal (climate) networks, local heat transitions, environmental and climate pressure groups and social movements, the governance of cultural and world heritage, 'ordinary cities' and 'left-behind places', socio-ecological transformation conflicts, and policy spread among local governments.

Biography

Wolfgang holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Geography from Dresden University of Technology (2008–2014) and earned his PhD in Urban Studies from the Gran Sasso Science Institute in L’Aquila and the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa (2015–2019). His international experience includes visiting research stays at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (2017) and Cardiff University (2023), as well as a position as lecturer and coordinator of the international Master's programme City Resilience Design and Management at the International University of Catalonia in Barcelona (2018–2019).

In 2019, he joined the Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space (IRS) in Erkner (near Berlin), where he currently leads the research group Urban Sustainability Transformations. In 2025, he completed his habilitation at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (Faculty 6: Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning). In 2025, he completed his habilitation at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (Faculty 6: Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning) with a thesis on climate governance in German towns and cities (title: “Forerunner, Follower and Laggards: Governance of Climate Change in German Cities”).

Publications

Selected publications (see Google Scholar for a complete list of publications):

Peer-reviewed journal Article

Eckersley, P., A. Otto, W. Haupt, K. Kern (2025): Climate capacity in medium-sized German cities: (how) do smaller municipalities implement mitigation and adaptation policies? npj Climate Action. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2025.2466821

Otto, A., W. Haupt, P. Eckersley, K. Kern & A. Thieken (2025): Dynamism and Stasis in the Climate Policies of German Cities between 2018 and 2022. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 30(5), [30]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-025-10218-9

Eckersley, P., W. Haupt & K. Kern (2025): Assessing the impact of Fridays for Future on climate policy and policymaking in German cities. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2025.2466821

Haupt, W., L. Laug & P. Eckersley (2025): Structure, Agency and Local Climate Governance: How do Individual Actors Exploit Local Contexts to Shape Policymaking in Smaller Cities and Towns? Regional Studies, 59(1), [2354384]. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2024.2354384

Kochskämper, E., L.-M. Glass, W. Haupt, S. Malekpour & J. Granger-Brown (2025): Resilience and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Scrutiny of Adaptation Strategies in the 100 Resilience Cities Initiative. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 68(7), 1691-1717. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2023.2297648

Kern, K. & W. Haupt (2024): German Cities and Climate Change: An East-West Divide? Baltic Rim Economies, (4), 35. https://www.centrumbalticum.org/files/6531/BRE_4_2024.pdf

Kern, K., P. Eckersley, E. Kochskämper & W. Haupt (2024): Unpacking Polycentric Climate Governance: Tracing the Evolution of Transnational Municipal Networks over Time. Global Environmental Politics, 24(3), 121-143. https://doi.org/10.1162/glep_a_00754

Kronvall, A., W. Haupt & K. Kern (2024): Transformative Climate Governance in Small Swedish Municipalities: Exploring the Cases of Enköping and Kiruna. Environmental Policy and Governance, 34(4), 339-351. https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.2086

Haupt, W., K. Kern & J. L. Irmisch (2024): From Climate Policy Pioneers to Climate Policy Leaders? The Examples of the Eastern German Cities of Potsdam and Rostock. Urban Research & Practice, 17(1), 29-50. https://doi.org/10.1080/17535069.2022.2104655

Kern, K., W. Haupt, E. Kochskämper & P. Eckersley (2023): Städte als Vorreiter? Kommunale Nachhaltigkeits- und Klimapolitik in Deutschland zwischen Politik, Verwaltung und Zivilgesellschaft. Politikum, 2023(3), 33-39. https://doi.org/10.46499/2194.2806

Eckersley, P., W. Haupt, V. Wiegleb, J. Trier & A. Otto (2023): Intentionality and Visibility in State- and Society-led Climate Approaches: Towards a More Comprehensive Understanding of Local Adaptation Initiatives. Geographica Helvetica, 78(3), 369–380. [78]. https://doi.org/10.5194/gh-78-369-2023

Haupt, W. (2023): Policy Diffusion, Policy Transfer, and Policy Mobilities Revisited: A Call for More Interdisciplinary Approaches in Human Geography. Geography Compass, 17(5), [e12688]. https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12688

Kern, K., P. Eckersley & W. Haupt (2023): Diffusion and Upscaling of Municipal Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies in Germany. Regional Environmental Change, 23(1), [28]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-022-02020-z

Kern, K., S. Grönholm, W. Haupt & L. Hopman (2023): Matching Forerunner Cities: Climate Policy in Turku, Groningen, Rostock, and Potsdam. Review of Policy Research, 40(6), 1004-1025. https://doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12525

Haupt, W., P. Eckersley, J. L. Irmisch & K. Kern (2023): How do Local Factors Shape Transformation Pathways Towards Climate-Neutral and Resilient Cities? European Planning Studies, 31(9), 1903-1925. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2022.2147394

Haupt, W. & K. Kern (2022): Explaining Climate Policy Pathways of Unlikely City Pioneers: The Case of the German City of Remscheid. Urban Climate, 45, [101220]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2022.101220

Kern, K., W. Haupt & S. Niederhafner (2022): Entwicklungspfade städtischer Klimapolitik: Bedeutung von Schlüsselereignissen und Schlüsselakteur:innen für die Klimapolitik in Potsdam, Remscheid und Würzburg. disP: The Planning Review, 57(4), 32-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/02513625.2021.2060576

Otto, A., K. Kern, K., W. Haupt, P. Eckersley & A. Thieken (2021): Ranking Local Climate Policy: Assessing the Mitigation and Adaptation Activities of 104 German Cities. Climatic Change, 167(1-2), [5]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-021-03142-9

Kern, K., J. L. Irmisch, C. Odermatt, W. Haupt & I. Kissling-Näf (2021): Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Development, and Climate Policy: Comparing the UNESCO World Heritage Cities of Potsdam and Bern. Sustainability, 131].(16), [9131] https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169131

Kern, K. & W. Haupt (2021): Von Reallaboren zu urbanen Experimenten: Deutsche und internationale Debatten. Raumforschung und Raumordnung, 79(4), 322-335. https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.48

Häußler, S. & W. Haupt (2021): Climate Change Adaptation Networks for Small and Medium-sized Cities. SN Social Sciences, 11(1), [262]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-021-00267-7

Haupt, W. (2021): How do Local Policy Makers Learn about Climate Change Adaptation Policies? Examining Study Visits as an Instrument of Policy Learning in the European Union. Urban Affairs Review, 57(6), 1697–1729. [57]. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078087420938443

Haupt, W., L. Chelleri, S. Van Herk & C. Zevenbergen (2020): City-to-City Learning within Climate City Networks: Definition, Significance, and Challenges from a Global Perspective. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 12(2), 143-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/19463138.2019.1691007

Haupt, W. & A. Coppola (2019): Climate Governance in Transnational Municipal Networks: Advancing a Potential Agenda for Analysis and Typology. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 2019 (11 (2)), 123-140.

Book chapter

Haupt, W., P. Eckersley, J. L. Irmisch, J. L. & K. Kern (2023): Fridays for Future auf lokaler Ebene: Aktivität und Stärke der Ortsgruppen in deutschen Städten. in J. Pollex & A. Soßdorf (eds.), Fridays for Future: Einordnung, Rezeption und Wirkung der neuen Klimabewegung (S. 213–240). (Bürgergesellschaft und Demokratie). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-41447-4_10

Eckersley, P., K. Kern, W. Haupt & H. Müller (2023): Climate Governance and Federalism in Germany. in A. Fenna, S. Jodoin & J. Setzer (eds.), Climate Governance and Federalism : A Forum of Federations Comparative Policy Analysis (S. 150-176). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009249676.009

Coppola, A. & W. Haupt (2023): Philanthropic Organisations and the Global Circulation of Urban Resilience Practices – The Case of 100 Resilient Cities. in R. Brinkmann (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Global Sustainability (S. 2557-2574). [149] Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38948-2_167-1

Reichel, C. & W. Haupt (2022): Beyond Knowledge: Learning to Cope with Climate Change in Cities. in R. C. Brears (ed.), The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures (S. 75-79). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51812-7_186-1

Haupt, W. (2022): The Sustainable and the Smart City: Distinguishing Two Contemporary Urban Visions. in R. C. Brears (ed.), The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures (S. 1722-1735). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51812-7_177-1

Haupt, W., P. Eckersley & K. Kern (2021): How Can ‘Ordinary’ Cities Become Climate Pioneers? in C. Howarth, M. Lane & S. Amanda (eds.), Addressing the Climate Crisis: Local Action in Theory and Practice (S. 83-92). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79739-3_8

Haupt, W., C. Zevenbergen & S. Van Herk (2021): City-to-City Learning within City Networks to Cater City Needs to Climate Adaptation: Results of a Preliminary Study. in S. Hülsmann & M. Jampani (eds.), A Nexus Approach for Sustainable Development: Integrated Resources Management in Resilient Cities and Multifunctional Land-use Systems (S. 223-238). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57530-4_14

Coppola, A., S. Crivelli & W. Haupt (2020): Urban Resilience as New Ways of Governing: The Implementation of the 100 Resilient Cities Initiative in Rome and Milan. in A. Balducci, D. Chiffi & F. Curci (eds.), Risk and Resilience: Socio‐Spatial and Environmental Challenges (S. 113-136). (PoliMI SpringerBriefs). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56067-6_8

Haupt, W. (2020): Interkommunales Lernen: Definition, Bedeutung und Potenzial für die lokale Klimawandelanpassung. in T. Neumann, U. Ziesler & T. Teich (eds.), Kooperation und Innovation für eine nachhaltige Stadtentwicklung: Forschung mit innovativen Kommunen (S. 189-203). (Research). Springer Spektrum.

Haupt, W. (2018): European Municipalities Engaging in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Networks: Examining the Case of the Covenant of Mayors. in Y. Yamagata & A. Sharifi (eds.), Resilience-Oriented Urban Planning: Theoretical and Empirical Insights (Band Lecture Notes in Energy, S. 93-110). Springer.

Working Paper, Discussion Paper

Irmisch, J. L., W. Haupt, P. Eckersley, K. Kern & H. Müller (2022): Klimapolitische Entwicklungspfade deutscher Groß- und Mittelstädte. (IRS Dialog; Band 2022, Nr. 2). Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung. https://leibniz-irs.de/medien/irs-dialog/klimapolitische-entwicklungspfade-deutscher-gross-und-mittelstaedte

Haupt, W., P. Eckersley & K. Kern (2021): Transfer und Skalierung von lokaler Klimapolitik: Konzeptionelle Ansätze, Voraussetzungen und Potenziale. (IRS Dialog; Band 2021, Nr. 1). Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung. http://hdl.handle.net/10419/230620

Eckersley, P., K. Kern, W. Haupt & H. Müller (2021): The Multi-level Context for Local Climate Governance in Germany: The Role of the Federal States. (IRS Dialog; Band 2021, Nr. 3). Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung. https://leibniz-irs.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Transferpublikationen/2021/IRS_Dialog_multi-level_governance.pdf

Contribution to Special Interest Journal

Haupt, W. & I. Buika (2025): Konflikte um LNG-Infrastruktur im Schatten der Gasmangellage. IRS aktuell, (103), 12-17. https://leibniz-irs.de/fileadmin/user_upload/IRS_Aktuell/103/250530_Aktuell_Gasmangellage.pdf

Vollmer, L. & W. Haupt (2025): Sozial-ökologische Wohnungsfrage: Klimagerechtes und bezahlbares Wohnen dürfen nicht gegeneinander ausgespielt werden. IRS aktuell, (103), 40-45. https://leibniz-irs.de/fileadmin/user_upload/IRS_Aktuell/103/250530_Aktuell_KlimagerechtWohnen.pdf

Expertise / Position Paper / Policy Paper

Riechel, R., A. Knak, W. Haupt, S. Linke, E.-M. Moseler, T. Zölch, M. Paul, S. Rößler & A. Volkmann (2022, Dez): Nachhaltige Stadt- und Quartiersentwicklung in der Zukunftsstadt: Anpassungsbedarfe im planerischen Instrumentarium seitens des Bundes und der Länder: Impulse aus der Forschung. Synthese- und Vernetzungsprojekt Zukunftsstadt. https://www.nachhaltige-zukunftsstadt.de/downloads/SynVerZ-Paper_5_NachhaltQuartier_Zukunfststadt.pdf

Albrecht, J., P. Eckersley, W. Haupt, B. Huber, J. L. Irmisch, T. Lipp, M. Miechielsen & T. Sterzel (2022, Nov 14): Stärkung der Integration von Klimaanpassung an Hitze und Starkregen in die kommunale Planung: Zwölf Handlungsempfehlungen aus dem Dialog mit kommunalen Planer:innen im Projekt ExTrass. Urbane Resilienz gegenüber extremen Wettereignissen – Typologien und Transfer von Anpassungsstrategien in kleinen Großstädten und Mittelstädten. Adelphi research gemeinnützige GmbH. https://www.adelphi.de/de/system/files/mediathek/bilder/_ExTrass_Policy_Brief_221114_finaleVersion_b.pdf

Haupt, W., J. L. Irmisch, & P. Eckersley (2022, Apr 29): Handlungsempfehlungen für eine bessere Klimakoordination in Kommunen. Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung. http://hdl.handle.net/10419/253688

Kern, K., S. Grönholm, W. Haupt, L. Hopman, N. Tynkkynen & P. Kettunen (2021, Mai 7).:Turku is a Forerunner in Climate Mitigation, but has Catching Up to do in Climate Adaptation. City of Turku. https://www.turku.fi/sites/default/files/atoms/files/researchbriefings_2021-1.pdf

Kern, K., S. Grönholm, W. Haupt, L. Hopman, N. Tynkkynen & P. Kettunen (2021, Apr 30): Matching Forerunner Cities: Assessing Turku's Climate Policy in Comparison with Malmö, Groningen and Rostock. City of Turku. https://www.turku.fi/sites/default/files/atoms/files/kto-tutkimusraportteja_1-2021.pdf

Kern, K., S.Grönholm, W. Haupt, L. Hopman, N. Tynkkynen & P. Kettunen (2021, Mai 7): Turku on edelläkävijä ilmastonmuutoksen torjunnassa, mutta sopeutumisessa riittää kirittävää. City of Turku. https://www.turku.fi/sites/default/files/atoms/files/tutkimuskatsauksia_2021-1.pdf