Climate protection
Vision of a sustainable future
“In life and business, without destroying our planet”, the environmental Minister Barbara Hendricks wants the climate change conference of the German Association of towns and municipalities German Federal government in Bonn. And the intent of the municipalities?
28. July 2014 will not be forgotten, Jürgen Langenberg his life. The Fire chief of the fire brigade Münster shows photos and reports of the heavy rain that turned the roads back in raging rivers. Since the weather records have never so much rain was geprasselt in the Westphalian town of down.
Cars were buried under falling trees. The use of cars of fire brigade, rescue services and police remained in the flood stuck. Two people were killed. Graves in the cemetery bagged. The pumping stations and the Central control of the wastewater system were not able to distribute the quantities you failed your service. More than 10,000 tons had to dispose of the city cleaning, furniture and Household goods, the goods become unusable. “Otherwise, 6000 metric tons of bulk goods in a year,” Langenberg the amount. Due to the severe weather caused damage in the amount of 290 million euros.
From damage water 2013 learned – Elbe high in Magdeburg
Such an event can take every city, every village in Germany. In addition, the participants of the climate conference of the Deutschen städte – und gemeindebundes (DStGB) agree. Such scenarios could be the rule, also warned Federal environment Minister Barbara Hendricks (SPD) in her speech. “Ten of the warmest years with heavy rain, heat – and drought – since the beginning of weather records in 1880 – there were since the year 2000. Climate change is thus one of the great challenges of the century.” Climate protection needs to become the permanent task of Hendricks. The local authorities are on a good path. Progress Hendricks called for, however, in the case of the car industry and agriculture.
Cities are heat Islands
The extreme heat days would increase, which will lead in cities to health problems, said the Minister. Because here there is a lack of wind corridors for ventilation. “We need more Green and more water. You will act as a thermal-reducing effect. Cities will be in the future, only attractive if you take climate protection seriously,” said Hendricks, referring to a study. Consequently, four out of five respondents want more environmental awareness and a move away from the noise and fine-dust emissions by cars.”
Hendricks: “living and doing business without destroying the planet”
For the design of the local future-climate protection, agreed DStGB am a member of the President and the mayor of the city of mountain Kamen, Roland Schäfer,.
He said the local authorities had been keen to energy-saving measures to implement. As examples, he cited the conversion of street lighting to LED lamps. Thus, 80 per cent power can be saved. Day-care centres, gymnasiums and other public buildings will be renovated according to energy aspects. 2000 was generated six per cent of electricity by renewable energies, as it were, at the beginning of 2015, 32 percent of the energy obtained by Wind, photovoltaic and Biogas.
Switch and Parts
A greater challenge is the mobility climate-friendly remodel. The DStGB-President called the Radschnellweg between Duisburg and Hamm as a role model and stressed that his family could rely on seven bikes. He praised claim the Trend to the abandonment of the Possession, and the initiatives of Urban Gardening, Food – and car-sharing. Nevertheless, the stated objective of the Federal government was emit by 2020, 40 percent less greenhouse gases than in 1990 – very ambitious.
Bonn’s Lord mayor (WHETHER) called Ashok-Alexander Sridharan to the Numbers: “By 2020, only 28 per cent less CO2 release would need to spend in the city of Bonn, 53 million euros. Means, not in the foreseeable future.” The Federal government financed in the framework of its national Initiative on climate protection Manager, which is developed in the municipalities of concepts and measures for climate protection. Open be, how it should go after the end of the promotion.
In the climate protection Sridharan sees but, nevertheless, continue to be opportunities in the future. He pointed to private investments in the energy renovation of buildings and the necessary skilled labour in key sectors.
Participants of the DStGB conference to see pictures from the lightning strike in Münster
Lutz Trümper, Magdeburg, authorities chief, agreed with his colleagues. The question of money should not now. Especially in times of low interest rates would have to be invested in climate protection: “The environment of politics has greater relevance. If we do not act now, on a larger scale, then people in Africa will not be able to live any more. Then the to have dramatic consequences,” warned Trümper.
He also supported his presentation with photos of the Elbe floods in 2002 and 2013. The water level of the river had risen to more than seven meters – normal two meters are scarce. Between 300 and 400 million euros, the damages have been quantified. From this, the administration has learned the Lessons. “Citizens have asked me at the beginning: What good does it do if we save energy and China coal-fired power plants to be built?” He expressed the hope, that someone has to act as a role model, so that the others would be encouraged to rethink. “We need to motivate the citizens to participate, to act energy efficiently. Environmental education must be carried out in the nursery and as soon as possible,” suggested the Lord mayor Trümper.
The cities need to be green
Federal environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said, by 2050, the municipalities are entirely CO2-free. “Let us form a Vision of how we live and economies without destroying our planet. The Vision of cities and communities that are worth living in because they live with the needs of the people – and to work, to move and to relax – of course, in a sustainable way of life to connect with each other.” The participants donated a lot of applause, knowing that this Vision draws gigantic tasks.