Guest article by City of Aachen
Let’s Fight Climate Change. All of Us. Right Now.
Aachen is tackling the future.
Can we save the world in Aachen? Well, maybe not quite. But we can certainly do our bit and ensure Aachen remains a livable city. Now that summers are getting hotter than ever and rainfall heavier and heavier.
With the effects of climate change becoming ever more noticeable, the City of Aachen is proactive in its climate protection strategy. The Climate Department, headed by Heiko Thomas, prioritizes climate protection measures, while also adapting to the new circumstances. The head of department receives support not only from the Climate and Environment Department, but also from colleagues from the Department for Urban Development, Construction, and Mobility, which plays an important role in this interdisciplinary team.
With support from politicians, an ambitious program for climate protection was launched with funding amounting to 123 million euros, 20 million of which is available for the promotion of solar power expansion and the renovation of private residential buildings. Since the successful “Radentscheid” initiative, Aachen has been setting new standards for cycle paths and cycle lanes. There are bike sharing stations and e-bike charging points and the central Grabenring is gearing ever more toward the need of buses and cycle traffic.
Making the City Fit for the Future
The local community is clearly committed to the goal of becoming a climate-neutral city by 2030. Businesses, universities, and city administration are working together to find the answer to this question: Where and how can we reduce CO2 emissions? They are all taking action now and focusing on a more sustainable and compatible energy and heat supply, using efficient technologies and environmentally sound materials in industry, taking a smart circular economy approach, and conserving resources and soil. ASEAG is ordering more e-buses, STAWAG is focusing more on district heating, and the city administration is rapidly renovating its buildings to make them more energy-efficient and is pushing ahead with the expansion of renewable energies.
In addition, around 200 initiatives are working toward a city fit for the future, whether it’s planting vegetables in the city, supporting the development of better cycle paths, promoting fair trade products, or running repair cafés. With support from municipal funding programs, residents are also greening their roofs and facades and contributing to achieving the goal of climate neutrality through their everyday habits.
EU Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”
Since 1992, the City of Aachen has implemented numerous concepts and measures to reduce CO2 emissions and has been awarded the European Energy Award Gold several times. In 2019, the City Council declared a “climate emergency”. Fueled by the residents' motion Climate-Neutral Aachen by 2030, the Integrated Climate Protection Concept was continued and adopted by the Council in March 2024. Their goal: creating and implementing measures from city administration so that Aachen is climate-neutral by 2030.
This is a very positive development. By signing the Circular Cities Declaration, the city is one of two German cities and one of the first cities ever to commit to sustainable action. Aachen was also selected to participate in the EU Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”. As one of the mission cities, the aim is to illustrate the path to becoming a climate-neutral city by 2030. The central tool for promoting climate neutrality is the Aachen Climate City Contract (CCC). As part of this unprecedented pilot project, Aachen-based companies, educational institutions, initiatives, interest groups, and associations sign a contract with the city in which they commit to shouldering their share of this joint mission. They want to make their energy supply climate-neutral and their production more sustainable and are even drawing up entire climate protection concepts.
To date, more than 134 stakeholders have signed [as of: March 22, 2024; editor's note], from the RWTH to the medium-sized joinery through to the citizens’ initiative.
And this is yet another positive development. Because “City of Aachen” means everyone living, studying, working, doing business, managing, and researching here. Only by working together can we ensure that fewer greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere from Aachen and that our city stays livable. “The city” is all of us.
- Author: Jutta Göricke