Our Members: Our Members' Activities > Germany > Hamburg
22% less CO2 Emissions by 2012
At the end of 2007, Hamburg pledged to reduce its CO2 footprint by 2 million tons by 2012 through the implementation of an extensive climate protection programme. This would constitute a decrease in emissions by about 22% on the levels of 1990, which in turn represents a reduction per capita of around 28%.
The climate protection programme catalogues some 200 individual measure for which 25 million Euros have been set aside each year. Financing shall additionally be provided by the budgets of the local authority, public companies and third parties (a total of some 175 million Euros in 2007/2008).
The city established a co-ordination centre for climate issues to endorse and co-ordinate efforts to protect the climate, both within and outside of city administration. PR and co-operation with social groups will be combined in an energy agency in the short term.
Hamburg has also passed its own climate protection law. This has had a profound effect on urban land-use planning and energy supply. The city is considered a pioneer in its commitment to integrating renewable energies into land-use plans.
Environmental Partnership Programme of Hamburg
| |
 |
The senate and Hamburgs business world established in 2003 the Umwelt - Partnerschaft Hamburg, an environmental partnership programme, which has been working towards the goal of promoting sustainable and resourceefficient enterprises. It is aimed at all businesses in Hamburg, regardless of their size or branch, and smoothes the route to increase efficiency and make cost savings by offering countless programmes and services.
All companies who voluntarily invest in resource-saving or climate-protection activities have the opportunity to become an "Environmental Partner". 480 companies in Hamburg are already taking advantage of this scheme.
At the end of 2007, the supporters of this alliance agreed to extend their cooperation until the year 2013. To date, some 1,500 companies have joined the environmental partnership programme; up to 5,000 are expected to do so by 2013. The city of Hamburg assumes a third of the costs for the subprojects that involve checking for the optimal use of heat, light energy and machinery, and ensuring efficient work processes are adopted. The city shall continue to offer these four elements, which are grouped under the title "Companies for Resource Protection", and will also add a new component, refrigeration engineering. By 2012, CO2 emissions are expected to decrease by 170,000 tons/year.
Picture credit: Hamburg Marketing GmbH
