28th Climate Alliance International Conference

Review | Photo gallery | Programme (pdf)

Conference venue: University of Rostock main building, Universitätsplatz 1, 18055 Rostock

Simultaneous interpretation into English and Spanish provided for all sessions unless otherwise noted.

25 September | 26 September | 27 September

Wednesday, 25 September

14:00 – 17:00 Climate Alliance Working Group Meetings

  • Climate Alliance Working Group on Financing (EN)

    Michele SansoniProject Adviser, Unit B1 H2020 Energy Executive Agency for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (EASME) (Video)
    Thijs de la CourtKlimaatverbond Nederland | presentation (pdf)
    Felicia van Tulder–  Project manager in the SCORE project and academic collaborator in the Kelso Foundation Professorship for Comparative Law, Eastern European Business Law and European Legal Policy | presentation (pdf)
    Andy Deacon – Climate Alliance | presentation (pdf)

  • Climate Alliance Working Group on Adaptation (EN | agenda | introduction)

    Agnes SchönfelderHead of the Climate Protection Control Centre of the City of Mannheim | presentation (pdf)
    Dagmar Koziolek und Ilona Hartmann
    Office for Environmental Protection of the City of Rostock | presentation (pdf)
    Helena Perxacs Motgé
    Province Barcelona | presentation (pdf)

18:15 19:00 Guided Journey by Tram, transport to the reception

19:00Reception at the Rostock Zoo Polarium

25 September | 26 September | 27 September

Thursday, 26 September

Moderation: Marcus Andreas

 

08:00 – 9:00 Registration

09:00 – 9:30 Opening

Claus Ruhe Madsen – Mayor of the City Rostock
Andreas Wolter – Climate Alliance President & Mayor of the City Cologne
Robinson Lopéz Descanse – Climate Alliance Vice-President & COICA Coordinator for Climate Change and Biodiversity

09:30 – 10:00 Keynote by Andreas Huber, Managing Director of German Association for the Club of Rome

10:00 – 12:30 The Climate Emergency – From Words to Action
On 28 November 2018, the EU-Commission presented its strategic long-term vision for a climate-neutral economy by 2050. At the national level, governments must draw up action plans, and at the local level, municipalities are already implementing many measures.

Sirpa Hertell – Member of the Commission for Environment, Climate change and Energy, European Committee of the Regions & Councillor in the Espoo City Council
Tine Heyse– Climate Alliance President & Mayor for Environment, Climate, Energy and North-South of the City of Ghent
John Tanner
Climate Alliance Board Member & Councillor in the Oxford City Council
Michael Ziegler Advisor “Climate Policy Meets Urban Development”, G430 Cities, Division Global Policy, Governance, Cities, GIZ

  • Setting the Scene – Plenary Discussion
    The session presented the current state of climate strategy and action. Representatives of various levels of government shared their perspectives and reflected on the role of sub-national governments in shaping major climate policy trends of the day.

11:00 11:30 Grab a coffee

  • Interactive Climate Policy Sessions
    Taking the input gleaned from the plenary before, these interactive parallel sessions gave participants the chance to delve deeper into topics of major relevance to climate policy. Climate Alliance’s driving principles as well as the transformative power of city networks and their ability to link political levels were recurring themes.

  • Wrap-up – Expert Policy Discussion
    Building on the morning’s panel and interactive sessions, this plenary discussion called on experts to reflect on main insights and outcomes with a look to next steps.

12:30 – 14:00 Grab some lunch and network

14:00 – ca. 17:15 Climate Alliance General Assembly

17:00 – 18:00 Climate Action Speech (DE; open to the public), City Hall

18:15 Guided Bustour to Warnemünde

19:30 Seaside Conference Dinner, Kurhaus Warnemünde

25 September | 26 September | 27 September

Friday, 27 September

Moderation: Marcus Andreas


08:00 – 09:00 Registration

09:00 – 09:30 Wake-Up Call and Review

José Francisco Cali Tzay – Guatemalan Ambassador to Germany

09:30 – 11:00 Parallel Workshops

  1. Joint Efforts on the Local Mobility Transition(EN | DE | introduction)
    In the light of rising emissions and the call for the reallocation of urban space, the mobility transition has become a pressing issue on local agendas. Which approaches work best in large cities and which are appropriate for small towns? How do we encourage people to choose sustainable transport options? Best practice solutions were discussed, from low-threshold campaigns to large planning innovations.

    Gerhard AinzSaMBA Pilot Manager, City of Salzburg | presentation (pdf)
    Shravan Shinde – Munich Transport and Tariff Association | presentation (pdf)
    Dr. Klemens Muthmann – Cyface GmbH, formerly TU Dresden | presentation (pdf)

  2. Collaborative Action for Climate Justice (introduction)
    Municipalities throughout Europe have embarked on climate partnerships and are supporting local climate justice initiatives. Indigenous communities on the other side of the world are also doing their part to curb climate change. Whether municipalities in Europe or indigenous territories in Amazonia, we need both the regional and local levels to reach Agenda 2030 and Paris Agreement goals. Learn about tools to support your city and develop strategies to perpetuate activities that promote climate justice.

    Sébastian Douche – Sustainable Development, Metz Métropole | presentation (pdf)
    Katharina Reinholz – Climate Protection Manager, City of Worms | presentation (pdf)
    Robinson López Descanse – Climate Alliance Vice-President & COICA Coordinator for Climate Change and Biodiversity

  3. Rethinking Districts – From Buildings to Energy to Transport (EN | DE)
    Climate action on the district level is becoming a popular approach to local climate policy, but municipalities are often unsure of how to develop and implement such concepts. Participants learned about Climate Alliance’s recommendations on district climate concepts and were inspired by best practice examples in the building, energy and transport sectors.

    Cynthia Echave
    – Technical Director, Urban Agency Barcelona |fileadmin/Inhalte/6_Events/2019/CAIC19/CAIC19_Workshop_Rethinking_Districts_Cynthia_Echave-komprimiert.pdfpresentation (pdf)
    Margit Haase
    - climate protection unit from the state capital Dresden| presentation (pdf)
    Miguel Morcillo
    – Climate Alliance | presentation (pdf)

  4. Citizen and Community Participation for Climate Change Adaptation(EN | DE)
    Understanding how best to engage the public in climate change adaption is a key challenge for many local authorities. True engagement goes beyond mere awareness raising, it entails consulting citizens via participatory processes while also promoting and cooperating with citizen initiatives. Participants learned about creative methods and tools to reach these goals and discussed how best to engage hard-to-reach target groups.

    Angelika Gunkel – Sustainability Strategy Unit, City of Hanau | presentation (pdf)
    Philip Thompson – Flood Risk Manager, Leicester City Council | presentation (pdf)
    Martin Ander – Environmental Partnership & Former Deputy Mayor of the City of Brno | presentation (pdf)

11:00 – 11:30 Grab a coffee

11:30 12:30 Guided Thematic Tours
In these interactive sessions, the opportunity for direct exchange on a particular topic in two parts was offered. Each session took participants to two locations where specific questions on one part of the main topic at hand were discussed. Experienced “tour guides” introduced the theme and accompanied participants during the trip.

  1. Towards a Local Mobility Transition(EN | DE)
    With rising emissions and the need to reallocate urban space, the mobility transition has become an urgent issue on the local agenda. Based on a tour of measures that have already been implemented or are currently planned, both small and large, and participants exchanged with peers.

    Claudia Kruse
    – Mobility Management, City of Rostock
    Julian Müller
    – Mobility Management, City of Rostock
    Alexander Stark
    – City of Munich
    Sébastian Douche
    – Sustainable Development, Metz Métropole| presentation (pdf)

  2. Partnering up for Climate Justice
    Partnerships with communities of the global south bring new perspectives and novel ideas while supporting global climate action. It was discussed how to enliven such partnerships and participants heard directly from indigenous partners on human rights, forest defence, current (political) developments and local energy strategies.

    Zoltan Hajdu – EcoFocus Center, Romania | presentation (pdf)
    Karácsony Károly – Mayor of the City of Galesti
    Adolfo Chavez – COICA Coordinator of International Relations and Cooperation
    Robinson López Descanse – Climate Alliance Vice-President & COICA Coordinator for Climate Change and Biodiversity

  3. Bottom-up Strategies – From Buildings to Energy Communities(EN)
    More than 40% of all primary energy consumption in the EU can be attributed to buildings. Increased building energy performance is thus crucial, as is sustainable energy production. In inspiring examples of bottom-up climate action, engaged citizens are establishing energy communities and regaining control over their energy. Fascinating examples and approaches were delved into.

    Andrea Dornhöfer
    – Energy Agency, City of Weiz
    Brice Mertz
    – fesa e.V.

12:30 – 13:00 Lessons Learned and Future Perspectives 

13:00 – 14:00 Grab some lunch and network

14:00 – 17:00 Local Excursions

  • Stadtwerke Rostock - Public Utility and Energy Supplier (DE)
    This municipal company generates district heating and electricity in a gas and steam turbine power plant. A guided tour of the power plant and the central control centre was offered.

  • Nordwasser - Water and Wastewater Service Provider (EN)
    Rostock's sewage treatment plant converts sewage gases into electricity and heat by means of combined heat and power. Participants learned about this as well as plans for sewage sludge incineration with decentralised pre-drying.

  • Climate Perspectives - Regional Art Competition (DE)
    The State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's climate protection art competition - attendees helped judge the contenders and took a look at an exhibition full of art.

  • Onshore Power for Rostock's Harbour (EN)
    Participants visited a power plant in Rostock's fishing harbour and learned more about plans for supplying cruise ships with onshore power.

  • Local Tram Depot (DE)
    The tram depot was visited and attendees got information on Rostock's public transport timetable concept and vehicle fleet.

  • NORDEX Wind TurbineProduction Facility (DE)
    A wind turbine production facility was visited and participants got to know their whole product range.

  • Hydrogen Filling Station (DE)
    Rostock's first hydrogen filling station and see a range of hydrogen vehicles was discovered.

  • WIRO - Living in Rostock (DE)
    The possability was offered to learn about Rostock's municipal housing company has become a climate protector with ice storage and geothermal energy for heat supply, PV systems for electricity generation and car sharing.
  • Forests in a Changing Climate (DE)
    Effects and requirements due to climate change using the example of the Rostocker Heide, an FSC-certified city forest with an area of 6,000 ha. Forest as a CO2 reservoir and energy source, sensible cascade use of wood - What effects does climate change have and what strategies can be used to counter this in order to reduce the risk of massive damage?

Please note: All excursions were limited to 20 participants.

 

25 September | 26 September | 27 September

 

 

Photos: Harbour - Hanseatic City of Rostock, Angelika Heim | Aerial view - Hanseatic City of Rostock, Fotoagentur Nordlicht | View of Gehlsdorf - Fotoagentur Nordlicht