Local authorities and climate action Download as PDF
Issue July 2023

Local authorities and climate action

The energy and mobility transitions in cities and municipalities

Editorial


Act local

Editorial by Jan Peter Schemmel, CEO, Oeko-Institut

Think global, act local: you’ve probably heard the phrase a thousand times – perhaps because there is some truth to it, especially in relation to climate change. The fact is that we will not reach our targets by crafting international agreements and then failing to insulate our homes and expand the public transport systems in our own localities.

To avoid any misunderstandings: I am not trying to shift the bulk of the responsibility to the local authorities. Clearly, we need to have the…

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Act local

In Focus


Municipal climate action

Status quo and challenges

Buses? Electric! Buildings? Refurbished to the highest standards! Cities and municipalities can make a major contribution to mitigating climate change – by providing advice to local residents and undertaking energy upgrading of their building stock, for example, or by putting municipal enterprises such as transport providers and local utilities on a path towards climate neutrality. Many local authorities are already actively committed to mitigating climate change. But there is…

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Municipal climate action

A model for the future

Solutions for more municipal climate action

There are many solutions – and many areas where action is needed. That is the nature of climate change. Here, the local authorities can start out on the journey, learn from other cities and municipalities, and set priorities – and above all, build on strategies that have already been successful elsewhere and have particularly high impact potential. What are these strategies? The Oeko-Institut is working on various projects that aim to answer that question.

By implementing 38…

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A model for the future

“The scope for action is limited”

Interview with Marianna Roscher, Head of Unit at the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB)

Downtown Bottrop probably faces mitigation challenges that differ from those existing in east Leipzig. Nevertheless, all the German municipalities must confront the task of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Where do our cities and municipalities stand on climate change mitigation? And how can they be given more effective support? We put these questions to Marianna Roscher, who heads the Building, Housing, Climate Action and Adaptation Unit at the German Association of Towns…

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“The scope for action is limited”

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