City council approves multifaceted climate protection concept for a sustainable future for Burghausen – citizens can actively participate in the further development
July 16, 2024. The numbers speak for themselves: The years 2022 and 2023 were the hottest in Bavaria, with increases of 2,2 and 2,4 °C respectively. Last year, the months of June to October reached new temperature records. Across Europe, around 2022 people died due to the heat in 60.000. Climate change has also been felt in Burghausen for some time: heavy rain events are increasing, periods without precipitation are lasting longer, and a small tornado even hit the city in 2023.
About two years ago, the city council therefore decided to establish a climate protection management system. “The city is taking the lead here as the responsible party,” emphasises Verena Steiner, Climate Protection Manager of the City of BurghausenBurghausen wants to become climate neutral and contribute to Bavaria being climate neutral by 2040 – the declared goal of the Bavarian state government.
A living concept
In numerous discussions and workshops, the actors involved (city council, municipal employees, as well as Burghausen citizens) drew up a corresponding roadmap for Burghausen. In June 2024, this roadmap was finally adopted by the city council in the form of a climate protection concept. It is a package of measures with suggestions on how Burghausen can gradually reduce harmful emissions and advance its climate protection.
"It is a living concept that is constantly evolving," adds climate protection manager Verena Steiner. Over time, developments may emerge that require measures to be corrected, supplemented or reconsidered.
The city therefore offers its citizens the opportunity to get involved and to actively participate in the continuation of the climate protection concept. “Those interested in getting involved can find out more on our website at burghausen.de/climate-protection-concept the concept and a link for their feedback. It would be great if they all took part in the survey," explains Verena Steiner.
A total of six fields of action were developed for the climate protection concept, such as “Urban development & urban planning”, “Mobility and infrastructure” or “Public utilities & energy supply”.
The results of the complex process give hope that the city of Burghausen will soon make significant progress in terms of climate protection. The greatest potential for saving CO2 is the planned district heating. Once the Burghausen district heating network has been built, 23.800 tons of CO2 can be avoided annually. "We are well on the way there," says First Mayor Florian Schneider, who is currently intensively involved in the district heating supply project. The energy-efficient renovation of the city's properties also saves a lot of energy.
"Together with the citizens of Burghausen, we have set something in motion with the climate protection concept that will make our city a better place to live and that will also do justice to future generations," the mayor is convinced. A lot of work, time and money still needs to be put into implementing the concept, "and we need to patiently feel our way forward. But none of that matters, after all, we all have one goal - to protect our climate as best as possible."
