New climate protection concept for Rastatt

Germany wants to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045. Rastatt wants to achieve this goal ten years earlier. To this end, the Rastatt climate protection concept was updated in December 2022. It contains numerous measures that are to be reviewed after five years and redefined if necessary. Back in 1994, Rastatt was one of the first cities in Germany to launch a climate protection concept. The concept was revised in 2013.

Photovoltaic systems on the roof of the district administration office

What does greenhouse gas neutrality mean?

Greenhouse gas neutrality is when the amount of greenhouse gases emitted can be fully offset. This means that the same amount of greenhouse gas is removed as is released into the atmosphere.

What data is the new climate protection concept based on?

The new edition of the climate protection concept is based on the energy andCO2 balance of the city of Rastatt, which was drawn up in 2016. According to this, at 10.3 tons per inhabitant, significantly more greenhouse gases were emitted than in Baden-Württemberg with seven tons per inhabitant. More recent figures are not available.

How was the public involved?

Together with representatives from clubs, associations and the city administration, citizens have formulated ideas in four workshops to advance climate protection in Rastatt. Further suggestions were collected in an online survey. The concept was then developed with the help of an external specialist office with the significant involvement of the Rastatt Climate Council, which was formed in 2020.

What is the composition of the Rastatt Climate Council?

The Rastatt municipal council, the Rastatt Climate Alliance, the youth newspaper Ravolution, the Rastatt youth movement Fridays for Future, the KIT-Aueninstitut and the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Architects are represented on this committee under the leadership of the municipal climate protection manager.

What does the target scenario look like?

According to an analysis of potential, greenhouse gas emissions in Rastatt can be reduced by 78 percent by 2035 through suitable measures. As a result,CO2 emissions will then be 2.4 tons per inhabitant, compared to 10.3 tons in 2016. Heating requirements and final energy requirements for transport will also fall sharply, while electricity requirements will increase, primarily due to the increased use of electric vehicles.

What share do renewable energies have in this development?

The proportion of electricity generated from renewable energies will increase from four percent in 2016 to 53 percent by 2035.

What measures should be taken to achieve the climate targets?

The climate protection concept defines 22 measures in six fields of action:

  1. Energy supply and energy efficiency
    Expansion of local and district heating networks, conversion to renewable local and district heating, potential study on the designation of suitable areas for PV systems in the city, expansion of PV and solar thermal systems on existing buildings, support program for the replacement of oil heating systems and 100 percent renewable energies in the electricity and heating sector.
  2. Nutrition and consumption
    Reduction in the consumption of products of animal origin and promotion of regional sustainable agriculture.
  3. Climate-friendly mobility
    Making walking and cycling more attractive as well as the public transport fare structure in public transport, improving cycle times and routes in public transport, expanding the charging infrastructure for e-vehicles and creating alternatives to private motorized transport.
  4. Public relations and stakeholder participation
    Strengthening public relations, environmental education and the promotion of citizen energy cooperatives.
  5. Planning, building, renovating
    Strategy paper Sustainable new construction projects and renovations, energy self-sufficient new construction projects and neighborhood renovations as well as energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings.
  6. Exemplary city administration
    Equipping the city's own roof surfaces with PV systems, energy-efficient renovation of all municipal building envelopes and taking climate protection into account in decisions made by the municipal council and committees.

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