Among them were Baden-Württemberg's Minister for the Environment, Climate and Energy, Thekla Walker, the state's former Minister President and former EU Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger as well as international guests from the partner regions and municipalities,
"Together we can achieve more in climate protection than alone and only together can we master the greatest challenge of our time," said District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier. "Climate protection and climate adaptation are joint tasks. Let's not waste any time, let's act decisively," he urged the audience.
Environment Minister Thekla Walker also emphasized the importance of cooperation in her welcoming address: "In order to successfully tackle climate protection and climate change adaptation, we need partnerships, innovative ideas and new ways of thinking. We face major challenges that we can only overcome together - across different levels, in new and cross-thematic alliances. Our local authorities are important multipliers, partners and allies. This is because they implement the goals of the federal and state governments on the ground, for example in the supply of electricity and heat or protection against heat, heavy rainfall and flooding. Municipalities with ambitious climate measures are important role models that we need as a state in order to further advance our goals."
District Administrator: Effects of climate change visible on our own doorstep
District Administrator Allgaier outlined the challenges posed by the consequences of climate change facing the district of Ludwigsburg and its 39 municipalities: "We can see the harbingers of climate change all over the world, in the home regions of our guests, in Germany, here in the district - virtually on our own doorstep." The aim of the forum is also to discuss new ways to protect the climate and adapt to climate change.
Oettinger: Partnerships across all levels make sense
Günther H. Oettinger also agreed: "Technology transfer, exchange of experience on smart regulation or harmonization of funding programmes: Partnerships make sense at every level, at global level, at regional level and at local level. Partnerships between the public and private sectors also make sense."
Professor Dr. Marc Ringel, new Director of the Franco-German Institute (dfi) since February and previously Professor of Energy Economics and Environmental Economics at HfWU Nürtingen-Geislingen, Professor Dr. Martina Hofmann, Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg Climate and Energy Agency, and Professor Dr. Iris Lewandowski, responsible for the field of renewable resources in the bioeconomy at the University of Hohenheim, discussed how climate protection can be strengthened in concrete terms through such alliances.
Action program for the district in progress
Finally, District Administrator Allgaier addressed the local energy transition: "As a district administration, we want to become climate-neutral by 2035, and as a district by 2040. To this end, we are in contact with the towns and municipalities, the LEA and the Renewable Energy Platform to develop an action program that shows how climate protection can work in a region as densely populated as the district of Ludwigsburg." The kick-off event was moderated by Janine Steeger, who is also known in the media as "Green Janine". The event was planned to be largely sustainable and was awarded the Green Event BW and Climate-Fair Event (Klimaschutz Stiftung BW) labels.
Three days - one topic: climate protection is our mission
The Climate Forum "Partnerships for Climate Action" will take place from March 6 to 8, 2024. After the kick-off event, the focus will be on best practice examples from the district of Ludwigsburg on March 7, before public participation to update the district's climate protection concept begins on March 8. Due to the rail warning strike, March 8 will take place in hybrid form and will also be streamed live on the YouTube channel of the Ludwigsburg District Office.
