As part of society, the administration is also affected by change processes and can actively shape them at the same time. This applies in particular to the major challenge of global climate protection and averting the climate catastrophe.
The public sector itself also contributes to the climate crisis by using buildings, procuring products or allowing employees, visitors and suppliers to come to its sites.
At the Environment and Technology Committee on May 23, 2022, District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier outlined the central role we play as a public sector: "As a district administration, we want to set an example on the path to climate neutrality and make what we expect from society the benchmark for our own actions. Together, we want to take responsibility for the future and exploit our maximum potential for climate protection!"
With the project for a climate-neutral administration - funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector - we are now moving forward with targeted measures, using our buying power and then want to motivate and inspire other stakeholders with the experience we have gained in climate protection.
The process corresponds to a major change management and is coordinated by the representatives for a climate-neutral administration. In line with the recommendations of the Federal Environment Agency, the process is being carried out in five partially overlapping stages. However, these do not take place once, but are repeated on an ongoing basis.
- Establishorganization , clarify responsibilities, establish structures for the process.
- Definingobjectives , i.e. "Where do we want to go?" - the understanding of climate neutrality and the 2035 target are clear, a mission statement was drawn up in a participatory process.
- Balancing greenhouse gas emissions and thus answering the question "Where do we stand?" - energy and greenhouse gas balances for the years 2020 to 2022 are available.
- Develop, implement and communicatemeasures - the register of measures is updated every year.
- Monitoring consisting of evaluating the status of target achievement and adapting the measures - in the course of this, the previous stages are repeatedly run through and reviewed. The results are presented each year in the climate and energy report.
The concept for climate-neutral administration
Photo: Ludwigsburg District Office
At its meeting on October 9, 2023, the Environment and Technology Committee approved the concept for a climate-neutral district administration and thus committed itself to the goal of becoming climate-neutral in its own direct sphere of influence by 2035.
"With the concept for a climate-neutral administration, we are not only taking our exemplary role as a public authority seriously, but are also pursuing opportunities to reduce costs and reorganize our work processes in the direction of a modern and sustainable administration with target-oriented approaches."
The concept builds on the successes and experiences of recent years and was developed with broad internal participation. The mission statement sets out goals and definitions for climate-neutral administration. The initial balance sheet on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions defines the starting point for the path to climate neutrality. The register of measuresis to be understood as a "living document" that is further developed each year in line with changing framework conditions and the status of target achievement. Of the 30 measures developed, the anchoring of climate protection in the top management as well as the approaches for energy-efficient building renovations and energy supply with renewables are considered particularly central.
To reaffirm the new, more ambitious climate protection targets, the committee decided to renew the signing of the climate protection pact with the state of Baden-Württemberg. You can find the press release on the committee meeting here.
The climate and energy report
The climate and energy report serves as a central communication tool on the path to climate-neutral administration. Each year, it summarizes the monitoring of the measures and the energy and greenhouse gas balance and explains the adjustments to the measures in the controlling process.
On March 25, 2025, the second climate and energy report was presented to the Environment and Technology Committee and it was decided to update the register of measures. You can find the press release here.
Three central fields of action
The goal of climate-neutral administration affects various cross-departmental areas of administration:
Photo: Ludwigsburg District Office
Buildings & Energy
Saving energy, using it more efficiently and generating renewable energy
Photo: Ludwigsburg District Office
Mobility management
Strengthening climate-friendly forms of mobility: cycling, walking, public transport
The district office does the climate check
What impact do district council decisions have on the climate?
Photo: Ludwigsburg District Office
Since September 2023, this question has been answered in every draft resolution submitted to the committee. The district administration's climate protection team has developed a special digital tool for this purpose: the ClimateCheck.
"Our aim is to make even more consistent use of the district administration's potential for climate protection," emphasizes District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier in a press release. With the KlimaCheck, climate-relevant aspects are not only made transparent for the decisions of the political body, but can also be recognized during the planning stage and considered at an early stage.
Further information on transferring the ClimateCheck to other municipalities can be found under Offers for municipalities.
Municipal climate scouts - trainees for more climate protection
Since 2021, municipal trainees in the district of Ludwigsburg have been trained in climate protection in the workplace with the "Municipal climate scouts - trainees for more climate protection" project.
The project is carried out in cooperation with Energieagentur Kreis Ludwigsburg (LEA) e. V. The participating trainees learn the basics of climate change and municipal climate protection as well as project management and communication. They then carry out their own projects. The teams from the district administration office were each supported by mentors from the HR department.
In the previous 2024/25 round, the eight-person trainee team designed three different "Green Challenges" and invited all employees of the district administration office to take part in January and February 2025. The Green Challenges were concluded with an internal award ceremony and the most diligent and creative participants were able to look forward to various prizes.
You can find more information about the project and how to take part under Offers for local authorities.
