Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze at the conference week: "Climate-friendly cities are liveable cities".
2021-02-25 On the second day of the conference week, Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze and Wuppertal's Mayor Uwe Schneidewind discussed the connection between urban and climate policy with students. The conference week marks the end of the Leuphana semester for the approximately 1500 first-semester students. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, all events will take place digitally.
"Imagine sitting on a bench in summer at 28 degrees or at 38 degrees - it makes a huge difference. The amount of green space in cities can effect a difference in temperature of up to 10 degrees," explains Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze. More green spaces would not only help protect the climate, they would also make cities more liveable for their inhabitants and create more space for people. At the moment, this space is taken up by car traffic in many cities, even if this has decreased due to the Corona pandemic. For a long-term effect, however, a comprehensive mobility turnaround is needed: More space for bicycles, an expansion of public transport. In cities like Münster, Svenja Schulze's home town, this is already working very well. In Wuppertal in the Bergisch region, it is more difficult to get from A to B by bike. "Wuppertal could be the most exciting e-bike city," says Mayor Uwe Schneidewind, former head of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy. Innovative solutions and new financing models are needed here.
The coupling of ecological issues with social components is also important for the success of climate policy measures. "Everyone is in favour of a higher CO2 price. But that is only useful if everyone can change over. For example, a friend of mine works as a nurse at the university clinic in Münster. She can't afford a flat near the clinic, and public transport often doesn't run at the times of her shifts. So she drives to work in her old car. In order for everyone to participate, the CO2 price must slowly increase," explains Svenja Schulze.
Climate policy is only successful if everyone pulls together and pursues a common mission, emphasises the Federal Environment Minister. What should the city look like in 2030? Svenja Schulze and Uwe Schneidewind agree: more safe cycle paths, solar and wind power plants wherever there is space and more green spaces - for the climate, insects and the quality of life.
On Thursday, the conference week continues politically: the focus is on the question "Turning the tide for more democracy?" Bodo Ramelow, Prime Minister of the State of Thuringia, and Claudine Nierth, Board Spokesperson of the "More Democracy" initiative, will be guests at the lunch show. The keynote address will be given by publicist and television presenter Michel Friedman. More information is available at leuphana.de/college/studienstart/conferenceweek.