Climate protection
Protecting the global climate is one of the greatest environmental policy challenges of our time. Since the special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) published in October 2018 at the latest, however, it has been known that global warming must be limited to well below 2 degrees, if possible to 1.5 degrees, as the global climate is now moving above the temperature fluctuations of the Holocene. Humans are cited as the main cause. Global economic and population growth has led and continues to lead to atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) that have not been seen for at least 800,000 years.
The intensification of the greenhouse effect beyond its natural level has led to an increase in the global mean annual temperature compared to pre-industrial levels, which, according to the EU climate change service Copernicus, has been around 1.64 degrees Celsius worldwide since July 2023 (as of July 2024). The effects of global warming are also being felt locally and the city of Chemnitz is increasingly having to face extreme climatic events such as heavy rain, hail and storms as well as increasing dry periods and heatwaves. This is associated with dramatic changes to our environment and our natural resources.
Climate protection at a local level plays a key role, as human activity, particularly in cities, is linked to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, buildings and the activities of their inhabitants.
Energy municipality of the year 2024: Chemnitz
On 17 February 2025, the City of Chemnitz was awarded the title "Energy Community of the Year 2024" by the Agentur für Erneuerbare Energien e.V. (AEE). Citizens were able to vote for their municipality in two rounds of voting. Chemnitz came out on top in the final round with 2,030 votes against the municipality of Bundorf (1,920 votes) and the university city of Tübingen (1,265 votes). Environmental Mayor Knut Kunze: "We are grateful for this award as Energy Community of the Year. It joins the other prizes and certifications that have already been awarded, such as the European Energy Award (eea) in Gold. It shows once again that the commitment of the entire city of Chemnitz, its citizens and the energy supplier eins is bearing fruit and driving Chemnitz forward on its way to becoming a greenhouse gas-neutral municipality by 2040." "Chemnitz has returned to the path ofCO2 savings since 2023. Combined with the reduction in electricity consumption, the ongoing expansion of renewable energies and the construction of the hydrogen centre, Chemnitz is doing justice to the award," says Carina Kühnel, Head of the Environmental Agency.
On 17 February 2025, the City of Chemnitz was awarded the title "Energy Community of the Year 2024" by the Agentur für Erneuerbare Energien e.V. (AEE). Citizens were able to vote for their municipality in two rounds of voting. Chemnitz came out on top in the final round with 2,030 votes against the municipality of Bundorf (1,920 votes) and the university city of Tübingen (1,265 votes). Environmental Mayor Knut Kunze: "We are grateful for this award as Energy Community of the Year. It joins the other prizes and certifications that have already been awarded, such as the European Energy Award (eea) in Gold. It shows once again that the commitment of the entire city of Chemnitz, its citizens and the energy supplier eins is bearing fruit and driving Chemnitz forward on its way to becoming a greenhouse gas-neutral municipality by 2040." "Chemnitz has returned to the path ofCO2 savings since 2023. Combined with the reduction in electricity consumption, the ongoing expansion of renewable energies and the construction of the hydrogen centre, Chemnitz is doing justice to the award," said Carina Kühnel, Head of the Environmental Agency.
Background
The AEE praised Chemnitz for its comprehensive strategy for the use of renewable energies in various areas and honoured the city as Energy Community of the Month in August 2024. To mark the 20th anniversary of this award, one of the twelve Energy Communities of the Month 2024 was chosen as the overall winner for the first time in 2024. The establishment of an international innovation and technology centre for hydrogen, the continuous expansion of solar energy and projects for neighbourhood development as well as the expansion of mobility services and, of course, the coal phase-out - these are all pioneering projects for climate protection. Chemnitz is consistently pursuing the goal of decarbonisation and is aiming for greenhouse gas neutrality by 2040, if possible earlier.
The city's commitment to climate protection is reflected in the European Energy Award (eea), which the city of Chemnitz received in gold for the third time in 2023. In addition to various administrative offices, the Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), the Chemnitz Chamber of Crafts (HWK), the energy supplier eins energie in sachsen GmbH & Co KG (eins) and the Chemnitz Environmental Centre are also part of the City of Chemnitz's eea team. The quiet but effective actions of numerous private players who drive innovation in the field of renewable energies and thus efficiency should also be emphasised.
Further information
Climate policy objectives
In light of the fact that the current global reduction pathway is not sufficient to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees or a maximum of 2 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels, the City of Chemnitz revised its voluntary commitment. On 12 October 2022, the City Council adopted the following ambitious climate protection targets(B-156/2022)
- Extensive greenhouse gas neutrality for the city of Chemnitz by 2040 at the latest, earlier if possible.
- The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 75 % compared to 1990 by 2030.
Further information
Downloads
Energy policy work programme
Integrated climate protection programmes
Carbon dioxide balance
The following figure shows the development of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2 emissions) since 1989/1990. Since 2002, energy consumption and motor vehicle traffic have been analysed and balanced separately. In 2020, total emissions were below 50 % of 1990 levels. Germany's climate policy targets for 2030 and 2040 are shown in the two bars on the right. The data is weather-adjusted. Detailed explanations of the graph can be found in the climate protection reports.
The figure shows the development of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2 emissions) since 1989/1990. Since 2002, energy consumption and motor vehicle traffic have been analysed and balanced separately. In 2020, total emissions were below 50 % of 1990 levels. Germany's climate policy targets for 2030 and 2040 are shown in the two bars on the right. The data is weather-adjusted. Detailed explanations of the graph can be found in the climate protection reports.
