Prof. Hirschl hands over examiner's report on climate plan to state government and presents results
Reprint of thepress release by the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection, published on 08.03.2023 (in German).
Expert report for climate plan presented - Minister Axel Vogel: On this basis, state government defines concrete measures for climate neutrality in Brandenburg
On March 8, 2023, the scientific head of the examiner consortium, Prof. Bernd Hirschl, handed over the report on Brandenburg's climate plan to Climate Protection Minister Axel Vogel. The almost 500-page report contains recommendations for a Brandenburg climate protection strategy and proposed measures for the state's climate plan. Prof. Hirschl presented the study commissioned by the Ministry of Climate Protection to the State Parliament's Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection today.
"With this examiner's report, we are entering the final phase in the preparation of the climate plan," said Axel Vogel. "This technical basis will be used to define the measures for the climate plan with which we want to achieve climate neutrality in Brandenburg by 2045."
With the measures in the climate plan, the state is to make its contribution to achieving the interim and sector targets for greenhouse gas savings in areas such as agriculture and forestry, energy and industry, transport and construction, which were adopted by the cabinet in August 2022. "With the examiner's report, the state government now has a thick package of tasks for climate protection. With proposals for over 80 bundles of measures for all eight fields of action of the climate plan, the examiner clearly shows where the important tasks for state policy lie on the path to climate neutrality," says Climate Protection Minister Axel Vogel.
Prof. Bernd Hirschl: "Our scenarios take into account all sectors and the relevant greenhouse gas emissions in context. The examiner's report also shows the great pressure to act, as Brandenburg is not yet on the path to climate neutrality. Important examples of our recommended measures include not only phasing out coal as quickly as possible, but also the heating and transportation transition, the conversion to a climate-neutral economy, the strengthening of forests and the management of peatlands. Consistent political implementation and management are important, as is the provision of sufficient financial resources and personnel so that the state and its municipalities can play the urgently needed pioneering role."
The Ministry of Climate Protection is now discussing measures for the climate plan with all departments concerned. These are defining their individual climate-related strategies and measures to achieve the sector targets. The Energy Strategy 2040 with its focus on the expansion of renewable energies, for example, forms the basis for achieving a climate-neutral energy supply. Strengthening local public transport should make an important contribution to the transport sector. In addition, the state administration will play an exemplary role by setting specific targets and measures for a greenhouse gas-neutral state administration.
"Some things are already underway," says Climate Protection Minister Axel Vogel. "The amendment to the Brandenburg Monument Protection Act passed by the cabinet yesterday is intended to better reconcile monument protection and the expansion of renewables. The planned solar obligation involves the legally prescribed installation of solar systems on roofs when constructing new commercial and public buildings and parking lots. With the transformation and climate protection package for municipalities, we are providing a total of 41.5 million euros for the years 2023 and 2024 as part of the Brandenburg package to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote the expansion of renewable energies. There has never been so much funding for municipal climate protection in Brandenburg."
Other measures planned for the climate plan in the MLUK's department relate to the acceleration of approval processes for the expansion of renewable energies, the conversion of forests into stable mixed forests and the expansion of forest areas as well as the raising of water levels on Brandenburg's moorland soils together with the farms operating there. The transformation process in agriculture towards climate-friendly farming is to be funded, as is advice and support for local authorities on climate protection.
The draft climate plan, including measures, will be presented for consultation as part of an online participation process from June before being submitted to the cabinet in the summer.
Background information: In order to achieve the goal of climate neutrality in Brandenburg by 2045 at the latest, the state government is currently working on the climate plan under the leadership of the Ministry of Climate Protection. In a nationwide comparison, Brandenburg has adopted very ambitious interim targets for all sectors, including agriculture and forestry, transport and buildings, energy and the economy. In November 2021, the state government defined seven sectors and eight fields of action for the climate plan. In August 2022, the cabinet adopted the central building block for the climate plan with ambitious interim and sector targets.
Under the leadership of Prof. Bernd Hirschl from the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW), a team of examiners developed the scientific basis and comprehensive recommendations for a climate protection strategy as well as proposals for a program of measures in Brandenburg between May 2021 and February 2023. These were developed in a broad participation process with stakeholders and the suggestions collected in an online participation process. The relevant departments of the state government were closely involved in the examiner's development process.
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