Foundation of the first municipal climate protection agency in eastern Germany looms

Today, Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the city administration of Jena is expected to present the results of the review application(link is external), including the concept for the establishment of a climate protection agency, to the city council(link is external).

"In order to achieve the city council's goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2035, greenhouse gas emissions must be significantly reduced in all areas - including those that can only be indirectly influenced by the city. This is only possible if the entire urban society joins in. Failure to meet the reduction targets would inevitably lead to budget-burdening compensation payments. That is why we need the climate protection agency as an advisor and motivator for the citizens and businesses of Jena," emphasizes Mayor Christian Gerlitz.

The climate protection agency is to help the city in particular in the areas of advice and support, information and public relations as well as education and participation. It will implement a total of 14 measures from the climate action plan itself or advise and support relevant stakeholders. In addition to offering free energy consultations, the agency will also offer climate protection and environmental education in schools and develop municipal support programs for citizens.

Organizational form of the climate protection agency

Due to its financial and structural dimensions with an annual budget of around €1 million and the involvement of additional stakeholders from business and society, the climate protection agency is to be organized as a non-profit limited company. The City of Jena is currently examining the extent to which state and federal funding can be obtained for the development of structures and competencies.

Timetable

The city administration is aiming to establish the climate protection agency quickly, as it is intended to actively contribute to or accompany the implementation of many immediate measures of the Climate Action Plan.

Once the review mandate has been reported to the city council, the shareholders of the climate protection agency are to be identified, the articles of association drawn up, a managing director sought and preparations made for the establishment of a support association. The aim is for the city council to pass a resolution at the end of this year. If this is positive, the gGmbH will be founded and entered in the commercial register, meaning that the climate protection agency could start business as early as spring 2024.

Background

With the resolution "Jena climate-neutral by 2035" of 14.07.2021 (21/0964-BV(link is external)), the city council of Jena committed itself to the goal of climate neutrality by 2035. The Climate Action Plan (22/1794-BV(link is external)), which builds on this groundbreaking resolution and was adopted on 19.04.2023, lists a total of 73 measures in 7 subject areas. One of these 73 is the accompanying measure "Establishment of a climate protection agency".

Due to the great importance of such institutionalization, the city council of Jena has further specified this measure. The city administration was asked in resolution 005 on the resolution "Climate Action Plan: Jena climate-neutral by 2035" with a comprehensive examination of the establishment of a climate protection agency.