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Cologne climate protection report finds city can meet climate neutrality goal by 2035
Cologne announced plans to present its climate protection report that includes plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2035. Mayor of Cologne Henriette Reker pointed out that the most important finding of the report is that the city can achieve the 2035 target, stressing that this motivates the administration.
She noted that Cologne can only achieve this goal with broad support from businesses, citizens and institutions. Reker called for solidarity and concluded that everyone needs to join forces to help Cologne and protect the planet.
William Wolfgramm, head of the Department for Environment, Climate and Real Estate, noted that the report provides a framework for environmental action and sets targets. He announced plans to present the City Council with a package of measures by summer next year.
According to the report, Cologne has to cut its greenhouse gas emissions from roughly 9.7 million tonnes per year to less than 1 million tonnes per year in order to become carbon neutral. To reach the 2035 target, the city will have to reduce emissions approximately 7% per year.
In the period between 1990 and 2021, Cologne lowered its greenhouse gas emissions roughly 0.7% annually. Cologne’s climate plan focuses on investments in renewable energy, modernisation of transport to make it more energy efficient and reduction of energy consumption, among other.
City authorities pointed out that the Cologne Climate Council drew up the climate plan over two years under supervision of scientific institutes.
(Photo credit: Eric Weber / Unsplash)
