Saarland tightens climate protection target with new concept

State government - Saarland tightens climate protection target with new concept

45 MeasuresBundle for Climate Protection and 17 for Climate Adaptation in Saarland: This is what the new Climate Protection Concept presented by the responsible Minister Petra Berg (SPD) in Saarland entails. It contains strategies and "guiding principles" on 300 pages with which the land intends to implement the intentions from the Climate Protection Law that it passed a year ago. Berg announced that greenhouse gases will be reduced by 65 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 and that the climate protection goal of the federal government will be achieved. So far, it has only been at 55 percent in Saarland.

"This is not a sprint, but it will be a marathon that will challenge us all, really all of us," said Berg. For the ambitious climate protection goals, 1.47 billion Euro are ready. However, the implementation of these ambitious climate protection targets will not be a self-starter, but "an enormous effort" from all involved in politics, economy, science, and society will be necessary. A key measure for the industry is the transformation towards green steel. However, the land also wants to take a pioneering role. For example, the own building stock is to be sanitized for around 120 million Euro.

Fewer individual traffic, more healthy forests

Further focuses are the mobility transition with a strengthening of public transport and the promotion of healthy and climate-resilient forests. Among the climate adaptation measures is the expansion of municipal flood and heavy rain protection, the creation of a Heat Action Plan, and the relief of sewage and wastewater treatment plants. For projects under the "Watermark" action, a total of ten million Euro funding is available. And this is also part of the Climate Concept: It should not only formulate strategies and make their implementation measurable. But it should also show citizens "that they will receive concrete support in achieving the common goal of reaching carbon neutrality," said Berg.

The action guide, which was prepared by experts and is now to be presented in the municipalities, is only intended as a first draft. Interested parties can also find the concept on the Internet and contribute their own suggestions. "Climate protection and climate adaptation is a human task," summarized Berg. "It needs acceptance and involvement from all."

Climate Protection Concept of Saarland / Federal Government

1. The Climate Protection Concept presented by Minister Petra Berg (SPD) includes a package of measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with a goal of reducing them by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990.
2. The state government of Saarland intends to implement the intentions from the Climate Protection Law passed a year ago, and plans to achieve the climate protection target set by the federal government.
3. As part of the Climate Protection Concept, Saarland aims to promote healthy and climate-resilient forests, which includes fostering the mobility transition and strengthening public transport.
4. In order to achieve the ambitious climate protection goals, a budget of 1.47 billion Euro has been allocated, with a key measure for the industry being the transformation towards green steel.
5. The Climate Protection Concept also includes climate adaptation measures, such as the expansion of municipal flood and heavy rain protection, the creation of a Heat Action Plan, and the relief of sewage and wastewater treatment plants.
6. Minister Berg emphasized that the Climate Protection Concept should not only formulate strategies and make their implementation measurable, but also provide concrete support to citizens in achieving the common goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

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