“Climate protection despite tight budget”: new manual shows how municipalities energy costs effectively

Climate change and fiscal consolidation are not mutually exclusive. Both can be pursued simultaneously. This is confirmed by case studies of small and large municipalities whose experiences have now been compiled by the authors of the manual on behalf of the Federal Environment Ministry.

In case of a lack of funds for climate protection, other factors such as dedicated employees, capital of citizens and motivated mayors become more important; these are persons who realise that the need for investments in renovations entails opportunity to reduce energy costs in the medium term.

The new handbook by Christian Kind, Nele Protze (both authors of adelphi) and Carsten Rothballer (from the city network ICLEI) is the first publication of its kind to explain how municipal climate protection projects in Germany can contribute to the municipalities’ own budget discharge and how such projects can succeed regardless of small and emergency budgets.

The manual “Climate protection despite tight budgets” is the result of a project that adelphi has implemented within the framework of the National Climate Initiative on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (see project website). In eight chapters, the publication provides the responsible stakeholders in municipalities with an introduction to the economic feasibility of climate change mitigation measures and practical tips for local climate protection: (1) regarding self-financing of climate change measures, (2) financing through grants, subsidies and loans, (3) third-party financing through contracting, (4) forms of citizen participation, and (5) free organisational measures and incentive models. Successful good practice examples from other municipalities substantiate the provided advice.

The brochure can be downloaded here as a pdf file (in German language only).