Climate Protection

The following fields of activity and measures regarding climate protection were defined in the Climate Alliance Declaration:

• A significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through energy saving, increased efficiency and rational use of energy, as well as through the building up of a renewable energy system.
• Transport policies that achieve the reduction of motorised transport, and both promote and reward climate-friendly mobility.
• Urban planning in which we can exercise our various options for action in order to achieve and implement our goals in the areas of energy and transport.
• The consideration of climate protection in the areas of procurement, disposal (waste and wastewater), agriculture, forestry and tourism.
• The integration of private households as well as public and private enterprises in climate protection efforts, giving consideration to and inviting participation of the various social groups.
• The integration of our fields of activity in Local Agenda 21 processes. These fields include in particular our Climate Alliance Partnership with the indigenous peoples, the conservation of biological diversity and all other areas in which we seek consensus on new lifestyles and business methods, such as mobility and consumption patterns.
• The elimination of substances which deplete the ozone layer and hinder our climate protection objectives.

In 2006, Climate Alliance's General Assembly enacted a new CO2 reduction target:

"The members of the Climate Alliance commit themselves to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions continuously. The aim is to cut CO2 emissions by 10 % every 5 years. The important milestone of halving per capita emissions (baseline year 1990) shall be achieved at the latest in 2030.

In the long-term, Climate Alliance members aim at a sustainable level of 2,5 tons CO2 equivalent emissions per capita and year by energy saving, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. 

Reaching these goals, however, requires concerted efforts by all decision-making levels (EU, national states, regional/province governments, municipalities), as they can not be achieved by measures taken by municipalities alone. In order to document their efforts undertaken, Climate Alliance members will draw up a report regularly."