Climate change and the environment

Event report

TITLE: Mayor-Citizens Talk: How to bring the Green Deal to our cities? With KATRIN HABENSCHADEN (2nd mayor of MUNICH) and JEANNE BARSEGHIAN (Mayor of Strasbourg)//// OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKSHOP: The aim of this participatory Zoom workshop was to discuss with the mayors of Strasbourg and Munich how the EU Green Deal can be implemented at the local level and to develop ideas with the participants. //// PARTICIPANTS: 25 people from more than 10 European countries, aged between 16 and 70, male and female //// STRUCTURE OF WORKSHOP: open debate between mayors and citizens, followed by developing ideas in breakout rooms //// DEBATED IDEAS AND CONCEPTS with Mayor Katrin Habenschaden (City of Munich) and Mayor Jeanne Barseghian (City of Strasbourg): >> TOPIC 1/ HOW TO MAINTAIN OR MAXIMIZE GREEN OPEN SPACES: greening of roofs; vertical greening; planting trees; edible city by planting fruit trees, berry bushes etc.; re-opening of the city streams, which run underground; sponge city concept to cope with extreme rain events >> TOPIC 2/ HOW TO DECARBONIZE URBAN TRANSPORT: free public transport for under-18s; electrifying buses and cars; extend tram ways; extend cycling lanes by reducing parking spaces; promote pedestrian traffic; electric boat connections on the city rivers; more Park&Ride solutions; delivery by cargo bikes; >> TOPIC 3/ HOW TO DECARBONIZE BUILDINGS: Municipal housing as a role model that energy-efficient construction and affordable housing are feasible; use of geothermal energy for sustainable heating; reuse of building construction materials; energy consultants for low-income families; solar panels on every roof and in particular on otherwise unused roofs, such as car parks and shopping centers; //// IDEAS SUGGESTED by the participants: IDEA 1/ Electric vehicles (EV) as a buffer storage for the city; parked EVs could become the battery storage of the city, stabilizing power grids powered by renewable energy, for example solar, wind, water, geothermal; IDEA 2/ Turning the roofs of large shopping centers (and the like) into green zones with meadows, trees etc. where residents can spend their spare time, exercise and children can play. IDEA 3/ Reuse of buildings first: Before new construction projects are started, ensure that there are no abandoned offices, shopping centers, factories, schools, etc. that could be refurbished. //// ATMOSPHERE: positive; productive; dedicated to the EU Green Deal and committed to learn from each other ////