What is the most important finding from your assessment of the Climate Action Plan?

The Climate Expert Council positively assessed that all Climate Action Plan topics follow the scientific recommendations of the Enquete Commission in order to achieve the goals of the climate protection strategy in Bremen. However, the council also points out that the measures are not sufficiently ambitious in some areas. Additional challenges include that the action plan is difficult to understand for outsiders and that public budgets for funding the measures are strained.

What positive aspects do you see in the Climate Action Plan?

As previously mentioned, one positive aspect is that the plan closely follows the scientific recommendations. Additionally, the plan emphasizes the importance and responsibility of the public sector, which should set a positive example for the rest of the community and therefore be more visible in the action plan.

What recommendations do you have to make implementation even more effective?

First, the overall action plan must be refined and, above all, presented in a way that is more transparent for outsiders. The council recommends that the action plan be better incorporated in the overarching climate protection strategy. Many measures can be optimized to avoid unnecessary structural redundancies and thus reduce bureaucracy. For example, the expert council criticizes the fact that some measures have been divided between Bremen State and its two municipalities, even though this division is not logically comprehensible. Additionally, the action plan lacks an impact assessment of the burden that climate protection measures impose on different societal groups. This is particularly important in Bremen, where the impact of climate measures can differ between various communities, and should be reflected in the plan. Addressing these criticisms is crucial to achieving widespread acceptance of climate protection, especially among the general population.

The Goal: Carbon Neutrality by 2038.

Bremen has set the ambitious goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2038, as outlined in the Bremen Climate and Energy Act (BremKEG). To maintain an overview of the entire process, the Bremen senatorial authorities, the Bremerhaven magistrate, and subordinate offices have compiled all measures in the Climate Action Plan. The Climate Expert Council, established in November 2024, provides critical and constructive support for implementing the state’s climate targets and regularly assesses the status of these measures.

Additional information can be found on the Aktionsplans Klimaschutz website.