While climate policy measures are under fire in many places, Hamburg has recently made positive headlines in terms of climate protection. More than 300,000 people voted in October for a so-called Future Decision and thereby committed their city to become climate neutral by 2040 rather than 2045.
New figures now show that at least the interim target for 2030 is hardly achievable. To reduce emissions by 70 percent against 1990 by the end of the decade, they would have to fall by at least 4.5 percentage points per year. But the CO₂ balance for 2024, published by the State Statistical Office on Wednesday, shows no reduction from the previous year.
The city speaks of a “sideways trend” – in fact, emissions have even risen slightly. The city counts this as a success. After all, it has managed to keep roughly the level of the COVID years.
Among other things, the Hamburg industry poses problems, which, although on a good path, recorded an outlier upward of about 6 percent compared to the previous year. The transport sector also rose, albeit to a much smaller extent. It is the “problem child” of Hamburg’s energy transition, as shown in a mid-term report from the Hamburg Climate Advisory Council. While the other sectors could barely meet their emission targets, transport is heading toward a value well beyond them.
Parking Moratorium Counterproductive
The shift from fossil fuel-driven private transport to electric cars and, above all, to public transportation is progressing far too slowly, according to the report. The Climate Advisory Council therefore recommends an “integrated strategy” that, in addition to expanding public transit and promoting walking and cycling, also includes parking management. With measures such as a parking moratorium, the red-green Senate has recently rather supported car traffic.
The emission increase in the sectors of industry and transport in 2024 is only offset by savings in private households and small businesses. Their emissions fell by 3.5 percent, with private households contributing the lion’s share by saving 157,000 tons of CO₂ .
There, savings are especially important. According to the Climate Advisory Council, the private-household sector narrowly meets the 2030 target; to become climate neutral by 2040, however, further measures are needed. This primarily means switching to climate-neutral heating systems.
Emissions from international air travel from Hamburg Airport have risen sharply. After a low during the COVID-19 pandemic, aircraft emissions are now almost at record levels. These emissions are not considered in the climate targets. International shipping also plays no role here. Whether Hamburg truly bears no responsibility for long-haul flights and the emissions of the ocean giants that visit its port is a matter of debate.
Without further measures, especially in the transport sector and industry, Hamburg will not only miss the 2030 target but also the newly set goal of climate neutrality by 2040. For the Senate, that would mean turbulent times, because the Future Decision also anchored control mechanisms in the Climate Protection Act.
From 2027, the Senate is obliged to launch an immediate program within five months if predetermined emission limits are exceeded.
From 2027, the Senate is required to initiate an “immediate program” within five months when emissions exceed the set limits, in order to correct the exceedances.
The Senate will probably also feel pressure from the streets. The initiative behind the Future Decision is not the only group trying to bring climate issues back onto the political agenda.
from Fridays for Future, Campact, German Environmental Aid, WWF, Greenpeace, Germanwatch and Germanzero under the motto “Defend Renewable Energies,” Saturday, April 18, 12:00 p.m., Jungfernstieg, Hamburg; Berlin, Invalidenpark; Munich, Siegestor; Cologne, Heumarkt
Under the motto “Defend Renewable Energies,” a broad coalition of various organizations, including Campact, Fridays for Future and Greenpeace, is calling for demonstrations on Saturday in several German cities. Hamburg is also planning a rally. There is also support from the business community. According to the organizers, companies and associations from the energy, heating, and construction sectors have announced that they will back the demonstrations with their staff.
That could be the starting point for a new alliance, the hopeful tone of the organizers suggests. “We are standing there as closely together as rarely before,” says climate activist Luisa Neubauer. In renewable energy, there are overlapping interests between the climate movement, start-ups, and parts of the economy.
The alliance’s demands are aimed mainly at the energy policy of Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Katharina Reiche (CDU). In light of Hamburg’s sobering emissions balance, the protests will certainly also be closely watched at the town hall.
