Potsdam launches Climate Monitor: Digital progress for environmental protection!

Potsdam launches Climate Monitor: Digital progress for environmental protection!

Something is happening in the area of ​​climate protection in Potsdam! On September 18th the digital Climate monitor launched an innovative online portal that provides the latest data on climate protection measures, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Users have the opportunity to use the CO₂ future simulator to interactively explore the effects that different measures have on the greenhouse gas balance. The focus here is on the goal of reducing greenhouse gases by a whopping 95% by 2045.

Erfreuliche Nachrichten kommen auch von den Emissionen in Potsdam: Diese sind seit 2003, als sie 904.000 Tonnen betrugen, auf derzeit 695.000 Tonnen gesunken. This is particularly notable since the city's population has been constantly increasing. With 3.9 tons of CO₂ equivalents per capita, Potsdam even has the best per capita emissions compared to 25 other large cities.

Climate goals at state and federal level

But it's not just Potsdam that has set itself goals; At the federal level, the federal government also plans to completely eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The Federal Environment Agency describes the objectives, which envisage a reduction of 65% by 2030 and 88% by 2040 compared to 1990 values. The Federal Climate Protection Act also calls for the introduction of various legal measures to implement these ambitious climate goals. This includes, among other things, the phase-out of coal-fired power generation by 2030.

In comparison, the expansion of renewable heat is required in Potsdam: the laws on building energy efficiency stipulate that at least 30% of the heat must come from renewable sources by 2030 and even 100% by 2045. The city is currently in the middle when it comes to the share of renewable heat, but has some catching up to do when it comes to fossil-free electricity generation. Nevertheless, district heating makes a positive contribution to the emissions balance, even though it is mainly produced from fossil gas.

Successes and challenges

The development in terms of energy consumption is promising: energy use fell from 700,000 to 650,000 megawatt hours between 2003 and 2023. Particularly worth mentioning is the reduction in electricity consumption for street lighting, which was reduced from 6,500 to 4,200 megawatt hours by switching to LED technology. Municipal facilities also contribute to energy savings.

However, there are also challenges. The renovation rate in Potsdam is currently only 0.8%, while the target for 2045 is 2.5%. Factors such as construction costs, credit conditions and the shortage of skilled workers stand in the way of progress. This also applies to the development of electricity consumption: Despite an increase in heat pumps and electric vehicles, per capita consumption fell from 3,300 kWh to 2,700 kWh.

A look forward

The climate monitor in Potsdam is part of the comprehensive Smart City project and will receive financial support of 86,000 euros from the Federal Ministry until the end of 2027. A comprehensive presentation of the new climate instrument will be presented at the environmental festival, which will take place on September 28th in the Volkspark. Around 100 exhibitors will present their ideas for a sustainable everyday life, and the city can certainly encourage many of its citizens to get involved.

Overall, there is a picture of increasing awareness and opportunities for action regarding climate protection in Potsdam and Germany. The challenges are not small, but with a determined course things could soon change for the better. The next steps are crucial – for the city and for the entire planet.