Climate notes: Lake District shines with top ratings in Penzlin & Co.

Climate notes: Lake District shines with top ratings in Penzlin & Co.

In a current survey by Nordkurier on the perception of climate protection and renewable energies, cities from the Mecklenburg Lake District performed strongly. Penzlin, Neustrelitz, Stavenhagen and Neukalen can look forward to high ratings and have taken top positions in the “Energy and Climate” category. Penzlin leads with a 1, followed by Neustrelitz in 2nd and Stavenhagen in 4th place, while Neukalen secures 5th place. However, overall the lake district only received 5.72 out of 10 points, indicating some challenges that need to be overcome.

There is currently a lot of discussion about the expansion of wind power in the region. A new draft for wind energy areas has been presented, but it is met with resistance. Wind power opponents demonstrated in Neubrandenburg and are demanding that a measured approach be taken to the expansion. These concerns reflect citizens' desire to focus on photovoltaic systems, which should be installed primarily on roofs and over highways. At the same time, attention was drawn to the high level of dependence on gas in Neubrandenburg and the associated effects on district heating prices.

Challenges and opportunities

Another key topic in the survey is network coverage in the region. According to the results, the Lake District performs rather moderately when it comes to mobile communications and fast internet, which can limit the quality of life in rural areas. While expansion is progressing in metropolitan areas, the private sector is committed to improving the infrastructure in rural regions as well. The federal funding programs play an important role in broadband expansion. In Woldegk and Demmin in particular, work is nearing completion; in other regions, plans are for expansion by the end of 2027.

The path to more renewable energies leads through concrete numbers. In 2024, the final energy consumption for heat from renewable energies will be approximately 197 TWh, which represents a slight increase compared to the previous year. This energy transition is largely supported by the increase in the use of heat pumps, which has increased by 15%. The share of renewable energies has also increased slightly in the transport sector, with 7.2% now expected to be reached in 2024. The numbers indicate that renewable energies play a central role in achieving climate goals in Germany.

The future in focus

The Federal Environment Agency continues to work on strategies to make the energy supply more environmentally friendly and is pursuing ambitious goals. Greenhouse gas neutrality should be achieved by 2045 at the latest. The proposals for adapting the climate policy target architecture are diverse and also include the integration of carbon capture technologies. This strategy could significantly impact the already established reduction targets.

With these developments in mind, it becomes clear: It doesn't just depend on politics and companies, but also on each individual. Your own efforts are required to have a positive influence on climate protection. The citizens of the Lake District are on the right path - now it's time to work together and take the right steps towards the energy transition.

The comprehensive results of the survey, in which a total of 16,664 participants took part, not only represent citizens' opinions, but also show that the issue of climate protection is strongly anchored in the region. The next focus will be on the categories of transport and mobility, where further potential for improvement can be identified.