Strong together for climate protection: The HarzWATT association takes off!

Strong together for climate protection: The HarzWATT association takes off!

The climate protection debate is on everyone's lips, and today, November 6, 2025, it is once again clear that raising awareness of environmental issues is at the top of the agenda. Carola Kalks-Gebhardt, the climate protection manager for the Harz district, notes that a large part of the population is now tired of the topic. This passive attitude makes it all the more important to develop new ideas to revive interest in climate protection. A pioneering example is the founding of the “HarzWATT” association, which aims to achieve big effects with small ideas. The association is already planning a series of events, campaigns and participation activities, the details of which have not yet been determined, as mdr.de reports.

The role of networking

A central aspect of climate protection is the networking of different actors. Michael Hesse, the climate protection manager for the city of Thale, emphasizes how important it is to bring people from administration, civil society, education and business together. This collective force is necessary to effectively address climate change. “HarzWATT” sees itself as a supplement to existing structures in the municipalities in order to pool forces and take targeted action.

Strong together for climate protection

Klaus Dumeier, managing director of Harzer Wandernadel GmbH and co-founder of “HarzWATT”, puts it in a nutshell: Climate goals can only be achieved through active participation. This also includes practical measures, such as the tree planting campaigns, which are already coordinated by the Harz district forest crisis team. The commitment extends from the representatives of the city of Blankenburg, such as Mayor Heiko Breithaupt (CDU), who emphasizes the need to unite different perspectives, to the members of the association who want to form a strong community for climate protection together.

Culture as a catalyst for change

But it's not just technical and organizational measures that are crucial in the fight against climate change. Culture also plays an important role, as was discussed at the recent 25th Climate Alliance Germany Climate Talk. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra gave a concert on the Waldbühne to show how culture can trigger social change. Art and creative stories can raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage sustainable lifestyles, supported by initiatives such as “Planet Narratives,” which encourages filmmakers to incorporate climate issues into their stories, as zdf.de reports.

The challenges for the cultural sector

However, the cultural sector also faces major challenges. High costs for necessary climate adaptations could endanger cinemas, museums and historical buildings. Additionally, audience mobility is a significant emissions factor, with estimates that streaming services could account for over 7% of global greenhouse gases by 2025.

Finally, it should be noted that climate protection is a joint task that requires creative thinking and active action. With projects and initiatives such as “HarzWATT” and the involvement of cultural actors, it can be possible to create the necessary attention for climate change and achieve broad participation in society.