Berlin joins ICLEI and commits to a circular economy

The city announced several climate measures at the start of the week, right after the results of the repeat local election

Local authorities in Berlin were forced to have a do-over of the local elections last Sunday and the Green Party emerged as an equal to the previously leading Social Democrats, the city has two agreements on climate action.

Yesterday, the city announced that it would join ICLEI, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives – an international organisation combining the experience and efforts of cities to reach climate neutrality.

Additionally, Berlin signed a climate protection agreement with HWR Berlin (The Berlin School of Economics and Law), setting the two public bodies on a trajectory of cooperation. The climate protection agreement essentially means that the university will implement climate protection measures, like improving green spaces and adding roof solar systems, while reducing its overall carbon footprint.

Joining ICLEI

ICLEI is an international organisation with participants in more than 125 countries, dedicated to integrating sustainable practices into urban policy.

The network shares good ideas from across its participants and also organises the Daring Cities Forum – putting the spotlight on local leaders in the climate emergency. In Berlin’s case, this would mean a bigger emphasis on circular economy practices, according to an official statement.

In addition, the agreement is a commitment from Berlin authorities to create a better policy framework for stimulating circular economy practices.

According to an official statement, recycling is already making a big impact on the city’s CO2 footprint, with an estimated reduction of about 900,000 tons of CO2. Additionally, recycling helps the city save around 2.2 million tons of raw materials.

The climate agreement with HWR Berlin

According to Berlin’s Climate Protection and Energy Transition Act, the German capital should be climate neutral by 2045, which includes public institutions outside of the scope of local authorities. In this case, universities also need to make significant reductions in their carbon footprint.

The HWR Berlin university has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by the end of 2032, compared to 2019 levels. The measures include the establishment of an efficient energy management system, improving the energy efficiency of the IT infrastructure and promoting environmentally friendly mobility.

Additionally, the university should work to establish environmentally friendly flowering and vegetation around the campus.