Climate protection

Human-induced climate change is largely driven by global emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), leading to rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and changes in ecosystems.

To counteract the progression of climate change, the United Nations decided at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris to limit global warming to a temperature increase of 1.5 °C. Under the Paris Agreement, the participating countries committed to developing and implementing national climate protection plans to achieve this goal. These plans include, among other things, the expansion of renewable energies, the promotion of energy-efficient technologies, and the protection of forests as natural carbon stores and sinks.

An energy concept for the state capital of Mainz was first drawn up in 1993 and updated in 2008 as an integrated climate protection concept. Over the years, climate protection strategies have been continuously developed and numerous projects have been successfully implemented. Mainz's climate protection policy was continued in 2016 with its participation in the "Master Plan 100% Climate Protection" funding program, an initiative of excellence launched by the Federal Ministry for the Environment. Mainz thus joined 21 other municipalities in supporting the German government's ambitious climate protection policy.

The state capital of Mainz has set itself the goal of becoming climate neutral (opens in a new tab) by 2035 and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 95% and its final energy consumption by 50% compared to 1990. Based on the city council resolutions "Climate Emergency" (2019) and "Consistent Climate Protection" (2021), the Master Plan 100% Climate Protection (opens in a new tab) 2022 was updated and a set of measures was developed together with Mainz civil society to achieve the goal of climate neutrality.