Budgets are increased by almost five million euros
REGION (red). Tailwind for climate protection and energy transition: With the resolutions of the regional assembly, climate policy is firmly anchored as a priority in the 2022 regional budget. “The increase in the budget by almost five million euros is extremely important in order to achieve the goal of a climate-neutral region by 2035,” says region president Steffen Krach. “We need to phase out fossil fuels quickly. The war in Ukraine has made it abundantly clear to us what serious consequences are associated with our dependence on gas, coal and oil.” from municipal heating planning to the acquisition of moorland as CO2 sinks.” The Climate Protection Agency Region Hannover will play a key role, which alone will have additional funds of around 1.9 million euros at its disposal. The non-profit agency is responsible, among other things, for consulting services for homeowners, companies and municipalities. It will realign its strategy with an extensive package of measures.
“In order to reach a significantly larger number of people quickly, we will offer homeowners online advice in groups in the future,” explains Anja Floetenmeyer-Woltmann, who has been managing director of the Hannover Region Climate Protection Agency since the beginning of the year. With the release of the funds, a major climate protection communication offensive with a variety of information and event formats is planned. “Citizens should be addressed in new ways so that they can then act quickly and with good and factual information,” says Floetenmeyer-Woltmann. In addition, there are plans for the team at the Climate Protection Agency to support the regional municipalities even more than before in applying for subsidies for energy efficiency measures. Business and sport also benefit: Small and medium-sized companies receive more expert support on their way to climate neutrality through the e.coBizz project. Organized sport can expand its activities with around 300,000 euros plus: “Our e.coSport program is intended to further encourage our clubs to keep an eye on their energy consumption for heating, hot water or lighting and to take countermeasures. This also includes the lack of insulation in municipal sports halls. Climate protection and sport are therefore mutually beneficial,” says Christine Karasch, Head of the Environment Department.
In order to be able to support living more sustainably, the budget for the funding guideline for municipal heat planning was doubled to 200,000 euros. “We have to think about climate protection in urban planning right from the start. A heating supply of residential areas without the use of fossil fuels is a significant contribution to achieving greenhouse gas neutrality. Such plans cost money. That’s why the Hannover region supports the cities and municipalities in municipal heating planning,” says Karasch. A successful climate protection policy also includes effective protection of the environment and species. “Regional politicians have made far-reaching and sustainable decisions on this,” says regional president Steffen Krach: “An additional two million euros were made available for the purchase of moorland, forest and green areas. 200,000 euros are available for the funding guideline for the preservation of biological diversity for the greening of roof and wall surfaces. In addition, 95,000 euros will be made available for joining the insect alliance, environmental education projects and planting trees.”
Photo: Gerheide Knüttel
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