Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. It is therefore important to protect the climate and implement a common climate policy.
In addition to the international and national level, Baden-Württemberg and its cities and municipalities also play a central role in this.
You too can contribute to minimising greenhouse gas emissions through your behaviour.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a greenhouse gas. It is considered one of the main causes of global warming. It is mainly produced when fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are burned.
However, greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide are also produced in agriculture and when generating energy from biomass. The effects of global warming include

• rising sea levels,
• the increased likelihood of natural disasters such as storm events or forest fires,
• the melting of glaciers,
• extreme heat (especially in urban areas) and droughts,
• Floods and inundations or
• the decline in snow cover in the Alps.

As well as causing material damage, these changes also have an impact on our health and the productivity of the economy.

In the Paris Agreement launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015, more than 195 countries committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to keep the increase in the average global temperature to well below 2°C and to endeavour to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C (compared to pre-industrial levels).
The European Union has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. It wants to make Europe the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

Germany has also set itself binding climate targets. The federal government wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65 per cent by 2030 and by at least 88 per cent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels and achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045.

The Baden-Württemberg Climate Protection and Climate Change Adaptation Act sets the legal framework for climate protection policy in the state. The law came into force on 11 February 2023 and is a further development of the Baden-Württemberg Climate Protection Act, which has been in force since 2013.
The central element of the State Climate Protection Act is the climate protection targets. According to these, the state's greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by at least 65 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and the aim is to achieve net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2040.
To achieve the 2030 target, the law also contains specific targets for various areas, known as "sectors".
The central instrument for implementing climate protection measures is the Climate Action Register (KMR). It contains measures categorised by sector, can be expanded at any time and serves as a central documentation of all climate protection activities of the state government, which is publicly accessible via the internet.

The state has launched various funding programmes for climate protection.
The "Climate Protection Plus" funding programme, which supports municipalities, companies, church institutions and associations in climate protection, has been in place since 2002. The programme was last relaunched in December 2020 and is currently being further developed.

Climate protection requires the support and involvement of everyone. You as a citizen can also contribute to climate protection. For example, the amount of electricity you consume and the type of heating system you use have an impact on your personal carbon footprint.
Private households account for around a third of total energy consumption. However, your mobility behaviour and consumer behaviour also have a major influence on your individual greenhouse gas balance.

Renewable energy sources

In contrast to fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are inexhaustible or regularly replenished. These include solar, wind and hydroelectric power as well as energy from biomass and geothermal energy.
Renewable energies protect the climate because they are associated with very low greenhouse gas emissions over the entire product life cycle.

Since 2010, the Baden-Württemberg Renewable Heat Act (EWärmeG) has obliged owners of existing residential buildings to cover 10 per cent of their annual heating requirements with renewable energy and, since 2015, 15 per cent for all buildings (including non-residential buildings).
However, this obligation only applies when the central heating system is replaced.

In addition, a PV system must be installed in new buildings, in the case of fundamental roof renovations and on larger car parks.

With the Baden-Württemberg Climate Protection and Climate Change Adaptation Act (KlimaG BW), BW has pioneered a nationwide obligation for 104 urban districts and large district towns to undertake municipal heating planning. In addition, the state has supported smaller municipalities within the framework of voluntary municipal heat planning.

A municipal heating plan forms the strategic basis for how a climate-friendly heat supply can be achieved locally. It is a kind of roadmap for the municipality to enable it to make the right decisions locally. It is also intended to support other local players in individual investment decisions.

Note: You can find out more about the status of decentralised renewable energy generation and its potential in Baden-Württemberg on the Baden-Württemberg Energy Atlas portal.

Saving energy

You can save a lot of energy by insulating your home properly. If you want to know how much energy is being "burnt" in your home, you can find out on the "Heizspiegel" website.

In Germany, the energy performance certificate is mandatory for all residential buildings that are newly let or sold. The energy performance certificate categorises a building according to its energy requirements or energy consumption, thus making the energy quality of a building more transparent.

If you want to renovate your home, you should seek energy advice beforehand. An energy consultation for residential buildings is subsidised by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA).

Electricity supply

Around 82 per cent of the electricity consumed in Baden-Württemberg is currently generated in the state (as of 2022).
In 2022, around 20 per cent of gross electricity generation was accounted for by nuclear power, around 31 per cent by hard coal, 35 per cent by renewable energies and around 5 per cent by natural gas.

You can choose your own energy provider. If you opt for electricity from renewable energy sources, you can help protect the environment and reduce CO₂ emissions.

Note: The term "green electricity" is not legally protected. There are various green electricity seals (labels) that guarantee compliance with important criteria and sometimes focus on different aspects. Important seals of approval include "Grüner Strom" and "ok power".

Climate adaptation

The consequences of climate change are also being felt in Baden-Württemberg. The steady rise in temperature in recent years continued in 2023. With an average of 10.7 degrees Celsius, last year was another record warm year in Baden-Württemberg after 2022. This means increasing health risks, for example due to heat, water shortages or increasing extreme weather events. The state government reacted to this and adopted the updated strategy for adapting to the consequences of climate change in July 2023.

KLIMOPASS

The KLIMOPASS (Climate Change and Model Adaptation) funding programme is intended to provide an important impetus for the implementation of the adaptation strategy.
The aim of the funding programme is to support local authorities in particular, but also small and medium-sized enterprises in Baden-Württemberg, in starting to adapt to climate change and in implementing specific adaptation measures.

The programme consists of the following three funding priorities:

• Advice and information events for local authorities and small and medium-sized enterprises for a structured introduction to the topic
• Preparation of climate analyses, vulnerability studies, adaptation concepts, planning principles and feasibility studies
• Implementation of initial adaptation measures