Climate action - monitoring in municipalities

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Initial situation

As part of the ‘Climate Action Planner - Municipal Planning Assistant for Energy and Climate Action’ project, ifeu developed and continuously updated the nationwide BISKO accounting standard for municipalities. The need for further development was also highlighted in an expert discussion in 2020. With the increase in ambition in municipal climate action, the importance of appropriate monitoring is growing. Further questions arise: Is a greenhouse gas balance sufficient to demonstrate greenhouse gas neutrality or are further indicators needed? Are the existing targets for GHG reduction, RE expansion and energy demand reduction sufficient or do we also need a stronger municipal focus on natural sinks to achieve GHG neutrality? How can progress in these areas be monitored and sensibly managed?

Project content

The aim of the project is to develop proposals for a comprehensive monitoring procedure in municipal climate action that supports municipalities in pursuing the path to greenhouse gas neutrality and at the same time illustrates the municipalities' contribution to climate action. To this end, ifeu is conducting an online survey of climate-active municipalities on the current status of monitoring and the needs and further development options for monitoring. The results will be presented, discussed and supplemented in an online workshop with relevant stakeholders at municipal, state and federal level. This will be used to develop recommendations for a future comprehensive monitoring procedure in municipal climate action.