The 14th national Klima-Bündnis e.V. conference took place in Lübeck on the 3rd and 4th of November. With over 1,700 European cities, localities and municipalities, Klima-Bündnis (Climate Alliance) is the world’s largest local climate action network. The annual conference serves as a platform for regular knowledge and experience exchange between local authorities, with the intent of leading to best-possible learning impacts in climate action. adelphi looked after the conceptualisation and moderation of four forums, where several new workshop methods were implemented for the first time.
New concepts, methods and reference projects for local climate action
The event in Lübeck saw participants discuss how wider acceptance can be achieved in two specific cases; expanded use of renewable energies in general and of wind turbines in particular. The methods used in these collegial 'case clinics' allowed discussions to go "much further into detail" other participation methods", claimed one participant. "This allows us to address issues more openly than we would otherwise."
Another forum saw participants grappling with the issue of heavy rains, adaptation measures and climate-induced environmental changes. To this end, the 'iceberg method' was tested: the hidden needs of adaptation projects were thus revealed by way of a question-and-answer game. One participant remarked positively that this method had the effect that "more weight could be given to the questioner's interests" (rather than those of the speakers).
A third forum saw three examples of good practice used to illustrate how comparatively inexpensive local energy saving measures (under 50,000 Euros) can have a big impact. The well-known 'World Café' method for "an exchange of know-how rich in practical experience" was modified and put to use. This resulted in a fruitful discussion with "surprisingly concrete recommendations for action". It became clear that relatively low-cost measures require the same strenuous efforts in communication as do costlier projects. In a fourth forum, participants discussed how effective public relations can be ensured. Potential innovations were integrated with one another by use of a “guiding metaphor”, looked at more deeply in small groups and further supplemented in short motivational sessions.
adelphi and Klima-Bündnis e.V. are two of a total of six partners working together in the Climate Dialogue (Klimaschutzdialog, KSD), a strategic one-off project within the framework of the National Climate Protection Initiative (Nationale Klimaschutzinitiative, NKI), with which the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) is supporting knowledge building and knowledge exchange in local climate action. These Climate Dialogue-approved methods are being used to network and advise local stakeholders and will be summarised in a practice-orientated manual. The planned publication is intended to support local authorities’ cooperative efforts in learning about climate action. The Lübeck conference was ideal for the further development of such approaches; quotes from the participants are drawn from the following evaluation.
