Working together for more climate protection: Münsterland municipalities commit to regional cooperation

65 cities and municipalities sign communiqué at climate summit

Cooperation beyond local and district boundaries, mutual support and solutions that are developed region-wide: 65 municipalities committed to more local climate protection and increased regional cooperation at the Münsterland Climate Summit in the Münster district government on Wednesday (15 May). Together, they signed the communiqué "Münsterland is climate country - we're in!". Prior to this, they learnt more about climate protection in the face of tight budgets, about the Münsterland as a climate protection region and about support options from the state of NRW in presentations and discussions.

The Münsterland e.V., the Münsterland districts, the city of Münster and the state company for energy and climate protection, NRW.Energy4Climate, organised the climate summit as a joint event with the support of the Münster district government. It presented its energy transition working group and its range of topics at the summit. Andreas Bothe, District President and patron of the "Münsterland ist Klimaland" campaign, welcomed the district councillors and mayors of Münsterland and encouraged them to do even more to implement climate protection measures.

Andreas Bothe: "Today's first Münsterland climate summit and the agreement that we want to conclude today as part of the joint campaign for the future make it clear: 'Münsterland is climate country'. This is not just a promise, but a programme in committed implementation and with clear objectives, for which I have gladly assumed the patronage."

In the communiqué "Münsterland is climate country", the signatories declare that they will drive forward the climate-neutral transformation with further good projects at local level and in inter-municipal dialogue, further expand renewable energies with civic participation, actively shape the heating transition and make rural mobility more sustainable. Michael Kösters, General Representative of Münsterland e.V., emphasised the relevance of this Münsterland-wide initiative: "It is important that the players from politics, local authorities, businesses and citizens pull together and become active. The high quality of life in our region is our strength. We need to maintain this with forward-looking climate protection measures so that we can continue to enjoy THE GOOD LIFE."

"The fact that 65 towns and municipalities in Münsterland have signed up to more climate protection, more renewable energies, more energy efficiency and therefore more sustainable use of resources is a strong sign of commitment that will have an impact beyond the region," said Christian Mildenberger, Managing Director of the state organisation NRW.Energy4Climate. Climate protection measures implemented at an early stage will be a locational advantage for the region.

In his keynote speech "Where do we stand on climate protection in Münsterland? What opportunities and challenges lie ahead of us?", Prof Christof Wetter, Department of Energy, Buildings and Environment at Münster University of Applied Sciences, said that the region is already well prepared. In short presentations, the district administrators of the Münsterland districts also presented their projects in the so-called "Big 5 topics": User behaviour, climate impact adaptation, renewable energies, mobility and building refurbishment. Thomas Möller, Head of the Climate Protection Unit, spoke on behalf of the City of Münster. All of them used their examples to emphasise the importance of local implementation.

Another key topic at the summit was the question of how climate protection can be achieved even when municipal budgets are tight. In the accompanying panel discussion, the local and state levels discussed the challenges facing municipalities. Karin Rodeheger, Mayor of the town of Oelde, and Manfred Kluthe, Mayor of the municipality of Laer, presented the situation from a local authority perspective.

Michael Kösters, Chief Representative of Münsterland e.V., described the good regional cooperation in the "Münsterland is Climate Land" initiative and the benefits that this also brings for the Münsterland brand. Christian Mildenberger, Managing Director of the state company NRW.Energy4Climate, emphasised that climate protection in general and the increased use of renewable energies in particular offer great opportunities for the local economy - the state company for energy and climate protection is therefore available to the municipalities with numerous support services.

At the end, all municipal representatives as well as the district councillors and the district president pulled out their pens and signed the communiqué - a joint commitment to the "Münsterland is Climate Land" initiative.

More about "Münsterland is climate country"

The climate summit was part of the "Münsterland ist Klimaland" initiative, which is an association of districts and municipalities in Münsterland and has been coordinated by Münsterland e.V. since 2016. The Münsterland districts of Borken, Coesfeld, Steinfurt and Warendorf and the city of Münster have been involved since the start. Another strong partner is the state organisation for energy and climate protection, NRW.Energy4Climate, which is also represented in Münsterland with two NRW.climate networks. The campaign of the same name, initiated by the state organisation, has been in existence since 2021, under the patronage of District President Andreas Bothe, and 65 municipalities from the Münsterland region have now officially signed up to it. The "Münsterland ist Klimaland" initiative is a joint commitment to greater climate protection in the region. It supports local authorities in sensitising citizens and encouraging them to act sustainably with the help of a campaign, communication materials and events.