Hamburg links Environmental Protection and Economic Growth

Hamburg is tackling these questions actively, and, by finding the answers in innovation, creativity, motivation, responsibility and, not least the Hanseatic business spirit, the city is providing clear evidence that these areas can be a source of revenue. The Europe- Green Capital an Commission has named Hamburg European Green Capital 2011 on account of the city’s high environmental standards and demanding environmental and development goals. Hamburg scores particularly well for climate protection, water supply and light rail traffic.

 

Hamburg is the European Green Capital 2011

The EU Commission has named the Hanseatic City of Hamburg “European Green Capital 2011”. The city impressed the jury with its high environmental standards and ambitious environmental and climate protection goals and in doing so beat off competition from 34 other European cities. Hamburg, a port and industrial metropolis in constant growth, has succeeded in reducing CO2 emissions by 15 percent since 1990. The aim is to reduce CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050. The city and many companies are committed to reducing harmful greenhouse gases and increasing energy efficiency.

Hamburg setting the pace in climate protection Hamburg is a climate protection trendsetter with 25 million euro spent every year on initiatives that aim to safeguard the environment. The money is used for various measures set out in the Senate’s 2007 climate protection concept. Hamburg has set itself ambitions targets: the city should reduce its CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2012 (in comparison with 1990); emissions should also be reduced by 40 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050 – and this as the city’s economy continues to grow. Hamburg aims to become a forerunner in terms of effective and sustainable climate protection. The way this will happen is also set out in the Senate’s climate protection concept. The project includes ten spheres of activity with around 400 individual measures in the areas of research, energy, buildings and mobility.

 

Booming Hamburg

The 21st century marks a watershed in human history. For the first time, the population of urban centres exceeds that of rural areas. Cities are contenders in a global competition to provide and maintain the best possible living conditions for their residents.

It is not the sprawling, overpopulated megacities with their excessive cost of living, long commutes and environmental problems that lead this race. Especially in Europe and North America, the thriving cities are the ones that are not overwhelmingly large and where social mobility and security allow an innovative elite to generate economic progress and prosperity.

Hamburg, like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Copenhagen, San Francisco, or Toronto, is among those cities that have based their urban development strategies on the factors that are critical for success in the 21st century: technology, talent and tolerance.

The Hamburg metropolitan region has all it takes to be a front-runner in this competition. The elites of tomorrow are drawn to Hamburg by innovative development projects such as HafenCity, the Elbphilharmonie and the “Leap Across the Elbe”.