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Citizen participation for a CO2-neutral heating transition: A new concept!
Dr. Jan-Hendrik Kamlage from the RUB emphasizes the need for better citizen participation in heat planning until 2045.
Citizen participation for a CO2-neutral heating transition: A new concept!
On July 4, 2025, Germany will face the challenge of ensuring CO2-neutral heating for all houses and apartments by 2045. This ambitious goal requires a fundamental revision of heat planning in the municipalities, which must be concretized within the next two to four years. The urgent need to involve citizens in this process to achieve successful transformation was highlighted in a recent analysis.
Dr. Jan-Hendrik Kamlage, head of the Participation and Transformation research group at CURE at the Ruhr University Bochum, expresses concerns about the current state of citizen participation. He emphasizes that the participation of the population has so far been insufficient and that it is time to develop innovative concepts to actively involve citizens in heat planning. A study commissioned by BUND makes valuable contributions and suggests concrete models for improving citizen participation. These approaches could serve as inspiration for municipal actors to establish more effective participation mechanisms.
Concrete suggestions for citizen participation
The BUND study highlights that transparent and participatory planning in energy policy is essential. It is recommended to involve citizens in all phases of planning, not only to promote their acceptance but also to benefit from their local knowledge. The aim is for citizens to not only act as those affected, but also to actively help shape the energy future.
The study suggests various strategies to optimize citizen participation:
- Frühzeitige Einbeziehung der Bürger in Entscheidungsprozesse
- Transparente Informationsweitergabe über geplante Maßnahmen
- Regelmäßige Feedback-Möglichkeiten und Dialogformate
- Integration von Bürgerinitiativen und umweltbewussten Gruppen
Such comprehensive citizen participation could not only increase the sustainability of heat planning, but also strengthen trust between the population and decision-makers. Given the urgent climate crisis, this participation is fundamental.
The goal of heating all houses and apartments in a CO2-neutral manner by 2045 represents an enormous challenge. Municipalities must act flexibly during this transition phase and develop innovative solutions. Dr. Kamlage and the BUND study offer important impulses to make this process targeted and citizen-oriented.
The implementation of such participatory approaches could not only increase acceptance of the planned measures, but also ensure the effectiveness of heat planning in the long term. This is a step in the right direction to jointly advance climate protection and improve the quality of life of citizens.
For more information on the citizen participation and heat planning recommendations, please visit the relevant articles on news.rub.de and the comprehensive analysis bund.net.