Climate neutrality for Bielefeld: Scientists launch important initiative!

Climate neutrality for Bielefeld: Scientists launch important initiative!

On March 19, 2025, scientists from Bielefeld University and Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences came together in the Bielefeld regional group of Scientists for Future. Their goal is to establish a network that deals intensively with the topic of climate neutrality in Bielefeld. Panel participants from city administration, business and urban society take an active part in this initiative. The opening event, which took place in the Bielefeld knowledge workshop, included a keynote speech by Professor Dr.-Ing. Manfred Fishick from the Wuppertal Institute.

Four interactive forums were organized as part of the event. These addressed: business and science, training for climate protection professions, higher education for sustainability and a climate pact for Bielefeld. The organizers of these important discussion platforms include Martin Adamski from the city of Bielefeld, Gesa Fischer from the Wissenwerkstadt Bielefeld as well as several professors and members of environmentally oriented organizations.

Climate emergency and city goals

On July 11, 2019, the majority of the Bielefeld City Council declared a climate emergency. This decision followed the suggestion of the citizens' committee and was emulated by more than 80 municipalities in Germany. The “Fridays for Future” movement played a key role in bringing the issue of climate emergency onto the political agenda. Bielefeld recognizes containing the climate crisis as one of the most pressing challenges.

Although the term “climate emergency” is symbolic in nature and has no legal binding, it highlights the need and urgency to strengthen existing measures. The city council has tightened the climate neutrality target from 2050 to 2035, and in September 2022 it was decided to reduce this period to 2030. The first concrete measures to respond to the climate emergency were decided in September 2019, and a later status report ensures transparency about the progress of these initiatives (as of February 2022).

Accompanying structures and discussions

A 45-member advisory board supports the climate neutrality project in Bielefeld. This advisory board is made up of high-ranking representatives from politics, business, science and civil society. Your task is to provide impulses for the course of the project and to formulate critical comments to review progress. The members of the advisory board include Christoph Bals from Germanwatch and Prof. Dr. Kai Niebert from the German Nature Conservation Association.

The discussions within the advisory board were described as productive and appreciative, with interest in future discussions. A joint statement was prepared to address critical points in the results report. These comments are of great importance for future policy decisions, especially with a view to the period after 2030.

The efforts towards climate neutrality in Bielefeld show a strong commitment from science, politics and civil society and underline the importance of cooperative approaches to combating the climate crisis. Further information is available on the websites of the Bielefeld regional group of Scientists for Future.