Kassel climate crisis discussion

This month, it's time to get to the bottom of city politics: Does it finally see the containment of the climate crisis as a top priority? There will be an opportunity to find out on Thursday, August 15: From 7:30 pm, the climate crisis and the climate ultimatum will be discussed in a panel discussion at the ASL-Neubau (Universitätsplatz 9, Holländischer Platz campus). Admission is free from 7 pm.

The "Kassel Climate Crisis Talk" will begin with two short input presentations by Prof. Ernst (Center for Environmental Systems Research) on the climate crisis and Prof. Hoffmann (Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology) on local climate protection measures. This will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives from Kassel city politics and the Climate Ultimatum on what can and must be done in Kassel. The audience will be able to put specific questions to the panel.

We cordially invite everyone to come to the event and together emphasize the importance of the topic.

The climate ultimatum
The dramatic nature of the climate crisis is becoming ever clearer: tipping points in the climate system are approaching, beyond which catastrophic climate change will become irreversible. For this reason, a broad civil society alliance called on the city of Kassel at the beginning of July to finally adopt and implement a radical climate protection concept with comprehensive immediate measures after all the paper tigers. Like the panel discussion, it was supported by Extinction Rebellion Kassel, Climate Justice Kassel and FridaysForFuture Kassel.

The most important demands:

• 10% emissions reduction through immediate action by the end of 2020;
• a climate-friendly 1.5-degree target means climate neutrality by 2030 for Kassel - this requires extremely ambitious targets in all sectors immediately;
• but also control mechanisms such as a "Kassel Climate Council" with science and civil society as well as a regular and comprehensive reporting obligation by the city.

In the meantime, 32 organizations from Scientists for Future Kassel to the Catholic Church of Kassel-Hofgeismar have already signed the list of demands - the pressure on city politicians, who have unfortunately been largely inactive to date, is increasing!

Next touchstone: On August 26, the city council (StaVo) plans to declare a climate emergency. In this resolution, the StaVo has the option of instructing the city council to draw up a climate protection concept that meets the requirements of the climate ultimatum - or to continue to pay extensive lip service. If no far-reaching measures are initiated by the city by the end of August, the pressure will be significantly increased once again through numerous protest actions: in any case, a large Critical Mass with a climate focus has already been announced for Friday, August 30 (come to the Fridericianum with your bikes at 6 pm). Keep your eyes and ears open in September too!