In order to achieve its own climate targets, the district has to redouble its efforts - even if the latest report on greenhouse gas emissions shows success.
Current report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the district presented
15 percent decrease
32 percent are missing to achieve the goal they have set themselves by 2030
District of Munich
- But it also reveals that climate protection is a double-edged sword in an economically prosperous district.
The greenhouse gas report presented by the Committee on Energy Transition and Environmental Issues confirms a 15 percent decrease in emissions between 2010 and 2018. Another 32 percent is necessary to achieve the self-imposed target of six tons per inhabitant by 2030.
It is said that this value can be achieved.
It won't be easy.
An example: The number of photovoltaic systems in the district has increased by 17.5 percent, and the output by as much as 25 percent.
Nevertheless, photovoltaics only make up 4.3 percent of the electricity generated (the latest figures in the GHG report are from 2018).
Of 70,000 buildings in the district, only 4,800 are equipped with photovoltaic systems.
Weakness in district heating and geothermal energy
The report sees potential for citizens and municipalities alike.
Of all things, district heating and geothermal energy, which have so far performed particularly well in the field of renewable electricity and heat generation, have slacked off the municipalities.
The district office encourages them to build more district and local heating networks and to consolidate existing networks.
The biggest polluters are still traffic and industry, which together account for 75 percent of GHG emissions.
More than 96 percent of the traffic emissions are caused by motor vehicles.
"We are already on the move with a colorful construction kit", says District Administrator Christoph Göbel: solar cadastre, future shares, electromobility, environmental education, energetic renovation, energy consultant from the Ebersberg-Munich energy agency.
Göbel hopes for the greatest effects from the local transport plan.
Criticism of the federal government
With a share of 37.6 percent in energy consumption, the second major GHG polluter, industry, evades well-meaning measures by the district.
Consumption has fallen minimally after even breaking the 40 percent mark in the meantime.
It remains to be seen whether the envisaged climate pact with companies, according to which participants undertake to achieve climate neutrality within ten years, will produce noticeable success.
Actions are voluntary.
District councilors such as Oliver Seth (Greens) see themselves left in the lurch by the federal government not only in this context: There is still so much to be gained, especially in traffic and industry.
District Administrator Göbel, on the other hand, complains that “the question of the eligibility of projects is often subject to very high hurdles”.
Manfred Riederle (FDP), member of the supervisory board of a municipal energy community in Unterschleißheim, is blowing the same horn.
"Too many promising projects fail due to federal regulatory requirements."