The Climate Assembly in Edermünde took its first steps on 28 and 29 September.
One in five people in Edermünde, a small community in Hesse with 7400 inhabitants, recently received an invitation to take part in the municipality’s first Climate Citizens’ Assembly to answer the question: How should the future land use in the municipality of Edermünde be designed and organised – in view of climate change mitigation and adaptation to its impacts?
The driving force behind a Citizens’ Assembly in Edermünde? “The citizens should have a say in what the municipality should do about climate change” said Mayor Thomas Petrich. The invitations were sent out to randomly selected residents of the municipality to hear the voices of diverse citizens and give decision-makers an insight into their lived experience, practical concerns and personal perspective on this sensitive issue.
The assembly is being organised by CLIMAS partner ifok GmbH together with the municipality of Edermünde.
On September 28 and 29, 28 participants took part in the first session of the Climate Assembly. On Saturday, Julia Hoffmann and Chloé Jonniaux from ifok GmbH moderated the sessions, bringing in experts to discuss planning procedures around land use and the consequences of climate change for Edermünde as well as potential approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Sunday was then used to start working on the questions posed to the Citizens’ Council. Participants worked together in small groups to define initial visions and goals for the future of land-use planning in Edermünde.
The next session of the Climate Citizens’ Assembly is already just around the corner! On 26 and 27 October, the citizens will start developing ideas for achieving their visions and goals.
More information about the citizens’ assembly can be found on the municipality’s official website: https://edermuende.de/gemeinsam-flaechen-entwickeln-buergerrat-klima-in-edermuende-gestartet/
Gallery
Picture credits: Chloé Jonniaux
Press review
Grüne Edermünde – https://www.gruene-edermuende.de/aktuelles/klima-geht-alle-etwas-an-menschen-aus-edermuende-sollen-im-buergerrat-ueber-klima-sprechen/
Find the Edermünde Climate Assembly on Social Media
Authors: ifok GmbH
The CLIMAS Project has received funding from European Union’s Horizon Europe under Grant Agreement N° 101094021. Follow CLIMAS on LinkedIn, Instagram and X, or subscribe to the newsletter to stay updated with the latest activities!
