Berlin Green Meetings
BERLIN GOES “GREEN”!
Global warming and dwindling raw materials on our earth have already had visible environmental and social consequences that call for speedy and long-term measures in response. Institutional and political bodies in particular bear responsibility for creating the forward-looking local preconditions for sustainable urban development.
The Land Berlin endeavors to introduce foundations of this kind in the various areas of action in order to carry forward the global efforts to reduce environmental risks on the urban level and, in this way, to guarantee a quality of life for its citizens now and in the future.
GREEN FACTS 1
The city responds to the ecological and economic challenges of the 21st century through progress in climate protection. The energy-efficient refurbishment of residential buildings and the installation of around 5,356 solar thermal plants today have led to CO2 emission reductions of approximately 2 million tonnes. The introduction of an inner city low emission zone, which only vehicles that meet specific exhaust gas requirements may enter, aimed more particularly to reduce fine dust and nitrogen dioxide. Support programmes for the use of public transport and the extension of cycle paths serve the same purpose.
The scientific institutions and universities help the city to further extend its focus on environmental engineering and biotechnology. Research activities are concentrated at locations like Berlin-Buch or Adlershof.
Various climate protection projects, initiatives, and support programmes are paving the way for a Berlin that is progressively establishing itself as a “green” location that is borne by a vision shared by its inhabitants, companies, and members of the public administration.
GREEN FACTS 2
- The public green areas cover more than 30% of the city area. Numerous public green areas including parks, gardens and urban squares offer inhabitants and visitors various opportunities for relaxation.
- Tiergarten in the heart of the city is one of the most popular parks in Berlin. On the weekend many people use the 210-hectare park for walks, cycling or picnics. The restaurant “Café am Neuen See” is open throughout the year and in the summer extends an invitation to refreshments in its large beer garden.
- The idyllic Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island) is located on the Havel between Berlin and Potsdam. A ferry takes you to the 98-hectare island which boasts an impressive array of garden landscapes and buildings from the late 18th century. The Lustschloss (Pleasure Palace), with its romantic, white façade, erected in 1739 by King Friedrich Wilhelm II based on a medieval model is particularly appealing. In 1990 the island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Several rivers, including the Spree and the Havel, with a total length of 180 kilometers make their way through Berlin and give visitors an opportunity to experience the city from the water.
- Since reunification in 1989, the city boasts two zoos: one is located in downtown Berlin, the 35-hectare Zoologischer Garten which is said to have the largest number of different animals and to be the oldest zoo in Germany as it opened in 1844. The other more spacious zoo (Tierpark) in the eastern part of the city extends over some 160 hectares.
- “Berlin is the city in Germany with the largest number of bird species,” remarked Josef Reichholf, Professor for Nature Conservation in Munich during the Berlin Nature Conservation Conference. Berlin’s varied urban landscape is highly conducive to rich biodiversity: it is home to approximately 25,000 animal and plant species; 7,000 of them are on the Red List of Threatened Animals.
GREEN LINKS
The links below provide additional background information on the subject of Green Meetings. For instance, you will find details of Berlin’s climate protection activities that are all geared towards sustainable urban development or information about how an event can be organized in an environmentally-friendly way. The providers are solely responsible for the contents of the sites to which we provide links.
Regional initiatives and projects
Mobility
Berlin transport companies
The city-wide public transport network is an environmentally-friendly alternative to cars. Furthermore, it is continuously modernized. For instance, BVG has the cleanest diesel buses in Europe along with two hydrogen filling stations and launched the e-ticketing pilot project for paperless travel.
The urban development plan envisages extending bicycle traffic by 15% up to 2020. At the same time, the cycling network is to be upgraded and extended. The corresponding financial resources earmarked in the budget are to be increased.
At the beginning of 2008 Berlin was one of the four German cities to designate a low emission zone. It has already led to a 25% reduction in the number of residents exposed to fine dust.
Further information
Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU): Guide to sustainable event organization
Environmentally-friendly procurement
