Develop a Thoughtful Climate Action Strategy
Many municipalities understand the urgency of taking action on climate protection. What is often missing is a clear roadmap to address this complex challenge efficiently. There is also concern that implementation could bring problems, dependencies, or unnecessary delays.
This step-by-step plan shows how to develop a thoughtful climate action strategy for citizens for climate action that delivers quick wins while keeping long-term goals in view. The article provides clear guidance on which measures make sense at which stage and how to avoid obstacles right from the start.
Roadmap for Municipal Climate Action
The following steps build on each other and provide a clear guide to help your municipality develop its own climate action strategy.
1. Explore Funding Opportunities
To secure financing for long-term climate action projects, it is worth reviewing funding options for municipal climate protection. There are programs at the federal, state, and EU level. Funding may apply to specific projects, but there are also programs that support the development of strategies and the creation of staffing structures.
2. Identify Climate Action Potential
In this phase, the focus is on gathering ideas for municipal climate protection. Together with policymakers, experts, and citizens for climate action, planned projects are reviewed to see which climate measures can be integrated and what additional project ideas may be developed. These can come from different areas such as energy supply, transportation and urban planning, as well as construction and renovation.
If no ideas are available yet, there are many proven examples of successful climate protection measures across Germany. Our tip: do not focus only on measures that require long-term planning and lengthy implementation. It is just as important to identify actions that can be implemented quickly. A good example of a fast and effective measure is the Klima-Taler app. For citizens for climate action, it is crucial to set achievable goals. Making CO2 emissions reductions measurable helps engage people and spark enthusiasm for climate protection.
3. Develop a Decarbonization Strategy
Create a decarbonization strategy tailored to your municipality. Define long-term goals and set priorities backed by concrete measures in energy, mobility, buildings, and industry. Incorporate the results of your analysis and focus on project ideas that are currently feasible. A clear strategy ensures that everyone—from administration to citizens—works toward the same climate protection goals.
4. Focus on Communication and Participation
To ensure that your climate strategy consistently includes citizens in action, continuous exchange with the community is essential. Information events, social media campaigns, and participation formats such as idea workshops are effective ways to build engagement and acceptance. Be sure to plan sufficient staff resources for this important task and make use of digital tools such as the Klima-Taler app. The app allows you to send push notifications and communicate achievements quickly and widely.
5. Include Climate Adaptation Measures
Citizens are beginning to understand what crossing the two-degree threshold could mean if no effective measures against global warming are taken. The impacts of climate change are already felt in German municipalities. Heavy rainfall and heatwaves are emergencies we must prepare for. Heat action plans and emergency structures that help us adapt to climate change must therefore be part of every climate action strategy.
6. Implement Climate Action for Citizens
Climate protection in a municipality is most successful when administration, policymakers, and citizens act together. A clear roadmap supports a structured approach—from idea generation to the decarbonization strategy to implementing measures. When citizens for climate action are actively involved and can see tangible improvements in their community, change becomes easier to achieve.
7. Measure Success and Adjust Measures
Binding monitoring makes progress visible. Clear indicators such as CO2 reduction, energy consumption, completed heat protection measures, citizen participation rates, milestones, and responsibilities are essential to track success. A public dashboard and short quarterly reports keep climate action transparent for citizens. Results feed into a learning cycle: effective measures are scaled up, weaker ones are refined, and new opportunities, such as emerging funding programs, are integrated.
Learning from Success Stories
Before planning ways to help climate change as an individual, it is worth looking at cities that already have a climate strategy in place and are implementing it successfully. David Reich, Energy Manager of the City of Meiningen, Department of Civil Engineering, advises:
“Any municipality asking itself how to fulfill its role as a model or pioneer in climate protection should take a close look at the Klima-Taler app. It enables the participation of all citizens and local businesses under the umbrella of climate protection and municipal administration, and it makes the results visible for everyone.”
Aachen took this path early on and chose an individual version of the Klima-Taler app called Aachen.move, achieving significant results. They gained valuable experience by closely involving citizens in their climate action strategy:
“Aachen aims to become climate neutral by 2030. The mobility sector can make a major contribution. With the Klima-Taler app Aachen.move, we now have a tool that playfully involves all stakeholders in the mobility transition,” says Kay Oebels, Mobility Management Coordinator for the City of Aachen.
The importance of monitoring and using current data for future planning is highlighted by Dr. Carola Pritzkow, Climate Protection Manager of Nidderau:
“The mobility data from the Klima-Taler app are very helpful for us because they allow us to evaluate the success of our measures. For example, we use the information on which mode of transport (walking, cycling, public transport, car) citizens choose for short trips to assess the impact of expanding and upgrading pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.”
Successful municipal climate protection does not always require large-scale projects. Bielefeld shows how even many small steps can lead to major achievements:
“Our focus in the first year was on planting trees together. By the end of the year, we had reached an incredible 53,908 trees and won the German Prize for Online Communication,” says Marcus Lufen, Head of Marketing and Innovation at Stadtwerke Bielefeld.
Key Points of Citizens for Climate Action at a Glance
A structured approach is essential to make municipal climate protection effective and efficient. A clear strategy helps set priorities, plan measures efficiently, and make goals measurable. Quick wins can be achieved with the Klima-Taler app. Long-term projects include CO₂-neutral municipal buildings. This way, short-term successes boost motivation while laying the foundation for lasting change. With well-coordinated planning, resources can be used optimally, citizens for climate action can be actively involved, and progress can be tracked transparently.
Have questions about how to deliver citizens for climate action with the Klima-Taler app in your municipality? Get in touch. We’re happy to help.
Markus Schulz
markus@klima-taler.com
The Klima-Taler app helps you start data-driven, climate-friendly, citizen-centered mobility planning. It is simple, secure, and effective.
