• The future space "Aachen 2030 - climate neutral, but how?" focuses on the Climate City Agreement and the city's goals.
• The exhibition is designed to interactively and playfully demonstrate the challenges and solutions on the road to climate neutrality.
• A range of events rounds off the offerings of the Zukunftsraum.

"Aachen is a city of science. We want to bring the expertise from science into urban society," says Thomas Hissel, Aachen City Councillor for Housing, Social Affairs and Economy, describing the idea behind the OecherLab on Kapuzinergraben. The current exhibition, the future space "Aachen 2030 - climate-neutral, but how?", which has now been officially opened, is an excellent example of this: "We are presenting exhibitions here on the burning issues of our time," says Dhenya Schwarz, who runs the OecherLab, an "interactive meeting space". "For the next six months, we are focusing on climate neutrality. What does that mean? Where do I stand? What can I do specifically?" summarizes Hissel. "The first step is to gain knowledge about your own carbon footprint, then take measures to reduce your ecological footprint and finally increase your own handprint, i.e. get actively involved in climate protection," Schwarz adds to the idea. Until the end of March 2025, the exhibition and events on offer will provide an interactive insight into the challenges and solutions on the way to climate neutrality in the city of Aachen - and thus build a bridge to the Climate City Agreement, which Aachen signed this year as one of 100 European cities and for which the city recently received the official EU Mission Label.

The exhibition approaches the serious topic in a low-threshold and fun way: at an interactive play table, visitors can find out where and how much electricity is needed, used and consumed and also what the flexible energy grid of the future could look like. A large Lego cityscape shows which industries will be able to use and produce hydrogen in the future. These are just two examples of the exhibition's playful approach, which aims to show what has already been achieved, what challenges still need to be overcome and what each individual can contribute to climate protection. Dr. Carin Jansen, Head of the "Climate-neutral Aachen 2030" office at altbau plus e. V., is convinced: "Climate neutrality is a mammoth task. We need everyone." That is why it is important to inspire and highlight the positive: "Climate protection is not just about doing without," says Jansen.

Workshops, consultation hours and lectures
The exhibition, which focuses on the Climate City Contract and the city's goals on the road to climate neutrality, was conceived under the leadership of the OecherLab of the city's economic development agency and in close cooperation with the "Climate Neutral Aachen 2030" office. In addition to the exhibition, visitors can expect practical information, exciting workshops and lectures. For example, there will be weekly consultation hours on urban heat planning and funding opportunities for companies, a three-part workshop "Your path to a climate-neutral life" as part of the KliX³ project, a long-term study that will start in Aachen at the beginning of 2025, or a funding workshop for companies. Thomas Hissel, Head of Economic Affairs, is convinced: "The conflict of interest between climate protection and business is sometimes overestimated. Many companies want to become climate-neutral themselves."

The exhibition has been on display since November 12, Tuesdays to Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during event times, until the end of March. It is worth checking the website or social media channels regularly, as the offers are growing together with the Zukunftsraum. Information on the exhibition and events at www.oecherlab.de. Further information on climate protection in Aachen at www.aachenklima.de.