The new "Klima plus" advice center at Aachen-Münchener-Platz 5 was opened on Friday afternoon with a ceremonial unveiling and a varied program. As an interactive contact point, Klima plus now invites citizens, companies and initiatives who want to become active themselves to find out about specific climate protection measures.

At the opening ceremony, Aachen's Lord Mayor Sibylle Keupen and the Chairwoman of the City of Aachen's Environment and Climate Protection Committee, Iris Lürken, emphasized the importance of this new location for Aachen's path to becoming a climate-neutral city. Keupen emphasized: "Klima plus is a new, central point of contact for citizens, companies, institutions - for everyone who wants to help make our city climate-friendly and sustainable. It is a place for advice, information, participation and an important building block on our path to climate neutrality."

A colorful opening program accompanied the launch of the new consultation room. After an artistic conquest of the square by Theater K with the Aixotic Sambistas, the Mini-A-Tour dance ensemble and saxophonist Heribert Leuchter, creative and interactive activities awaited the numerous guests: Hands-on stations, Circus Configurani, the MULE real-life laboratory bicycle from the BIOTEXFUTURE innovation space at RWTH, an information stand for the funded FLIP educational project "Promoting the quality of life of insects and humans through perfect meadow worlds" and a plant station with flowers from the city nursery to take home provided entertainment and food for thought. The trumpet class of Simon Bales from the University of Music and Dance Cologne, Aachen location, and presenter Magdalena Gorecki (1LIVE, among others) provided the musical accompaniment and moderation.

At the end of the opening ceremony, ZDF weather expert Özden Terli spoke to a packed audience in the Cineplex cinema about the consequences of climate change and possible options for action. In his powerful presentation, he combined scientific facts with a clear message: now is the time to act. The audience was impressed and inspired by Terli's committed appeal for more climate protection.

Another highlight was the interactive presentation of the "Climate City Contract". The exhibition provides citizens with specific information on the measures Aachen intends to take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - a low-threshold introduction to actively shaping the city's climate future. The "Climate-neutral Aachen 2030" office, which operates as part of the EU's "100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities" mission and coordinates and supports the network of stakeholders involved in Aachen's Climate City Contract, is also represented in the new Klima plus premises.

The new advice center also focuses on making the further development of "Circular City Aachen" visible. Cross-border "Re-Use" projects for the construction sector as well as the "Kreislauf-WIRK-Statt", which is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and will be launched shortly, show opportunities for participation.

The sponsor of Klima plus is the non-profit association altbau plus, which has been known for over 20 years in the same location as a competent address for energy-efficient building renovation in the region. With the new Klima plus brand, altbau plus is expanding its range to include key topics for the future such as energy efficiency, resource conservation, circularity and climate neutrality.

The new advice center is now regularly open and invites all interested parties to find out more, try things out and find their own ways to protect the climate.