• Aachen has been part of the EU mission "100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030" since 2022.
• During his visit to the imperial city, EU Director Patrick Child paid tribute to Aachen's ambitious approach and found out about the wide range of measures in talks with Lord Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons.
• The visit underlined the importance of cooperation between the EU, the city administration and the local network on the road to a climate-neutral Europe.

In April 2022, the City of Aachen was selected by the European Commission for the EU mission "100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030". Reason enough for Patrick Child to visit the city of Aachen on Thursday, November 6, on behalf of the EU Commission, with Lord Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons at the helm, to get a personal impression of Aachen's climate mission. Child is Deputy Director-General of the EU's Directorate-General for the Environment, where he is also responsible for the EU mission. In Aachen, alongside Mayor Ziemons, he met City Councillor Frauke Burgdorff, Klaus Meiners, Head of the Climate and Environment Department and Kristine Hess-Akens, EU Mission Manager of the City of Aachen.

The urban development and climate departments are working hand in hand on this important strategic topic for Aachen's future - supported by politicians and thanks to the support of many committed local stakeholders. The central instrument of the mission is the Climate City Contract. The European Commission awarded Aachen's Climate City Contract the Mission Label in October 2024. This means that Aachen, like all mission cities, is called upon to show the way to becoming a climate-neutral city by 2030 and to create European best practice.

At a meeting in Aachen City Hall, Patrick Child explicitly praised Aachen's approach: "Aachen is a shining example of what it means to be a climate leader and we are proud that the city is part of the EU's 'Climate Neutral and Smart Cities' mission. By working together, we can achieve ambitious climate goals and create a better future for all citizens - and Aachen is showing us what is possible with its innovative approaches to procurement, citizen participation and sustainable urban development."

Mayor Michael Ziemons was naturally delighted a few days after taking office. He said: "I am very pleased about the visit from EU Director Patrick Child. We talked to him about our ambitious goal. It is about making our city fit for the future. Climate-friendly action is a key part of this. The decisive factor on Aachen's path to climate neutrality is that we are doing this together with many people, companies, schools, associations and institutions in this city. The administration forms the bracket and makes a significant contribution to achieving the goal of climate neutrality."

Child then visited a number of exemplary Aachen projects in the city center with City Planning Councillor Frauke Burgdorff and Klaus Meiners, Head of the Climate and Environment Department. The tour first took them to Klappergasse and Rennbahn. There, the Paubach is being brought to light, transforming the area, which is currently still dominated by traffic, into a green-blue, climate-adapted urban space. The tour continued to Theaterplatz, which is currently undergoing an extensive redesign. In future, a large fountain and many new trees will enrich the square, giving Aachen a special stage for everyone. Other stops on the tour included the Büchel district of the old town, which is being developed with lots of greenery and quality of life, and the Haus der Neugier, Aachen's largest urban development project.

City Planning Councillor Burgdorff concluded: "Aachen has outstanding projects that actively combine the preservation of existing buildings with protection against the effects of climate change. Examples of this include the conversion of the Haus der Neugier, the prospects for the bus station, the transformation of the Büchel site and the conversion of the Rochusstraße building complex into student accommodation. The existing buildings - the 'gray energy' - is an important resource for the construction of the future."

Further information:
The city of Aachen is pursuing an active climate protection strategy. Together with politicians, an ambitious 123 million euro program for climate protection has been launched. The goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030 is firmly anchored in the city's society. Business, universities, the city administration and civil society as well as many other partners are working together to answer the question: Where and how can we reduce_{CO2 emissions} within our own means? All partners are acting now and are focusing on a more sustainable and compatible energy and heat supply, the use of efficient technologies and ecologically compatible materials in industry and commerce, a smart and intelligent circular economy, the conservation of resources and soil and the expansion of climate-friendly mobility. The network of the now 157 official partners of the Climate City Contract is coordinated by the specially founded "Climate Neutral Aachen 2030" office (for more information on the offers and participation, visit: https://klimaneutrales-aachen-2030.de)

You can find out more at http://www.aachenklima.de/Dort, where you will find comprehensive information on measures that the city of Aachen is already taking to achieve its ambitious goal of climate neutrality. There are also many tips, including everyday ones, so that all Aacheners can make a contribution themselves: https://klimastadtvertrag.de/aachen/klimamatch/