Hamburg, Oct. 13 (DPnet).– A referendum mandating the city to achieve climate neutrality by 2040, five years ahead of schedule, was adopted by voters in Germany's second-largest city. Despite concerns about the expenses and viability, the outcome compels the local government to strengthen its climate law.
Fridays for Future, a young climate campaign, started the referendum. The campaign was backed by numerous civil society organizations, such as tenant associations and trade unions.
Voters in Hamburg supported this citizen-led referendum that requires the second-largest city in Germany to accelerate climate action and achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, five years ahead of schedule. According to local radio NDR, the measure was supported by 53 percent of voters in the Northern port city and opposed by 47 percent. The voter turnout was a little less than 44%.
The initiative's draft bill, which includes legally enforceable annual CO2 quotas and steps to reduce traffic emissions, must now be implemented by the wealthy northern city-state, which is home to almost two million people. According to Hamburg's Social Democrat mayor Peter Tschentscher, who leads the city in a coalition with the Greens, the government will modify the city's climate plan within a two-year transition period as mandated by the constitution and the law.
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