Climate protection starts at one's own house door, in the cities and municipalities as local concentration and diverse forms of utilisation (housing, business and industry, transportation, leisure activities) are responsible for a major part of climate relevant emissions. Therefore, the decision makers in local affairs and enterprises are important stakeholders in supporting the global task of climate protection. On the other hand the municipalities are forced to act under the pressure of the foreseeable consequences of the climate change.

According the decision of the Federal Government green house gas emission in Germany are to be reduced by 40 % until 2020 compared to 1990. This policy is mainly based on strategies and measures for a raising efficiency in the energy and heating sector, for the development of regenerative energy and for the doubling of the share of combined heat and power generation. In order to support relevant players in their climate protection efforts the Federal Government has established an extensive promotional programme offering profit potential especially for communities. Moreover the Federal Ministry for the Environment has installed the greater "Service Point: Municipal Climate Protection" at the German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu). It offers service and advice to municipalities who want to develop and implement climate protection conceptions. Fore more information about the new service point please refer to the following Internet link: www.komunaler-klimaschutz.de

The Wuppertal Institute assists the municipalities with scientific monitoring and consulting. The institute has wide project experience in developing, assessing and evaluating climate protection concepts for municipalities and public services based on various ongoing and finalised studies on municipal emission balances. Furthermore it has operating experience on national and international energy scenarios as well as on energy input and emissions in the process chain of energy carriers. Some of the current projects are presented below.