by Frank Schweikert, Director, ALDEBARAN Marine Research & Broadcast, Hamburg
From 23rdto 30th of September, more than 500 000 visitors enjoyed the varied programme and experiences of the 3rd Climate Week in Hamburg. Under the patronage of Günther H. Oettinger, European Commissioner responsible for Energy, 167 contributors presented events, exhibits and information concerning climate protection, climate adaptation and renewable energies. A major attraction was the rotor blade of a wind power plant in front of the city hall market measuring almost 50 meters (about 160 feet). For the majority of the visitors it was a first to see such an impressive, large-scale exhibit heralding a new era of renewable energies. Enjoying the warm weather a true rush of visitors walked through Hamburg to enjoy the week-long events.
The 3rd Climate Week in Hamburg was opened by Jo Leinen, President of the Environmental Committee of the European Parliament, and Jutta Blankau, Senator for the Environment of the City of Hamburg. Among the highlights was the Climate Night (part of the EU Researchers´s Night) on September 23rd, when scientists presented their work.
The public symposium organised by Dr José Lozán, Prof. Dr. Hartmut Graßl and Prof. Dr. Karsten Reise from 20 to 22 September 2011 around the launch of the book 'Warnsignal Klima. Die Meere der Zukunft' [Climate alert. The oceans of the future] was another successful scientific highlight.
Hamburg’s waterfront “HafenCity” contributed a special cultural programme to the Climate Week: The exhibition “Examples to Follow! Expeditions in Aesthetics and Sustainability” was on display there until October 30th, 2011. More than 40 artistic points of view merging the fields of art, activism and inventions are presented. Thereby the experience and methods of environmental initiatives are combined with artistic approaches.
Young visitors of the Climate Week enjoyed the children’s climate musical “We’re small heroes!” Parts of the educational programme were located in the world’s first “Climate Cycle Pavilion”, which could be visited as a symbol of natural and CO2-free cycles. The “Climate Cycle Pavilion” was a joint project of Hamburg’s forest offices.
Visitors enjoyed the culinary delights of climate protection in front of the shopping mall “Europa Passage”.
The sustainability market “From the Region – For the Region” was a cooperation of the municipal Authority for the Economy, Traffic and Innovation (BWVI) and regional producers, whose products were used for an on-site public cooking.
“Think Further – Buy Closer”, Hamburg’s Senator for Economics, Frank Horch, honoured the Regional Initiative of the Metropolitan Region Hamburg / North Germany.
Between St. Petri Church and HafenCity, visitors were able to test more than 20 electric vehicles and get a first impression of the new forms of noise-reduced and low carbon mobility.
The host of the Climate Week Hamburg is TuTech Innovation GmbH in close cooperation with the Control Centre Climate Protection at the Urban Development and Environment Authority (BSU) and the Urban Authority for the Economy, Traffic and Innovation (BWVI). Together with the host, ALDEBARAN Marine Research & Broadcast is responsible for the organisation of the event. The Climate Week is financed by the exhibitors and sponsors, numerous volunteers as well as through funds of Hamburg’s climate protection concept and the European Union.
The next Hamburg Climate Week will take place from September 24th to 29th, 2012.