Experts in the fields of science, politics, civil society and the industry from Berlin and cities across Thuringia will examine the question of how to make a socially just and climate neutral heat supply conversion possible in a city like Weimar. The current energy crisis will play a significant role in the discussions.

The kick-off event will take place on Tuesday, 8 November 2022 and will introduce the diverse challenges posed by the heat transition. Elisabeth Staudt from Environmental Action Germany (DUH) (Berlin), Professor Katrin Großmann from the Fachhochschule Erfurt University of Applied Sciences and Dr. Martin Gude from the Thuringian Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Nature Conservation will lead a discussion titled »Herausforderungen für eine gerechte und klimaneutrale Wärmeversorgung« (challenges of a just and climate-neutral heat supply). The discussion will be based on finding solutions for pressing issues, such as: How does the heat supply need to change in response to the climate crisis and the current energy crisis? What will this mean for citizens and residents? What are the challenges that the State of Thuringia is facing, and what strategies is the state government pursuing?

In the second event, scheduled to take place in December, experts will lead a discussion titled »Was kann die Stadt tun? Hebel und Hindernisse« (What can the city do? Tools and obstacles) where they will explain the tools that are available to the city to support the heat transition, the possibilities offered by heat planning and the role that Stadtwerke (public utility companies) can play. Based on this event, guests at a third event in January 2023 titled »Wärmewende on the ground: Ansätze im Quartier« (Heat transition on the ground: community approaches) will explore the question of how to carry out to successfully carry out a heat supply conversion in residential areas. What are the promising pilot projects? How can climate protection, the interest of residents and the protection of historical monuments be reconciled?

»Weimarer Stadtgespräche«:
Kick-Off Event »Herausforderungen für eine gerechte und klimaneutrale Wärmeversorgung«
Tuesday, 8 November 2022, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Institute for European Urban Studies, Belvederer Allee 5, 99423 Weimar

Speakers:

• Elisabeth Staudt Environmental Action Germany (DUH) (Berlin)
• Prof. Katrin Großmann (Fachhochschule Erfurt University of Applied Sciences)
• Dr. Martin Gude (Director of the »Abteilung für Energie und Klima« in the Thuringian Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Nature Conservation (TMUEN))

Moderation: Dr. Hendrik Sander and Dr. Lisa Vollmer, Scientific Employees in the Institute for European Urban Studies

The »Weimarer Stadtgespräche« are a series of events organised by the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Institute for European Urban Studies (IfEU) together in cooperation with the City of Weimar. The »Weimarer Stadtgespräche« address current urban topics as well as regional political topics and challenges with guest speakers from the university and the city. The »Weimarer Stadtgespräche« are intended to promote a dialogue between the university and the city.

For questions, please contact Dr. Hendrik Sander, Scientific Employee in the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Institute for European Urban Studies, via e-mail: stadtgespraeche[at]archit.uni-weimar.de or by phone: +49 (0) 3643 58 26 09

Further information on the event series can be found under: www.uni-weimar.de/stadtgespraeche