Franco-German Energy Transition Week

Context

With the Paris Climate Agreement, the 197 countries that signed it committed to changing the global economy in a climate-friendly way. Germany and France fundamentally support international efforts to achieve this goal and both countries have launched national climate protection programmes. The first concrete Franco-German climate partnerships emerged in 2014 with the TANDEM project, which is funded by both governments and coordinated by the European city networks Energy Cities and Climate Alliance.

Project

The EUKI project was responsible for the organisation and implementation of a cross-border climate conference and the “Franco-German Energy Week”.

The Energy Week was organised for the first time in January 2019. The aim and content was to develop awareness-raising measures that were as creative as they were easy to implement. As part of an idea’s competition, several cities and associations were awarded for planning measures together with a partner in the respective other country to advance the energy transition. The actions were financially supported by the project. In addition, other cities and associations were motivated to organise an energy transition week. All actions and measures are presented on the project website.

Participants of the conference “Pioneer Regions of the Energy Transition in Germany and France” exchanged views on topics related to the local energy transition and drew comparisons on different approaches and methods for saving energy or protecting the climate in municipalities in both countries. At the end, there was a call for closer cooperation at national, regional and local level with the involvement of the private sector.

State of Results

• A total of 100 organizations – cities, municipalities, associations and energy agencies – from France and Germany took part in the Franco-German energy transition week. 83 events with more than 5000 participants were held in 70 French and German cities.
• Cross-border lighthouse projects were presented to the participating cities: The cities of Metz and Worms jointly developed an escape game in which climate change must be averted, with a great response. The city tandem Ettlingen and Epernay presented their energy advice bus as part of the energy transition week. The bus will be on the move alternately in both cities to advise citizens on ways to improve energy efficiency in their houses. The local television broadcaster Baden-TV published a report on this action with French subtitles. In addition, the cross-border climate festival “Eco 2 Rives – Green and Boundless” took place in Strasbourg and Kehl. Film screenings were organized in Besançon and Freiburg.
• The conference “Pioneer Regions of the Energy Transition in Germany and France”, which took place in Montreuil (Paris) in September 2018, had around 120 participants, mostly representatives of the local authorities. The opportunities to exchange experiences and the mutual suggestions for future projects were particularly valued. Both existing partnerships were consolidated through successful project implementation and new ones were established.