Sustainable Practices as an Economic Resource for Cities

Economy and Environment:two mutually complementary aspects Challenges and Chances

Hans Mönninghoff

since 1989 Head of the City of Hannover Directorate of

Environmental Affairs

since 1997 also Deputy of the Lord Mayor in his function as Chief

Executive since 2005 also Head of Directorate

of Economic Affairs till 2013 re-elected in all three

functions

1650 employees, 315m Euro budget

Hannover – at the centre of Europe

Hannover City

750 years old, but 95%of the centre destroyedby bombs in the 2nd World War

520,000 inhabitants 272,000 jobs

of which 150,000 commuters the world’s largest

trade fair location a city of green spaces

with a good quality of life

The foundations ofsustainable development

Stable population and social structures

Employment

Environmental quality and quality of life

Stable municipal finances

Challenge IDemographic change

Hannover, demographic change 2000 - 2010

increase in the proportion of older residents

increase in the immigrant population

Challenge IIEmployment

currently +/- 12.8% unemploymentcurrently +/- 12.8% unemployment

Jobs 1970 2004

Manufacturing and processing industries

140,952 46,800

Service industries 211,535 308,800

Others (e.g. retail) 28,400 17,300

Total 380,887 372,900

Challenge IIIMaintaining the quality of urban life, central soft location factorsHannover - City of Gardens

around 50% of the city area is greenspace, making a major contribution to the quality of urban life.

a good place to live: culture environment urban lifestyle amenities

‘Hannover plus10’ city development programme

Components:

‘Young City’ to keep achievers and aspirers in the city and maintain a stable population

Encouraging civic commitment and self-reliance

Promoting innovation and economic growth through

1. the ‘hannoverimpuls’ programme2. ‘Klimaschutzregion Hannover’

Hannoverimpuls

Launched in 2003

Focus sectors Automotive Life sciences Production technology Laser technology Information and communications technology Start-ups

60m Euro in municipal subsidies over 10 years

Hannover- Climate Protection Region

5m Euros funding each year for 10 years, mainly from municipal energy utilities, for energy-saving and climate protection measures

About 1,000 buildings a year retrofitted for energy efficiency

2,000 solar thermal panels and 250 photovoltaic installations

240 wind turbinegenerators

Climate Protection Region: successes so far

Advantage 1: more local purchasing power

In 2005 Hannover’s private households spent around 220 million € on gas and oil, most of which came from abroad.

Reducing these imports will increase local purchasing power considerably.

Advantage II:More jobs

Regional craft industries: Investment in and technologies for climate

protection stimulate a dynamic added-value chain for the regional craft trades and businesses - an important job motor for the local economy .

In the Hannover region there are already 3,000 people working in climate protection.

Summary

Economic growth and sustainable development are

not contradictions:

Sustainable development means that economic, ecological and social issues are harmonised.

Economic and ecology are not adversaries; they enhance each other’s potential.

Better environmental standards and quality of life are important soft factors for the economic development of a city.

Thank you!