In 2015, at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, the United Nations decided to limit global warming to well below 2°C, and if possible to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. A common goal of the international community is to achieve global climate neutrality in the second half of this century. There are various approaches to defining climate neutrality for municipalities. With its "Master Plan Guideline," the German Federal Ministry for the Environment is supporting municipalities that want to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 95% and their final energy consumption by 50% compared to 1990 levels. Mainz and 40 other Master Plan municipalities belong to this ambitious group.

Political climate protection targets are often formulated as reduction targets for a specific point in time. However, when it comes to the extent of global warming and compliance with the Paris climate protection target, the level of emissions at a specific point in time is less important than the total amount of emissions over the entire period up to the target year. This is why we also talk about a CO2 emissions budget. This CO2 budget would be used up by Germany by 2032 if emissions were reduced linearly. If, on the other hand, emissions are reduced more sharply at the beginning, the date by which greenhouse gas neutrality must be achieved can be pushed back further. Further information can also be found under Our Reports, Feasibility Study: Climate Neutrality 2035, p. 7 f.

The content of the city council's resolution on climate neutrality is based on two expert assessments (feasibility studies) conducted by the Leipzig Institute for Energy. These studies examine two target paths for achieving climate neutrality in 2050 and 2035. The results of the studies show that Mainz is on track to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, but the city does not have sufficient creative power to become climate neutral by 2035 on its own. Political and legal framework conditions at the higher state, federal, and EU levels have a limiting effect.

Areas of application

Despite the limiting framework conditions, the city administration wants to set a good example in its direct sphere of influence. We therefore distinguish between two areas of application for climate target setting:

1. The entire urban area of the state capital Mainz, including all stakeholders such as the administration, civil society, and the business community
   
   
2. Mainz city administration and municipal and quasi-municipal companies

The city administration commissioned two expert reviews (feasibility studies) for the various targets set for 2017 and 2019, which form the technical basis for the targets adopted in 2021.

• In 2019, Mainz declared a climate emergency in a political declaration of intent. Climate neutrality by 2035 was adopted as a new target, backed up by additional measures such as assessing the climate relevance of decisions.
• In 2017, the Master Plan 100% Climate Protection concept was adopted by unanimous city council resolution on September 27, 2017, and climate neutrality was set as a new ambitious goal for 2050 for the first time. In concrete terms, this means that by 2050, climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by at least 95% and final energy consumption by 50% compared to 1990 levels. The concept was developed with the involvement of over 160 experts in a broad-based participatory process. The 100% Climate Protection Master Plan is divided into five areas of action with 72 climate protection measures. The measures will be implemented by all participants.