German municipalities launch climate‑neutral heat planning and transport initiatives

The municipality of Roden (Germany) has partnered with the Institute for Energy Technology (IfE GmbH) to develop a municipal heat‑planning strategy. The plan aims to replace fossil‑based heating with renewable sources, lower heating costs, and cut CO₂ emissions by tailoring solutions such as potential heat‑networks to local conditions.

In Baden-Württemberg, scientists commissioned by the state transport ministry evaluated three climate‑focused measures. A new fast‑bus line (line 37) in Freiburg, introduced in December 2022, shifted commuters from cars to buses, saving an estimated 157 tonnes of CO₂ annually and achieving a net reduction of about 54 tonnes (8.1 kg per resident). The study also found that offering free parking for electric vehicles in Stuttgart boosted the city’s electric‑car share to 8 %—almost double the national average—before the policy was discontinued at the end of 2022.