Energy and climate

If efficient climate protection is to succeed, we all need to join forces. The municipalities bear a particular responsibility in this connection, and must lead by example. The DP is resolved to strengthen climate protection consistenly at local level. As a medium-term objective, the DP is looking to make the municipality 100% climate-neutral. We want to expand renewables, renovate municipal buildings from an energy standpoint and increase energy efficiency. In this connection, the DP is likewise strongly in favour of making energy-saving, environment-friendly use of our natural resources, and will have due regard in all areas to the principles driving a circular economy. Awareness-raising campaigns and targeted subsidies should be used in order to further involve and support citizens.

Leading by example.

The public authorities must act as a role model when it comes to renewables and energy efficiency, and must switch over to using the corresponding technologies. The DP hopes and expects that this will provide a boost for the production of, and research into, sources of renewable energy.

“Greening” the municipality.

The climate crisis presents a challenge for our towns and villages. Especially during the summer, appropriate greening helps to reduce the temperature in public areas and thus improves the quality of life for citizens. The DP will wherever possible support the greening of buildings and roofs. We will organise an awareness-raising campaign to this end. Citizens should also be able to get advice from the municipality in planning the greening of their properties.

Drinking water dispensers.

The DP will instal freely accessible drinking water dispensers in public and much-frequented places (parks, playgrounds, dog areas).

Sponsoring public green spaces and infrastructures.

The DP would like to open up public green spaces and infrastructures to sponsorship. This will give citizens, schools and businesses the opportunity to look after the planting and tending of community gardens, flower beds, plant boxes, etc., on a voluntary basis; and moreover, it will, for example, enable businesses to sponsor infrastructures (e.g. drinking water dispensers or public benches).

Developing a climate-neutral power supply.

The DP Gemeng Mamer will exploit to the maximum the potential for generating renewable energy in the municipality. All public buildings (municipal offices, schools, sports halls, etc.) should be supplied as rapidly as possible with locally produced electricity. To that end, we will consistently expand the installation and use of photovoltaic panels on the roofs of municipal buildings. Any surpluses can, where appropriate, be sold and fed into the grid.

More light, less energy.

Street lighting accounts for a considerable proportion of electricity consumption. The DP Gemeng Mamer wants all municipal lighting to be converted to a more energy-efficient LED technology and, if possible, fitted with a dimmer function and movement sensors.

Getting members of the public involved and raising awareness.

Following on from the national Citizens’ Climate Council, the DP wants to involve citizens more closely at local level in the elaboration of concrete climate policy measures. The DP Gemeng Mamer will also organise regular information campaigns and awareness-raising campaigns for adults, children and young people.

Providing advice on energy matters.

In addition to the national advice centres such as the Klima-Agence (Climate Agency), the DP Gemeng Mamer will expand the opportunities for private households and businesses to seek and obtain advice at local level. Additionally, by means of information and awareness-raising campaigns, municipal staff will be encouraged to adopt energy-saving practices. Moreover, Citizens who are willing to invest in energy reduction projects should be given the most concrete information possible about the costs and energy savings that await them by the municipality.

Renovating in order to increase energy efficiency.

The DP Gemeng Mamer will promote a general programme of investment at all administrative levels, aimed at renovating public facilities so as to increase their energy efficiency. Building projects of public facilities should particularly focus on using ecological building materials like wood. The planning process should take into account the principles of circular economy.

Renovating in order to increase energy efficiency.

The DP Gemeng Mamer will promote a general programme of investment at all administrative levels, aimed at renovating public facilities so as to increase their energy efficiency.

Extending climate-friendly grants and subsidies.

In addition to the State-funded grants and subsidies awarded for renewables, energy-saving renovation and climate-neutral mobility, the DP Gemeng Mamer will adapt grants and subsidies existing at municipal level or, as the case may be, introduce new ones, with a view to creating additional strong incentives for citizens. It will also promote the purchase of energy-efficient household appliances, especially for low-income households.

Towards the highest certification in the Climate Pact 2.0.

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Use of sustainable resources.

The DP is committed to ensuring that goods and services acquired by the municipality meet the highest possible environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria. The municipality should support projects to construct buildings with recycled materials. The municipality should also support the acquisition and installation of water tanks.

Public tendering in accordance with sustainability criteria.

In addition to the usual financial criteria, factors such as environmental compatibility, circular economy, parsimonious water consumption and energy efficiency should be built in to the specifications laid down in public tendering procedures.

An “antigaspi” (anti-waste) municipality.

One third of all food produced worldwide is thrown away. At the same time, we see famines occurring in developing countries, together with supply bottlenecks in respect of grain and cereals. Along with the moral obligation to tackle this problem, we must not overlook the ecological dimension. The DP Gemeng Mamer will ensure that the municipality raises awareness amongst citizens with regard to this issue. Moreover, the DP will work to promote collaboration by the municipalities with the actors involved in foodsharing.

Sustainable use of woodlands.

We support sustainable reforestation and forest use, for example as a source of energy for woodchip or firewood heating systems. In addition, we are committed to ensuring that sustainable forestry is tied in with regional economic development and promoted, so as to avoid long transport routes, amongst other things.

Active soil protection.

Active soil protection is a number one priority where the environment is concerned. The DP will not only take steps to prevent the condition of our soils from deteriorating still further but will also clean up and rehabilitate already contaminated soils. In order to ensure supplies of high-quality drinking water, effective spring protection is indispensable.

Protecting biodiversity.

At local level too, the resilience of our ecosystem plays a major role. With that in mind, the DP Gemeng Mamer will reduce the use of herbicides and pesticides, ensure more greening for the localities, maintain municipal grassland and green spaces alongside roads in accordance with the practice of “fauchage tardif” (late mowing), and protect and renature local biotopes such as wetlands.

Developing alternatives to soil sealing.

The DP Gemeng Mamer would like as far as possible, in the case of public infrastructure projects such as the construction of new parking areas, to refrain from sealing the land surface and to have recourse to ecological parking areas. We will opt for water-permeable spaces, for example by using turf grids.

Increased use of rainwater.

Like other places, Luxembourg is increasingly suffering from water shortages. Consequently, we want to include rainwater utilisation systems in plans for the renovation and new construction of municipal facilities, for example with a view to using the water thus reclaimed for sanitary installations. The DP Gemeng Mamer is in favour of the sponge city concept, whereby rainwater is collected and stored locally instead of merely being channelled and allowed to drain away. Amongst other things, this can help to ensure that the trees in public spaces are adequately watered.

Improving flood protection and renaturing waterways.

The events of recent years have made us aware, in a dramatic fashion, of the importance of flood protection. The DP Gemeng Mamer will develop a comprehensive flood protection plan, and will in particular press ahead with the renaturing of the waterways in the municipalities. At the same time, we will invest in property protection, so as to ensure that buildings in danger are ready to cope with and withstand all risks as best as possible, for example with mobile locks. The DP will also instal extensive (subterranean) water collection reservoirs into which, in the event of heavy rain, the water can run off, thereby helping to avert flooding. The water thus collected can then in turn be used during periods of drought, for example for plant watering purposes.

Improving water protection.

Time and again, our waters become polluted, placing a significant strain on water quality and flora and fauna, whether resulting from construction sites or from illegal waste disposal. The DP Gemeng Mamer will strive to ensure that the culprits are more severely held to account. We will also organise regular days of action. It is also important to protect the sources in consultation with all stakeholders.

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