On 22 March 2011, Germany's third largest federal state (Bundesland) Baden-Württemberg adopted a new climate mitigation strategy. The "Climate Change Mitigation Strategy 2020PLUS" sets ambitious targets: The government aims to reduce the region’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020. The long-term goal is to emit only 2 tons per capita by 2050. To achieve these targets, the strategy encompasses 145 measures to improve energy efficiency, boost use of renewable energies and reduce emissions in all relevant sectors of the economy. By 2050, renewable energy sources are planned to provide nearly 100% of the region’s electricity consumption. Ecologic Institute assisted the Ministry for the Environment and Transport of Baden-Württemberg developing the strategy. As a project manager, Ecologic Institute provided both scientific and organisational support, including facilitation of stakeholder and expert consultation.

Climate change mitigation is a long-term task that can only be mastered in a joint effort of all social groups. The process thus started with a back-casting approach based on the question: How could a low-carbon Baden-Württemberg look like in 2050? The vision for 2050 guided the future work and, together with a detailed investigation of greenhouse gas reduction potentials, formed the basis for defining ambitious emission reduction targets for 2020 and 2050. In the next step, innovative climate policy measures for the decade 2010 to 2020 were defined together with experts and citizens. Due to the new situation after the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, the underlying scenarios and measures for the electricity sector need to reassessed and possibly adjusted. Given its long term approach, the strategy nevertheless provides a thorough foundation for ambitious climate policy in Baden-Württemberg.

Ecologic Institute provided organizational support with respect to expert meetings and stakeholder participation. In particular, Ecologic Institute implemented an internet consultation which allowed citizens, businesses, and civil society groups to contribute their ideas for the new strategy. In addition, Ecologic Institute developed proposals for future mitigation measures in the field of agriculture and waste, as well as cross-cutting measures in the field of municipal mitigation strategies, climate-friendly business and environmental education.