HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU) | Urban Planning Master Project M1

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter-Municipal Cooperation A case study on Lüneburg Region

Project Team Amanda Rolim 6035853, Donald Alimi 6035446, Federico Scala 6035888, Julian Herzel 6037392, Seyhan Ozçelik 6035780, Susanne Gallenz 6037783.

Course Title M1 Study Project Academic Year Winter-Semester 2015/2016 Instructors Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Knieling; Galya Vladova

HCU

HafenCity Universität Hamburg

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter-Municipal Cooperation A case study on LĂźneburg Region

First copy published in March 2016 Copyright © 2016 by Amanda Rolim, Donald Alimi, Federico Scala, Julian Herzel, Seyhan Ozçelik, Susanne Gallenz

Work Title Sustainable Development and the role of Inter-municipal Cooperation. A case study on Lüneburg Region.

Course Title M1 Study Project Academic Year Winter-Semester 2015/2016 Instructors Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Knieling; Galya Vladova Institution HafenCity Universität, Hamburg, Germany

Contents

Abstract List of abbreviations Presentation of the project team

9 11 12

Part I

Introduction

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1 2 3 4

16 17 18 19

Part II

Importance of the topic and the state of art in the studied area Research question and objectives Project methodology Project organisation – structure of the project and time plan

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter‐municipal Cooperation on the Regional Level – A Theoretical Approach

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1 Introduction to the subject of sustainable development

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2 Sustainable development at the Regional level 2.1 Various issues relevant for sustainable development 2.2 Main actors 2.3 Instruments used to achieve sustainable development

27 27 28 29

3 Why is inter‐municipal cooperation important for sustainable development?

3.1 Development of inter‐municipal cooperation over the decades 3.2 Main goals and benefits of inter‐municipal cooperation 3.3 Challenges that inter-municipal cooperation faces

32 32 32 33

Contents

Part III

4 Inter‐municipal cooperation in Germany 4.1 Legal framework 4.2 Organisation formulations

34 34 36

5 Chapter conclusion and main findings

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Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

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1 Introduction of Lüneburg Region 1.1 Geographical location of the Region and a brief historical overview 1.2 Position of the Region in the administrative framework of the German planning system 1.3 Political structures in the Region

42 44

2 Analysis of relevant topics for sustainable regional development 2.1 Land use and natural resources 2.2 Demographics and demographic trends 2.3 Transportation infrastructure 2.4 The economical context 2.5 Main trends and dynamics that are supporting or hindering sustainable development

48 48 50 53 55

3 Sustainable development and inter‐municipal cooperation in the Region 3.1 An overview of the important regional actors 3.2 State of the cooperation process 3.2.1 Policies and programme documents 3.2.2 Cooperation schemes and initiatives

58 58 60 60 64

4 Expert Interviews - Main Findings

66

5 Chapter conclusion 5.1 SWOT Analysis 5.2 SOAR Analysis

69 69 72

46 47

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Contents 5.3 Conclusion ‐ Main trends and challenges Part IV

Part V

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A Concept: Strategy for Lüneburg Region

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1 Conceptual approach: From bilateral cooperations to networks.

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2 Presentation of the concept 2.1 Phase 1 ‐ Bilateral cooperations for the Lüneburg Region 2.1.1 Existing bilateral cooperations 2.1.2 Possible new bilateral cooperations 2.2 Phase 2 ‐ A network of cooperation for the Lüneburg Region 2.2.1 Bottom‐up strategy 2.2.2 From bottom-up to top‐down

79 80 80 84 88 88 92

3 Reflections and results

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Conclusions

96

Glossary List of figures and tables References List of interviews

101 105 111

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Abstract

The M1 project “Sustainable development and the role of inter-municipal cooperation.

A case study on Lüneburg Region” focused on the region of Lüneburg, situated in the German state of Lower Saxony. The region consists of the city of Lüneburg and its surrounding predominantly rural areas. In 2014 the city of Lüneburg was nominated for the German sustainability award as one of the three most sustainable middle-sized cities in Germany because of its achievements in its several local sustainability initiatives. Most of the local activities currently exist within the administrative boundaries of the city of Lüneburg. The cooperation between the city and the rest of the smaller municipalities and the rural parts of the region is apparently non-sufficient. Therefore, the focus of this project was the strengthening of the cooperation between the city of Lüneburg and its surrounding municipalities and rural parts in order to achieve the sustainable development of the whole region. Recognising the different existing strengths in the focus area through the thoroughly analysis of the region, the project provides a strategy to valorise and address these emerging trends towards a sustainable model of development for the entire region. Starting from the existing and well-working bilateral cooperation models of sustainable development in the region, the focus of the strategy is in further consolidating this model and providing a new model of network cooperation for the future, involving several local non-governmental actors from different fields and administrative levels in the Lüneburg Region. All in all, the developed strategy for achieving a sustainable development for the whole region is based on a bottom-up approach which is strengthened by the top-down framework of inter-municipal cooperation in the end.

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List of abbreviations

CDU cf.

CBO CO2 CSM e.g.

EU ibid KfW km2 KSL LEADER MPT n.d.

NGO p.

RE SOAR SPD SWOT sqq.

T.U.N. UNESCO

Christlich Demokratische Union (Christian Democratic Union of Germany) see also Community-based Organization Carbon Dioxide Centre for Sustainability Management for example European Union in the same place Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau square kilometer Klimaschutzleitstelle (Climate protection office) Liaison entre actions de développement de l’économie rurale (Connection between actions for the development of the rural economy) motorised private transport no date available Non-Governmental Organization page Renewable energy Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results Sozialdemokratische Partei (Social Democratic Party of Germany) Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats sequentes Technik Umwelt Natur (technic environment nature) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

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Presentation of AMANDA ROLIM Student of Architecture and Urban Planning from the University of SĂŁo Paulo (Brazil). Currently an exchange student in Hafencity University.

DONALD ALIMI Master student in Urban Planning and Policy Design. Currently Erasmus student in HafenCity University Hamburg from Polytechnic University of Milan (Italy).

FEDERICO SCALA Master student in Urban Planning.

Currently Erasmus student in HafenCity University Hamburg from IUAV University of Venice (Italy).

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the project team JULIAN HERZEL Master student in Urban Planning at the HafenCity University Hamburg. Bachelor degree from Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen.

SEYHAN OZÇELIK Bachelor student in City and Regional Planning at Middle East Technical University, Ankara (Turkey). At the moment exchange student at HafenCity University.

SUSANNE GALLENZ Master student in Urban Planning at the HafenCity University Hamburg. Bachelor degree of Urbanistik from the BauhausUniversity Weimar.

Part I

Introduction

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Part I

1. Importance of the topic and the state of art in the studied area In the recent years we have seen increasing efforts targeting the achievement of the so called “sustainable development” by the Brundtland Commission (1987) as the development that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. But what does this mean and what are the needs of the present? In general terms, it implies the achievement of a balance between the economic growth, social equality and environmental protection. These issues are considered today as crucial by the political agenda, but not only, and are put into practice on the local level to address the sustainability goals of individual cities and other territorial entities. But how should these entities deal with these goals?

From theory and more often from practice, we can admit and further sustain the fact that the mobilisation of resources and the joining of forces between different actors would probably lead to better results in regard to the sustainable development of our cities and regions. In a context of emerging common challenges and scarce resources availability, the number of neighbouring municipalities seeking for actions that go beyond their administrative boundaries is significantly growing. The so called ‘’inter-municipal cooperation’’ is ever more today seen by the municipalities as an efficient and sustainable solution in improving the effectiveness and quality of their service delivery and other administrative tasks.

The city of Lüneburg is well known for its tradition in regard to the topic of sustainability since the 1990’s.

The “Agenda 21” movement was one of the first steps towards the sustainability approach in 1994, which enabled different local initiatives in this field. Moreover in 2014 Lüneburg was nominated as one of the three most sustainable middle-sized cities in Germany due to its tradition and recent success in addressing through several local initiatives the sustainability goals of its territory. Beyond the tradition, the region continues still nowadays to be very active in a number of formal and informal programs in several fields, such as renewable energies, organic farming, research and education. The cooperation models within these fields come today in the form of formal and informal bilateral cooperations, involving formal and informal actors from different parts of the region.

Introduction

2. Research question and objectives The Council of Europe, the United Nations Development Programme and the Local Government Initiative (2010) argue in a manual on the inter-municipal cooperation that the cooperation is essential for the welfare and development of societies and that it is a very common practice between public entities in different countries. It is well known that ministries cooperate with universities and laboratories, regions cooperate with other regions and moreover there are municipalities that cooperate among them in several grounds.

These are just to name a few.

Throughout the world the processes of decentralisation are progressively gathering pace. In the last decades the trend of transmission of more responsibilities to the local level of government is obviously growing. In a context of growing awareness on complex and challenging issues such as the sustainable development, whose focus scale of action is the local tier, the inter-municipal cooperation offers itself as an alternative instrument and approach in dealing with these issues in the local context.

Certainly the topic of sustainable development is wide and very complex to be addressed only at one level and tackled by one instrument only, but we all should admit that the major impacts in regard to these and other issues come from the actions taken at this level, the municipal level.

As mentioned earlier in this introduction part, we should admit that in all contexts with a certain number of actors involved, the mobilisation of resources and the joining of forces for common challenges, in other words ‘‘the cooperation’’, would probably lead towards a more efficient performance for all the parts involved in achieving the desired goals. Without any doubt this assumption applies also in much more complex contexts such as the sustainable development. This way, going back to our Region the focus of the research question of this report is the following: How can the inter-municipal cooperation promote sustainable development in the Lüneburg Region?

The objectives of this project are to investigate the existing local initiatives and the current state of inter-municipal cooperation in the Lüneburg Region.

Through this report we study to what extent the city of Lüneburg and its surrounding municipalities could benefit from intensified inter-municipal cooperation.

Furthermore the aim is to identify possible fields with potential for the development of new cooperation models. As a result of this project we elaborate a strategy for the inter-municipal cooperation on sustainability identifying perspectives for future sustainable development of the Lüneburg Region.

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Part I

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3. Project methodology The following part represents the methods and methodology applied in dealing with the topic throughout the different phases of the project. The nature of this academic work required for the group a deep understanding of two main topics, inter-municipal cooperation and sustainable development in the regional level.

Based on this requisite, a wide research was conducted by means of literature and other official documents published on both topics. For a better understanding about the above topics in practice, case studies were considered in comprehending the application of these topics in different contexts. Approaching the focus area of this project, the first steps in getting to know the LĂźneburg Region were based on publications done by formal and informal actors active in the focus area of study in the region. This was followed by several site visits aiming to get a closer view of the reality by meeting several local actors active in the field of sustainability. The site visits were conducted also in terms of establishing contacts for formal interviews with local experts in the field of sustainable development and inter-municipal cooperation in another phase of the project.

To get a broad overview and different point of views from the Region, the interview partners were chosen from the side of the public institutions, as well as from the side of the research and education institutions of the Region and from local sustainability initiatives.

Beyond this overview on the two focus topics, more research was conducted on background information such as the demography, the economy and environment of the region, as strongly interconnected to the first two main topics. The methods applied for this purpose include several official publications and online database sources. In evaluating the status of the local initiatives and the current state of inter-municipal cooperation in the region, several planning documents, cooperation initiative publications and interviews with the involved actors were used. SWOT and SOAR analysis were involved in dealing with the analytical part of the project as methods, especially the SOAR analysis, to stress our approach in dealing with the strengths of the regional context and to lead to our concept for the LĂźneburg Region. This will be further explained in the respective chapter of this report.

Introduction

4. Project organisation – structure of the project and time plan This report is organized into five main parts which also represent the rough step by step approach during the semester. The specific time schedule for the project can be found in Table 1. The first part of this report consists in the introduction of the project topic and area. For a better understanding of the two main topics of this project, inter-municipal cooperation and sustainable development in the regional level, a theoretical overview about these topics is offered in the second part. The third part presents the analysis conducted on the case study Lßneburg Region with an introduction of the regional context in the beginning followed by a more detailed analysis on the current state of inter-municipal cooperation in the issues of sustainable development in the region. In the fourth part, starting from the main findings and observations in the previous parts, we present a concept for our case study which consists in a strategy for the future sustainable development of Lßneburg Region through the inter-municipal cooperation instrument. The fifth and the last part of this report consists in the main conclusions on the development of the project, results and above all it articulates the answer to the project research question.

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General problem

Research question & specific questions

Theoritical Part

Analytical Part

Conceptual Part

Kick-Off-Meeting Glossary words Sustainable development & intermunicipal cooperation Input Session Define the research question Define the specific questions

Literature and online research Set up goals Main terms Case Studies Prepare questionaire Interviews SWOT-Analysis Main challenges Main actors Possible fields & topics Current issues Concept, strategy, vision for Lüneburg What actors should be involved Implementation strategy How to measure or monitor the progress

Concluding Part

Reflect on the main finding Identify the main shortcomings Identify open questions

Final Part

Final presentation Final report

Table 1 Time Schedule M1-Project

* MILESTONES: 25. Nov - Interim presentation 03. Feb - Final presentation 25. Mrz - Project report

25-mar

03-feb

25-gen

18-gen

11-gen

04-gen

14-dic

07-dic

30-nov

27-nov

26-nov

25-nov

24-nov

23-nov

16-nov

09-nov

02-nov

26-ott

12-ott Introductory Part

19-ott

Part I

20

Introduction

21

Part II

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter-municipal Cooperation on the Regional Level - A Theoretical Approach

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Part II

1. Introduction to the subject of sustainable development In recent years sustainable development has become a popular topic for both academic studies and the business world. Sustainability, has been seen in academic papers, syllabuses of faculties, boardrooms of local authorities and corporations and offices of public relations officers for the last decades (Paul, 2008). So making clear what is meant by the term sustainable development and how it evolved over time have importance and is explained subsequent.

The brief definition of sustainable development was made in the report that published by Brundtland Commission in 1987 as (United Nations General Assembly, 1987) “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Kates and Parris, 2005 a).

This is surely the standard definition when judged by the frequency of citation. From this definition it can be understood that environmental concerns are important, but the basic argument is one of welfare, seen in a context of inter-generational equity. So we should care for the environment not because of its intrinsic value, but in order to preserve resources for our children (Kuhlman and Farrington, 2010).

However, in the years following the Brundtland Commission’s report, debates on sustainable development

continued. New definitions were made and new arguments were taken into consideration.

Today, we use sustainability always defined in terms of three dimensions: social, economic and environmental. This definition of sustainability was established by the United Nations’ Agenda for Development: “Development is a multidimensional undertaking to achieve a higher quality of life for all people. Economic development, social development and environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development” (Kuhlman and Farrington, 2010).

In order to explain these interdependencies mentioned above; it is possible to start with saying economy exists entirely within society. Because all parts of human economy consists because of the interaction among people. In the same way; society exists entirely within the environmental system. Thus, it can be understood that, society and its economic systems can never exist independently of the environment.

So, true sustainable development is a form of development that meets the “triple bottom line” where all three systems interact on an equal basis and that equal basis defines sustainability (Mensah and Castro, 2004).

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter‐municipal Cooperation on the Regional Level – A Theoretical Approach

concern over the limits of the framework” (Kates and Parris, 2005 b).

In the definition above, the levels of sustainable development were brought to the agenda. These are local, national, regional and global levels. Each level has different kinds of strategies in order to achieve sustainable development.

LOCAL LEVEL STRATEGIES: • Community-based Organizations (CBOs); aims to develop community plans reflecting shared economic, social and environmental priorities • Traditional forums; where communities and local groups are given the possibility to express their ideas and agree on actions to create sustainable societies Fig. 1 The dimesions of sustainable development

Sustainable development marked a further expansion of the current definition, that is based on three pillars, established by the Johannesburg Declaration. Development came to a new point and it was defined as “a collective responsibility to advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development-economic development, social development and environmental protection-at local, national, regional and global levels.” With this definition, the World Summit addressed a running

• Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs); generally mobilise local energies in order to combine socio-economic development and environmental conservation REGIONAL LEVEL STRATEGIES: • District environmental action plans • Local Agenda 21s • Development strategies and plans that are prepared by districts and municipalities - increasingly through participatory processes

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Part II

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However; methods to undertake decentralised participatory planning are generally weak, and the financial means to implement plans are inadequate. Usually these plans need to be approved by regional and national levels (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, 2001 a).

NATIONAL LEVEL STRATEGIES: • National development plans; such plans tend to set out broad goals and include projects and activities to be funded from the annual recurrent and development budgets • Sector-wide plans and investment strategies; transport, agricultural, health and education strategies can be given as example • National Agenda 21s; range of countries have prepared national Agenda 21s to set out how they will translate Agenda 21 into action at a country level • Strategies to reduce poverty • Comprehensive Development Framework; that is intended to take a comprehensive approach to development; key element of this framework is to encourage a long-term strategic horizon of like 15 – 20 years (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, 2001 b)

GLOBAL LEVEL STRATEGIES: • Commission on Sustainable Development • Global Sustainable Development Report • High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development • 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, etc.

• Agenda 21 (Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, 2016 a)

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter‐municipal Cooperation on the Regional Level – A Theoretical Approach

2. Sustainable development at the Regional Level

2.1 Various issues relevant for sustainable development

The regional level, considering geographic scale, can be seen as an optimal size for successful implementation of sustainable development. It is small enough to be concrete and of direct interest to residents and large enough to possess critical mass for collective action and creative solutions. The UN and the EU emphasized the importance of local and regional authorities in achieving sustainable development (Rozema, 2011 a).

The aim of sustainable development is to define applicable plans combining the economic, social, and environmental aspects of human activity. Therefore, the ultimate goal of sustainable development is to find a coherent and long-lasting balance between these three aspects.

A region is an area that has relatively homogeneous economic, social, or landscape characteristics. In that sense, a region can cross borders. For example the “The Euroregion Meuse-Rhine” which includes parts of Belgian, Dutch and German provinces is an area with a shared history and similar economic interest.

Likewise the example, regional level provides the greatest opportunity for local governments to work together with their constituent communities toward sustainable development.

There are various topics related to sustainable development clarifying what is supposed to be achieved at the regional level (Rozema, 2011 b).

The highlighted areas which need attention in order to achieve this goal of sustainable development are mentioned below (Sustainable Development: Definition, Background, Issues and Objectives, 2016): • Agricultural practices that help maintain ecosystems and strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, flooding etc.

• Increasing agricultural research and extension services in rural infrastructure.

• Increasing the supply of qualified teachers through cooperation.

• Supporting and strengthening the participation of local communities.

• Providing access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services and increasing the share of renewable energy.

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Part II • Enhancing cooperation for enabling access to clean energy research and technology, • Promoting development-oriented policies that support productive activities and creating jobs, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.

them. Thus, a request is made for reinforcing governance, including implementation, monitoring and follow-up mechanisms about sustainable development (Rozema, 2011).

2.2 Main actors

• Integrating climate change measures into policies, strategies and planning and improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning (Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, 2016 b).

However, stated goals encounter many struggles during the implementation process. These problems can be listed as:

Sustainable development attracts and consists of a vast network of multiple stakeholders. It is worth viewing their potential agendas in relation to sustainable development and the power differences that may exist between those stakeholders. According to implement the level of sustainable development strategies, the significance of different stakeholders changes. Thus, it is better to evaluate stakeholder’s role according to particular level.

• Fragmented approach towards sustainable development.

At the regional level; local governments, NGOs, social movements, higher education institutions (HEIs), businesses and individuals can be defined as main actors (Redzuan & Nikkhah, 2010 a):

• No significant changes in consumption and production patterns.

• Lack of mutually coherent policies and approaches in the areas of finance, trade, investment, technology and sustainable development.

• Lack of resources for implementing Agenda 21 etc.

Also, the EU’s 2009 Presidency report confirmed these problems and expressed concern about the ongoing unsustainable trends and the limited results in curbing

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Local governments hold exclusive or shared competencies, on a whole range of areas such as mitigation and adaptation to climate change, energy, waste management, agriculture, industry, education, transport, land use and planning, food production and security, transportation, water and sanitation, biodiversity protection and conservation (Sustainable Development Knowledge Program,2016).

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter�municipal Cooperation on the Regional Level – A Theoretical Approach

NGOs NGOs have functions and programs that contribute sustainable community development like microfinance, capacity building and self-reliance. Microfinance programs create job opportunities; in this way they improve the economic well-being of communities. Through capacity building, NGOs develop community capacities such as ability, skill and knowledge of mobilizing resources, planning and evaluating community initiation. Furthermore, NGOs mobilize the communities to be self-reliant so that they can rely on their own resources (Redzuan & Nikkhah, 2010 b).

HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

leading to sustainable behaviour by acquiring new knowledge and new skills. Thus, citizens can contribute sustainable development considerably (Barton and Dlouha, 2011).

2.3 Instruments used to achieve sustainable development Instruments that are use to achieve sustainable development are categorized under three broad topics; strategic, procedural and organisational instruments.

These instruments are mentioned in the Cohesion Policy framework governing the 2007 - 2013 EU funds programmes and projects (Institute for European Environmental Policy, 2011).

Higher education institutions can contribute to regional sustainable development mainly by bringing in their own institutional management practice. For instance, improvement of energy efficiency, introduction of environmental management systems, etc.

They also serve as sources of technical expertise. This can be useful for topics like global climate change which is a technical and cross-disciplinary issue. Furthermore, they act as leaders during their work with local authorities and other societal stakeholders when setting up and implementing regional sustainability plans (Barton and Dlouha, 2011).

STRATEGIC INSTRUMENTS

INDIVIDUALS

Therefore, an important instrument for environmental integration is the alignment of the future EU Cohesion Policy to an overarching strategic framework. Strate-

Individuals develop skills and play a role in society

There is an emerging strategic framework at the European level. This framework links economic success to environmental protection. 2007-2013 Community Strategic Guidelines highlighted the importance of strengthening the synergies between environmental protection and economic development establishing the relationship between environmental investments and ensuring long-term sustainability of economic growth, decreasing external environmental costs to the economy.

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Part II

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gic framework provides a clear objective for pursuing sustainable development and fosters the promotion of win-wins interventions and it also facilitates understanding of the future Cohesion Policy closely linked to the issue of resource use in the context of the 4 capitals; natural, man-made, social and human and guarantee a balanced investment portfolio.

The ways of using these strategic instruments are:

mechanisms assess the economic social and environmental impact that certain international trade or investment decisions may have. Therefore, these mechanisms have the potential to provide a better understanding of the impact that foreign investments may have in specific contexts when applied to new treaties to promote foreign direct investment (Segger, Gehring and Newcombe, 2011).

• Application of sustainable development as a horizontal principle

Other examples of procedural instruments:

• Application of principle underlying EU environmental policy

• Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) • Territorial Impact Assessment (TIA)

• Environmental objectives and priorities

• SWOT

• Gearing financial resources to environmental objectives

• Cost- Benefit Analysis (CBA)

• Compliance with EU environmental acquis • Spatial planning / territorial cohesion (Institute for European Environmental Policy, 2011) PROCEDURAL INSTRUMENTS Procedural instruments support the promotion of sustainable development policies through foreign investment. Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) is one good example of procedural instrument. SIA provide protection for a wider variety of public interest. SIA

• Monitoring and environmental indicators • Evaluation and Reporting • Proofing tools • Rewarding performance, including reserve fund (Institute for European Environmental Policy, 2011) ORGANISATIONAL INSTRUMENTS The partnership principle that mentioned in the Cohesion Policy framework; sets out the requirement for

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter‐municipal Cooperation on the Regional Level – A Theoretical Approach

Member States to organise close cooperation with socio-economic partners and non-governmental organisations. It refers to environmental organizations as equal partners to other socio-economic ones. It provides a platform for environmental actors to institutionalize their participation in the programming process through working groups and steering committees in many ways.

Thus, for integrating environmental sustainability during the programming and implementation of programmes and projects; involvement of environmental authorities through coordination and communication governance mechanisms has played a crucial role. To exemplify these instruments: • Cooperation • Environmental networks • Monitoring committees • Public participation and consultation • Negotiations between the Commission and the member states (Institute for European Environmental Policy, 2011) It should be noted that the different instruments have different functions and scope of application. They have various capacity to facilitate sustainability. This is why these instruments are not exclusive but they

are complementary to one another. In this sense, the best way to achieve sustainability is to use a mix of different instruments in view of the diverse policy contexts and administrative settings (Institute for European Environmental Policy, 2011).

In this paper “inter-municipal cooperation” which is an organisational instruments will be discussed in detail.

It is the major tool that is used throughout the Project.

In September 2015, political representatives met at the UN’s head office in New York to adopt the sustainable development goals. The list of 17 goals was already on the table so the attention shifted to the next phase of the new framework for global development - which is the implementation. Instruments have been brought to the agenda. It was a major challenge to meet the growing demand for cooperation. There was an emphasis on national and local cooperation as well as international cooperation (German Development Institute, 2015).

As it can be seen above, cooperation is a current and significant subject for sustainable development.

Inter-municipal cooperation in particular, is instrumental for improving the scope and efficiency of local government activities. It allows sub-national units to combine resources so that they can provide higher quality services and take advantage of economies of scale (Osterrieder, 2006).

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Part II

3. Why inter-municipal cooperation is important for sustainable development?

Inter-municipal cooperation has been valued as an effective instrument for sustainable development. In the following sections, the reasons of its importance and the obstacles that it may encounter will be discussed.

3.1 Development of inter-municipal cooperation over the decades Although in some countries the first examples of inter-municipal cooperation can be traced back to the 19th century, it is a relatively new phenomenon. Even if it is not entirely new as an actual practice, it is surely a recency as an object of analysis. But lately, it has gained an increasing attention among scientists.

The first important contemporary attempts to group municipalities date back to the years of the “pressures on local governments’ performance” for providing service delivering and coordination. Since the 1960s increasing demand for public services’ quality standards delivered by local governments have emerged. Thus interdependence among local governments have been grown.

Later, since the 1980s, European integration has triggered growing market pressures. As a result competi-

tion among local authorities has risen.

The Europeanization process forced local levels to deal with new competencies, requirements, standards and regulations. It also fostered cross-border and inter-institutional cooperation practices at all levels, including the municipal one. The use of new technologies and e-government instruments has been promoted.

In this context, inter-municipal cooperation was seen as a solution in order to provide better services, contain costs and cope with growing demands from the citizens for a successful development of local authorities.

Indeed, today inter-municipal cooperation practices are widespread throughout European countries although they have numerous and often remarkably different formats (Bolgherini, 2011 a).

3.2 Main goals and benefits of inter-municipal cooperation It is important to identify the main influential factors that show why some municipalities tend to cooperate whereas the other do not. Researchs generally have emphasized; the role of potential gains, demographic and regional characteristics and transaction costs as influential factors. However, spatial relations and characteristics of potential partners also have significant importance.

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter�municipal Cooperation on the Regional Level – A Theoretical Approach

Firstly, municipalities choose cooperating because it enables them to provide public services at the lowest cost possible. Thus, they become able to meet the rising demands of the citizens.

Secondly, they seek to regulate the externalities of local policies. In this way, municipalities will be able to prevent waste of public resources and benefit from the capacity of the joint municipalities to cope with the opportunities and threats.

Furthermore, cooperation structure can easily be adopted to new circumstances and developments. If the scale for efficient production rises, it is easier for larger number of municipalities to extend cooperation to other public and private partners. As a consequence, this adjustable structure enables inter-municipal cooperation to deal with today’s rapidly changing environment rather than traditional forms of governance.

(Blaeschke, 2014 a) All of these factors explain the main goals for municipalities to enter into cooperation.

3.3 Challenges that inter-municipal cooperation faces Making one-sided an assumption that inter-municipal cooperation results in efficient and modern public service delivery that adequately copes with the social,

economic and spatial issues deserves a critical examination. There are challenges that may occur while the implementation process: To begin with, there is a higher decision making cost for coordination than in a standing organisation, because it involves more decision makers and lacks hierarchical provisions to get out of deadlock situations.

Also, there is a question of democracy: local councils need to be informed about what goes on in consultations among municipalities. Some sort of representative body must exist which actually controls the budgets of inter-municipal agencies involved in service delivering (Heinz, 2007).

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Part II

4. Inter-municipal cooperation in Germany In Germany the inter-municipal cooperation is rooted in the late nineteenth century while actual territorial reforms were realized during 1960s and 1970s.

The forms of inter-municipal cooperation can be subdivided in three main groups.

The first group consists the loosest forms such as municipal working communities, (kommunale Arbeitsgemeinschaften), special working communities (besondere Arbeitsgemeinschaften), and territorial cooperations (neighbourhood partnerships–Nachbarschaftsverbände, regional planning or multi-sector approach associations). These are established by simple private or public law contracts between municipalities.

The second group includes more structured solutions that are administrative. The most known and also most used one is the öffentlich rechtliche Vereinbarung. These are public agreements or conventions among municipalities for the delivering and fulfilment of public services.

Finally, the third group creates the strongest form of inter-municipal cooperation. It requires the establishment of a new public authority with its own political and administrative competences and responsibilities, apart from the continued existence of its member lo-

cal authorities.

These are rather broad categories, it seems impossible to classify the German inter-municipal cooperation forms in a more particular way. The instrument of inter-municipal cooperation in Germany seems to be used in various models, with numerous classifications and analytical outlines that have been proposed both in practice and in scientific literature (Bolgherini, 2011 b).

4.1 Legal framework The German federation consists of three levels; the Bund (federation), the Länder (states) and the Gemeinden (municipalities). The Gemeinden are placed at the lowest level and are considered as part of the political systems of the Länder by the federal constitution.

There are intermediate levels called Landkreise (counties). They consist of several municipalities and are mainly funded by contributions of their member municipalities. Yet counties are considered as jurisdictional entities at the municipal level and perform functions which smaller municipalities are not able to fulfill or which require centralized coordination between several municipalities.

Generally large cities are not a part of the counties, but they may carry out county tasks as well as city tasks. This kind of cities are called Kreisfreie Städte

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter�municipal Cooperation on the Regional Level – A Theoretical Approach

(county independent cities).

In the German political system, municipalities have three types of functions that can be distinguished as voluntary functions (e.g. swimming pools, local museums, theaters), mandatory functions (e.g. schools, water and energy supply, waste disposal, sewage treatment services) and mandatory functions executing higher level government tasks (e.g. social assistance, local elections, registrations).

the effective tax rate autonomously by choosing a tax multiplier.

Municipalities have wide autonomy regarding the performance of voluntary functions. They are able to decide the level and the ways of service provision. On the other hand, mandatory functions are assigned by higher level governments. In that case, municipalities may generally only decide upon the ways of service provision. In transferred mandatory functions municipalities behave like agents of the states or the federation providing services according to state or federal laws.

German municipalities have several sources of revenue: Taxes, user fees and intergovernmental transfers from the municipal equalization system. They collect a 15 percent share of income and value-added taxes collected within their jurisdiction. Municipalities are not able to influence the tax rates, although these tax-shares account for a large proportion of the municipal budget. Municipal autonomy influence the taxes which are the local business tax (Gewerbesteuer) and property taxes (Grundsteuer A and B). In this case, municipalities have authority to determine

Fig. 2 Administrative structure in Germany

Municipalities also receive intergovernmental transfers from the state government aside from taxes and user fees. Intergovernmental transfers can be divided

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into two: General transfers (SchlĂźsselzuweisungen) and earmarked conditional grants. General transfers are shaped by the differences municipalities have in the means of fiscal need measure and a fiscal capacity measure. Although reducing inequality between municipalities, the grant system leaves the ranking largely intact (Blaeschke, 2014 b).

4.2 Organisation formulations When it comes to the regulation of a variety of problems and requirements in inter-municipal cooperation, a large number of actors and different approaches are involved. It may seem that there are numerous approaches to inter-municipal cooperation but indeed there are only few recurring types. These approaches differ from each other by the means of institutionalisation, the scope of activities and their organisational form.

Types of Cooperation: FORMS OF COOPERATION NOT INSTITUTIONALISED UNDER PUBLIC LAW Informal cooperative approach This is an informal approach to cooperation and includes cooperative ventures like regional conferences, networks and forums. All of these forms gained importance in the 1990s because of a changing under-

standing of the public sector. The participants involving this approach consist of regional forces which are the chambers of commerce, unions, the scientific sectors like universities and local administration.

Regional conferences concentrate on the discussion and development of the existing regional potential for economic development. The benefits of these conferences are that participants have long term motivation and there is an interactive process of opinion building.

The related challenges are spatial limits of regional conferences, the selection of participants, the lack of democratic legitimacy etc.

Networks and forums are often parallel to institutionalised forms and deal with questions of regional development and urban planning. Because these approaches are dialogue oriented, they allow for a flexible reaction to emerging problems and challenges, the integration of new participants, and the combination of regional forces and building interactive structures.

Possible challenges are, dominant role of private sector actors and economic subjects, a lack of democratic control and legitimacy (Heinz, 2007).

Cooperative approaches under private law This approaches includes civil law associations and companies. They have limited liability and are limited to areas and subjects outside the official powers of local authorities. The common examples occur in the fields of technical infrastructure or the promotion of economic development and tourism (Heinz, 2007).

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter‐municipal Cooperation on the Regional Level – A Theoretical Approach

COOPERATIONS PUBLIC LAW

INSTITUTIONALISED

UNDER

This type of cooperation includes a wide range of associations, functional or territorial in approach, single or multi-purpose in service provision. All approaches and cooperations are based on the specific laws of the Länder which they are implemented. They can be also categorised under two titles: organizations concerning special purpose cooperation and territorial cooperation.

Organizations concerning special purpose cooperation These are associations that are determined to implementation of specific tasks or ventures. They are public law entities whose members are mostly neighbouring local authorities and they have official powers concerning personnel and finances. They do not have territorial dominance. Special purpose cooperations exist in urbanised and rural regions (Heinz, 2007).

Territorial Cooperation Approaches for territorial cooperation are mostly unique so it is hard to integrate them into a typology.

Furthermore, there are not many territorial cooperations. In Germany there are only twenty associations in borders of the forty-five metropolitan areas.

Associations’ assemblies create strong ties between these associations and local member authorities.

Territorial cooperations have three different forms that are: neighbourhood associations, regional planning associations and multisectoral approaches (Heinz, 2007).

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5. Chapter conclusion and main findings As it explained above, using inter-municipal cooperation is an effective tool to use on the regional level.

That was the underlying reason why it has been chosen as an instrument for the LĂźneburg Region. It provides opportunities for active distribution policies and coordinating efforts to develop quality public services.

The form of inter-municipal cooperation that is suitable for LĂźneburg Region needed to be decide in the light of theoretical information provided and analysis of the region. It is an important step for this project in order to create a solution that fits the characteristics of LĂźneburg and support sustainable development in an ideal way.

Developing inter-municipal cooperation is a challenge because it consists of different actors, targets, traditions and structures. So, the most difficult thing is to survive in this complexity, considering all of these parameters and deciding which one to use in that unique regional condition.

Sustainable Development and the Role of Inter�municipal Cooperation on the Regional Level – A Theoretical Approach

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Part III

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region ‒ An Analysis

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1. Introduction of Lüneburg Region The Lüneburg Region is located in the northeastern part of the state Lower Saxony. It borders the states Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the northern and southern parts. As a member of the Metropolitan Region Hamburg which is also called “the centre of Germany’s North” (Metropolitan Region Hamburg, n.d. a) the Lüneburg Region is located within a growing economic region (fig. 3). More than five million people live on an area of 30.000 km² (Metropolitan Region Hamburg, n.d. b).

The centre of the Metropolitan Region - Hamburg - is distanced about 50 kilometres from Lüneburg. Bremen and Hannover are the next bigger cities in reachable distance to Lüneburg.

The Metropolitan Region is particularly known because of its strong and innovative economic situation with international relevance. Another important factor is the connected waterway system with various ports along the Elbe River, making the Metropolitan Region to Northern Europe’s “most important commercial hub” (Metropolitan Region Hamburg, n.d. b).

But not only on an economical level has the region a high significance, it is also known for its diversity in science and research, as well as the variety of culture and landscape. Noteworthy is also the good existing infrastructure like the highways and the railway-lines.

That’s why a lot of tourists and commuters travel fre-

quently by ship, car, train or bike within the region.

(Metropolitan Region Hamburg, n.d. a) “Together we set milestones on the road to the future” is one of the key principles according to the Metropolitan Region (n.d. a). That’s why various cooperations on land use or infrastructural and demographics planning exist (Metropolitan Region Hamburg, n.d. a).

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Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

N SCHLESWIGHOLSTEIN

25 km OSTSEE Kreis Ostholtein

Heide

NORDSEE

Neumünster

Kreis Dithmarschen

Itzehoe

Eutin

Bad Segeberg Kreis Segeberg

Kreis Steinburg

Cuxhaven

Kreis Prinneberg

Pinneberg

Landkreis Cuxhaven

Landkreis Stade

Landkreis Rotenburg

Landkreis Harburg

Rotenburg

Landkreis Heidekreis

Bad Fallingbostel

Fig. 3 The location context of Lüneburg Region

Oldesloe Stormarn

Ratzeburg Kreis Herzogtum Leuenburg

Stade

LOWER SAXONY

Lübeck

LÜNEBURG REGION Landkreis Uelzen

Uelzen

MECKLENBURGVORPOMMERN

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Part III 1.1 Geographical location of the Region and a brief historical overview With around 180.000 inhabitants the Lüneburg Region is middle-sized in comparison to the other 13 regions within the Metropolitan Region. The population density of 135 inhabitants per km² on the total area of 1.300 km² is distinct below the average of Lower Saxony (Landkreis Lüneburg, n.d. a).

The regional centre, the Hansestadt Lüneburg, is located within the infrastructural centre of the region and provides most of the administrative, economical and infrastructural functions. The Leuphana University with over 7.000 students and the Lüneburg hospital need to be mentioned as two important institutions.

Over 30 percent of the region’s population (75.000 inhabitants 12/2015) live in the Hansestadt. (Hansestadt Lüneburg, 2015).

The region is subdivided into eleven administrative parts. Besides the Hansestadt Lüneburg seven Samtgemeinden and three Einheitsgemeinden exist (Hansestadt Lüneburg, 2015) (fig. 4). The administrative office of the region is located within the centre of Lüneburg.

The region has an important role in culture, history, landscape and tourism. The Biosphere Reservat Elbtalaue in the eastern part and the Lüneburger Heide in the western part are popular places for tourists, providing an ecological diversity. Furthermore the various ancient monuments and prehistoric findings are rel-

icts of an ancient era. (Landkreis Lüneburg, n.d. a) But also the Hansestadt Lüneburg has an over 1.000 year long history and was famous for its “white gold”, the salt delivery. Because of its sheltered location, the city was protected and therefore undestroyed during World War II. Today all of the heritage buildings still exist and provide the city an exceptional atmosphere.

(Hansestadt Lüneburg, n.d.)

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Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

N Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg

Alt - Landkreis Ludwigslust

5 km

Landkreis Harburg

Landkreis Lüchow-Dannenberg

Landkreis Uelzen Heidekreis

Gemeinden 1 Lüneburg

3 Bardowick

2 Amelinghausen 4 Dahlenburg

5 Gellersen

7 Ostheide

9 Adendorf

6 Ilmenau

8 Scharnebeck

10 Bleckede

Fig. 4 Administrative subdivision of Lüneburg Region

11 Amt Neuhaus

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1.2 Position of the Region in the administrative framework of the German planning system The Lßneburg Region is one of 38 regions of Lower Saxony. In Germany the planning system is mostly known for its decentralised possibilities of decision making. It is structured on the three levels – federal-, state- and local government. The legal, organisational and contentual competences are separated on the three levels to guarantee free decision makings (Academy for Spatial Research and Planning, 2012) (fig.5).

This separation of decision making and legal guidelines secure a specific implementation and allows local governments to regulate the use of land or detailed standards (Pahl-Weber & Henckel, 2008). This is called the Subsidiaritätsprinzip and enables the local governments a high scope for decision-making.

The higher level just complements the planning process. But local governments steadily need to regard the Gegenstromprinzip; which means to be aware of the national planning standards and follow them on a smaller scale, the local level.

federal spatial planning

Conference of Ministers of Spatial Planning

regional planning

local planning Fig. 5 Spatial planning system in Germany

MUTUAL FEEDBACK

public agencies

ADJUSTMENT

state spatial planning

sectoral planning

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

1.3 Political structures in the Region The Kreistag is one of the most important institutions of the region. It sets the principles of the communal administrative and decides current issues that are relevant to the region as a whole. The 59 members of the Kreistag consist of six different parties whereof most belong to the socialist (SPD, 20), conservative (CDU, 18) and green party (Grüne, 13). These are the main parties and it displays that the actors are equally separated. (Landkreis Lüneburg n.d.b).

The council of the Hansestadt Lüneburg is assembled differently: Most members belong to the socialist party (SPD, 15), the green (Bündnis90/Die Grünen, 12) and conservative (CDU, 10) parties are less presented (Stadt Lüneburg, 2016). But it is significant that the green party is and has been relatively strong in the region. People are aware of the need for a sustainable development within the region and therefore participate and engage themselves. With the Agenda 21-movement in the year 1994 Lüneburg was one of the first cities participating in the “Charta of Aalborg” (Biosphärenreservatsverwaltung Niedersächsische Elbtalaue, 2011). The “Charta of Aalborg” is an initiative for the urban environment which was approved at the European Conference on sustainable cities and towns in Denmark. (ICLEI Europe, n.d.).

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2. Analysis of relevant topics for sustainable regional development 2.1 Land use and natural resources The region is divided into different territorial typologies what means that there is a strong territorial cohesion.

The Hansestadt Lüneburg and the municipalities next to Hamburg are urban and compact build. As interview expert II said: “We are the center in northeast Lower Saxony and if you see it functional, we radiate within the surrounding areas.”

Wide parts in the east, west and north which aren’t connected to the highway or the train are peripheral with a slight population density. A characteristic rolling landscape with fenlands, forests and heaths defines the natural and cultural rural parts (Niedersächsisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, 2014).

The Lüneburger Heide and the Elbtalaue are two protected natural areas with a diversity of domestic animal and faunal species: By now the Lüneburger Heide has over 100.000 hectars of land and is one of Europes biggest heath landscape (Heidelandschaft). The typical cultivation of the heath with Heidschnucken helps the nature to stay in a pure and healthy way. Still today the Lüneburger Heide isn’t

only popular for its natural diversity but also for the various organic foods cropped there (Lüneburger Heide GmbH, 2015).

In the same way the Elbtalaue is a biosphere reserve and part of an UNESCO acknowledged area called Flusslandschaft Elbe. The Elbe River provides water and resources for the plants and animals and makes the part an unique meadow landsape - Auenlandschaft. (Biosphärenreservatsverwaltung Niedersächsische Elbtalaue, 2016).

But the restricted areas lead also to additional restrictions on the planning level. New buildings as well as economic or infrastructural projects just can be realized under particular circumstances. Needed infrastructures can’t be realized easily and as a result, the demographic shift affects the peripheral parts within the Lüneburg Region harder (cf. chapter 2.2 demography).

Over 50 percent of the regions total area is farmland (51.5 percent), 30 percent forest and only 11 percent build area (Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder, 2016). In comparison to Lower Saxony and Germany, Lüneburg has a lower population density and more green places.

The existing situation and the variety of uses require a sustainable development and selective measures to protect and preserve the valuable environment.

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Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

N

Elb

er

5 km

ive

r

ELBTALAUE Lüneburg

LÜNEBURGER HEIDE

Legend Settlements Forestal area Agricultural area Grassland Fig. 6 Land use in Lüneburg Region

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2.2 Demographics and demographic trends Compared to the other regions within the Metropolitan Region Hamburg, Lüneburg is one of three regions that are growing compared to eight regions where the population is decreasing. From 2004 to 2014 the population increased 2.1 percent from 175.000 to 179.000 inhabitants whereas the “Region Lüneburg” decreased 1.5 percent in the same time. The “Region Lüneburg“ is a Regionalabteilungsbezirk consisting of eleven regions. (Niedersächsisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, 2014) This increase clarifies the significance of the Metropolitan Region Hamburg. The birth balance is equalized in the region and most of the population increase is ceased by the internal migration movement.

But despite the total population growth in the Lüneburg Region there are significant differences among the 13 municipalities. The Hansestadt Lüneburg and the direct surrounding municipalities benefit most of the recent development. People move to the cities with the best infrastructure and the peripheral areas are getting less and less popular. Amt Neuhaus decreased over 10 percent compared to Adendorf and Gellersen with an increase of 9 percent (Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2016). These various developments require new approaches and a sustainable development that each municipality can benefit of the entire growth.

It is forecasted that from 2013 to 2030 the population in the region will increase 1.6 percent in total. In comparison to Lower Saxony (- 1.6 percent) and Germany (- 0.7 percent) this prognosis is of major importance (Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2015). Once again it shows the benefits of the location within the Metropolitan Region Hamburg. However the past development is continuing to diverge. The Hansestadt Lüneburg, Adendorf, Gellersen and Bardowick increase between 5 to 10 percent whereas Dahlenburg or Amt Neuhaus are decreasing over 5 percent (Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2016). The ongoing trend of the diverse development between the urban and peripheral areas isn’t improving and therefore needs to be considered developing a strategy for the Lüneburg Region. The interview expert III from one of the municipalities in the Region said: “I am concerned that the development of the municipalities is continuing to diverge.”

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Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

7.0%

9.0%

2.0%

3.0%

Population 2004 - 2014 Lüneburg Region

0.0%

-6.0%

-4.0%

us eu

ha

rg

tN

Am

Da

hl

en

bu

de ke

e

ec

id

Bl

he O st

eb rn

Sc

ha

do

rf

ec

k

Fig. 7 Demographic dynamics in Lüneburg Region

en

rg

Population projection 2014 - 2030 Lüneburg Region

Ad

bu ne

au

Lü

en

ick

Ilm

Ba

rd

ow

rs lle Ge

Am

el in

gh

au

en

se

n

-13%

7.0%

10%

5.0%

6.0%

0.0%

2.0%

0.0%

-2.0%

-2.0%

-6.0%

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Part III Another concern, as in literally all European states, is the demographic change. The life expectancy is changing from 44 years in 2012 to 49 years in 2030 (Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2015). The increase of the “Best Agers” and the change of the age structure require new concepts to obtain the infrastructure mainly for the rural parts. In the Hansestadt Lüneburg the Leuphana University attracts young people and leads to a balanced population age. It is necessary to take advantage of the University and connect the various age groups so that no one is excluded.

The significant demographic changes within the next decades require new planning principles and a strong vision mainly for the peripheral parts. It is important to strengthen the region as a whole so that each municipality can benefit of the population growth. The strategy should focus on the various demographic aspects and see each individual municipality and its strengths.

With the right tools and the awareness of the demographic change the Lüneburg Region definitely could benefit social as well as economical and urge the sustainable development.

2014

Age range

2030

Fig. 8 Age Structure in Lüneburg Region

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

2.3 Transportation infrastructure The Hansestadt Lüneburg as the regional centre offers a good connection to Hamburg, Hannover and Bremen. The federal Autobahn A 39 (Lüneburg – Maschener Kreuz) as well as four federal highways B 4, B 209, B 216 and B 404, provide a broad accessibility to most parts of the region. But particularly Amt Neuhaus in the eastern part of the region which is separated by the Elbe River can only be accessed by ferries. The protected areas also cause restrictions and car-free locations which make it hard to reach various parts. (Verkehrsgesellschaft Nord-Ost-Niedersachsen mbH, 2011) (fig. 9, p. 54) The frequent train connection between Lüneburg and Hamburg takes about 30 minutes and therefore allows commuters to travel daily to Hamburg. The railway also connects Lüneburg to Hannover, Lübeck and Kiel.

The local public transport is subdivided into two bus-systems the regional bus and the city bus and thus accesses 43 percent of the region good or very good (by car 90 percent) (Verkehrsgesellschaft Nord-Ost-Niedersachsen mbH, 2011). But due to missing transfer or early closing times a lot of travellers just take their private car. Only 7 percent of the total trips utilize public transport in the region compared to 19 percent in Hamburg (Verkehrsgesellschaft Nord-Ost-Niedersachsen mbH, 2011). In compari-

son to the overall region the Hansestadt Lüneburg is mainly car-free and over 20 percent of the modal split are bicycles. (Hansestadt Lüneburg, 2007) The Lüneburg Region is aware of the challenges and has already started to establish regional car- and bike-sharing stations. Another important point is the expansion of a fundamental e-charging system by private and public actors. Also Lüneburg’s inhabitants and many tourists take advantage of the good directed cycle paths.

But still the motorised private transport (MPT) is essential and important particularly for the surrounding parts of the Hansestadt Lüneburg. In contrast to Lüneburg it is easier to reach destinations in the direct suburban areas of Lüneburg then to reach Amt Neuhaus, Dahlenburg or Bleckede. Another thread could be the demographic change which requires new transport concepts and another mobility behaviour.

The Lüneburg Region is also struggling with the demographic change but can still obtain public transport systems in constant times. Maybe within the future the decreasing population of the rural parts could change this privilege.

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N

5 km

Direction Lubeck

Direction Hamburg Hohnstorf Brietlingen Radbruch

Bardowiek

Lüneburg

Reppenstedt

Schamebeck

Barendof

Krichgellersen

Embsen

Bleckede

Adendorf

Neuhaus

Neelze

Dahlenburg Kaarssen

Melbeck

Direction Dannenberg

Amelinghausen

Direction Soltau

Tripkau

Direction Uelzen / Hannover

Legend

Fig. 9 Infrastructure within the Lüneburg Region

regional centre

highway

low-order centre with sub-functions

federal highway

low-order centre

state road

location with the focus on the “protection of existing infrastructure”

railway line municipal boundary

55

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

2.4 The economical context The economic structure, the production and the foundation possibilities are key measures of a well-performing economy. In the year 2015 the workforce of the Lüneburg Region was 52.982 with an unemployment rate of 5.7 percent (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, 2015). Due to the connection to Hamburg the commuters balance is negative with 10.585 commuters leaving the region every day.

This has consequences not only for the employment market in the region, but also for the housing market and the infrastructure. It is also leading to a smaller gross domestic product per inhabitant (Niedersächsisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, 2014). It means that the development of Lüneburg’s economy and population development is dependent on the development of Hamburg.

The Lüneburg Region’s focus by economic sector is predominantly service-oriented. 51 percent work in the service sector, 25 percent in the production sector and another 22 percent in accommodation industry and transport (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, 2015).

Though over half of the total area is farmland, only two percent of people work in the agricultural sector. (fig. 10) Most of the people work there as an additional business.

Tourism, medium-sized companies, the Leuphana University and the municipal hospital characterize the economic situation. Especially in the heath and the

Elbtalregion agriculture and tourism are two essential job sectors.

Production sector

Services

Trade, Hotels & Restaurants, Transport

Agriculture and Forestry

Fig. 10 Employees by economic sector in Lüneburg Region

AGRICULTURE Mostly the local food production is characterized by typical regional products such as the Heidschnucken products. A lot of f armers plant on a small scale and ensure a broad diversity for nature. It is remarkable that the farmers and landlords already cooperate to sell the products directly within the Lüneburg Region (Naturpark Lüneburger Heide, 2016). Different forms of direct merchandising like regional markets and stalls are commonly used. But not only typical

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farmers produce foods, there exist concepts like the Weidenhof where private people support the farm and regularly get the products (WeidenHof, 2016).

For the region the identification and the tradition of the local typical products is important not only for economic reasons. It helps the people to identify themselves with their region and to develop a local connection.

RENEWABLE ENERGIES As a member of the 100 percent renewable energy region the Lüneburg Region is willing to expand the renewable energies within the next years. In 2013 already 55 percent of the total energy production was renewable – 28 percent from wind and 23 percent from biomass (Klimaschutzleitstelle, 2014). This turnaround can help to promote local companies and to raise the gross value added. The Lüneburg Region can also benefit of new possibilities that the independent decentral energy production provides. The expansion of biomass for example helps the farmers to earn additional money and new forms of cooperation could be established.

2.5 Main trends and dynamics that are supporting or hindering sustainable development In summary, it can be stated that various trends help the Lüneburg Region to realize the sustainable devel-

opment. One of the most important facts is the location within the Metropolitan Region Hamburg and the expected economic growth as well as the increase of the population. The demographic change offers advantages but also disadvantages that could be bettered with a sustainable development.

The different land uses and the cultural diversity together with the environmental diversity show the potentials of the Lüneburg Region. But it is of major importance that each part of the region benefits of the increase of the population. A sustainable development can help to connect the various stakeholders and municipalities to generate new ways of thinking and actions.

The knowledge and the history of sustainability are already present because of the Leuphana University, the Agenda 21-movement and the willingness of the various actors to move forward. The expansion of renewable energies within the last years exemplifies this very well. If the actors have a clear vision existing things can be improved to ensure long-lasting benefits.

But the development of these ideas has to be done carefully. In some cases different interests could affect each other and cause problems. It requires a gauge of the situation to see the various topics – economy, environment, social – and to decide for the benefit of every single one. If the biomass sector should be expanded it needs to be guaranteed that the local food

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

production isn’t decreasing.

The Lüneburg Region is willing to realise a sustainable development and is already on a good way. However each part and every municipality needs to benefit of the ongoing development. It is of major importance that particularly the eastern part gets a special attention because of the current observed demographic and economic trends. With a strong and purposeful concept every single part within the region gets its own chances and advantages for social, ecologic and economic benefits.

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3. Sustainable development and inter-municipal cooperation in the Region.

“The history of sustainability in Lüneburg in the first connection was the earth – sustainability, because they have the use of land in which the land was developed because of sustainability, too much use of land and forest and grass land.”

(Interview expert IV) As so, sustainable development has been present in the context of the Region since the 1990’s, when the Leuphana University started the Agenda 21 program in 1994. Nowadays, due to the current climate change situation in the world, this topic became essential in order to evaluate the possible actions. The inter-municipal cooperation appears in our context to assist and promote sustainability in the Lüneburg Region, where, besides the long tradition of cooperation, the city of Lüneburg still appears as the solo point of the events.

This part present the existing formal and informal programs in the Region such as Agenda-21, Zukunftsstadt, 100 % RE, LEADER, PFEIL, etc. Also the various instruments, actors, issues and functioning of those cooperations are explained, in order to have an overview of the current situation of the area. The research, analyses and expertise of these examples is considered essential for the development of our concept.

3.1 An overview of the important regional actors Sustainable development and inter-municipal cooperation can occur on many levels. The examples shown here cover different scales; although all of the programs and initiatives appear on a regional level.

The involved actors are usually responsible to push the ideas, organize the function of the “system”, finance the actions, etc. In the Lüneburg Region there’s a big number of non-governmental as well as governmental actors such as: PRIVATE INITIATIVES Private companies, or the population itself in the Lüneburg Region work on sustainable programs and initiatives. Whenever financing and decision making come from a particular person, or group, that are making choices by their own, it’s considered a private initiative.

A concrete example for this in the Lüneburg Region is the local energy company Lünestrom that produces regional, ecological and climate neutral energy. It also addresses social aspects, such as cheaper and more flexible energy contracts for students or financially weak costumers. (Lünestrom, n.d.)

KLIMASCHUTZLEITSTELLE “The Climate Protection Unit is the contact for policy and administration of the Hanseatic city and the district Lüneburg and sees itself as a control center of a climate network for the region. This includes the

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

municipalities of the county, the economy, agriculture, forestry, schools, other actors who are active or relevant for climate protection, and last but not least citizens. The KSL information and advice; they want to link players, support projects and implements its own projects. There is also a close cooperation within the Hamburg metropolitan region and in particular with the Office of Climate Change of the district Harburg on various topics of climate protection.” (Landkreis Lüneburg, 2016 a) LEUPHANA-UNIVERSITY The Leuphana University is an important actor in the Lüneburg Region, constantly involving other parts of the society, especially the students. Through many iniciatives regarding sciences, research and action work in general about sustainability, the university appears as essential on the development of the sustainable region. On special project is related with the “Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM) of the University of Lüneburg, that is an international center of excellence for research, teaching, scientific training and transfer in the areas of corporate sustainability management, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and social entrepreneurship” (CSM, 2016). They look for opportunities to develop sustainability and research, using a combination of human and natural sciences, considering the transdisciplinary way of working essential to provide future development for the civil society.

GOVERNMENT (REGION OR TOWN HALL) The government appears as one of the main actors in most of the programs, also because of the many possible levels it can occur such as, reliable power and finance possibilities. The Lüneburg Government has a strong influence of the green party, therefore, there’s a big support for sustainable actions in the region.

LOCAL INITIATIVES The Lüneburg Region has a large base of local initiatives that support the sustainable development.

There’re initiatives focusing on sustainable education from a very young age on initiatives that concentrate more on the economical aspect of the sustainability and some that work in the field of sustainable food supply. In the image beside, you can see a collection of various logos of initiatives from the Region, to visualize the fact, that there’s a very broad range existing.

To analyze all of them in detail would go too far for this report. Therefore we want to introduce the T.U.N., which has been one of the earliest and is one of the most active and wider ranged initiatives in the Region.

T.U.N T.U.N is a Technic, Environment and Nature association. They work with charitable purposes, and look to implement sustainability and innovation in the Lüneburg Region, especially setting up lifestyle and economic standards. They are responsible for the Lüneburg environmental fair and Dialogue sustainability N days Lüneburg.

“The Lüneburg environmental fair has always been

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an event, which isn’t focused on the sale of products.

Even after 30 years, sustainable and ecological activities are still our themes. Meanwhile, renewable energy and organic farming are no foreign concepts and have become mainstream.” ( EPEA, 2015)

3.2 State of the cooperation process 3.2.1 Policies and program documents Cooperation often requires a series of legal frameworks to support the initiatives and programs. These instruments are presented as administrative documents, policies, guidelines and strategies, and are essential in the process by organizing the functioning state of cooperation.

The importance of such tools comes in the “inclusion of environmental objectives into Cohesion Policy regulatory framework and programs.” The “Strategies and policies ensure appropriate weighing of environmental objective against economic and social ones and the allocation of adequate financial resources for environmental integration.” (D.I.E, “German Development Institute”, 2014). They present an opportunity to coordinate efforts towards environmental integration, developing a concrete operation.

Fig. 11 Regional actors and cooperations in Lüneburg Region

In order to strengthen common procedures and practices in terms of policy-making and innovation, a set of tools, monitoring and reporting systems are often required, but also are the ones that depend upon administrative integration and finance. Therefore, these procedures are the ones that usually face the biggest political resistance. The formalization of the policy-making process walks side-by-side with the capacity of ensuring the effective application in practice.

The scope of policies also includes the position,

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

strength and potential of the involved actors. Depending on the changes in institutional structures (governmental changes), and engagement of the partners involved, the policies resulted from the process can be more or less effective, or covers more or less regions.

The outcome of such action could improve collaborative networks and enforce partnerships. After a general introduction about the obligatory regional planning from Lüneburg Region, here we present the programs related with sustainable development within the studied area.

PROGRAMS AND POLICIES WITHIN THE REGION. As a formal planning instrument the Regionales Raumordnungsprogramm (RROP) Lüneburg determines the land uses and functions as a connection between the federal state and the urban land-use plan. (Landkreis Lüneburg, 2016 b) Its primary function is to guide and oblige the planning on a regional level and to ensure a social, ecologic and environment compatible planning. Furthermore the Lüneburg Region is participating in various non obligatory programs which are mentioned here after.

ZUKUNFTSSTADT LÜNEBURG 2030 The Zukunftsstadt program sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research looks to promote a “City of the Future” idea, through dialog with citizens on how to improve urban living in the city, by discussing sustainable concepts such as green rooftops, climate-friendly energy and clean transportation. In

the contest “51 selected urban and rural communities are developing a comprehensive and sustainable ‘Vision 2030+’ in cooperation with citizens, the science community, local policy-makers, industry and administration. In a three-phase process the visions will ultimately be put to the practical test in “real-world laboratories” starting in 2018”. (Wissenschaftsjahr, 2015).

The project requires a great deal of cooperation between the multiple actors present. “If local governments want to successfully deal with the grand challenges of the future, they must involve their citizens and science” (Wissenschaftsjahr, 2015), therefore the idea behind the program is to advise that these collaborative projects of the future concerns the whole population.

The contest presented is composed in three phases.

The first consist in developing an achievable vision, followed by the organization and plan to implement them. The last phase subsists on putting the planning on practice. According to the contest 51 cities were selected to participate on the first phase, which involves the development of concrete ideas and how the implementation process on these communities will evolve. The ones selected to continue in the next rounds of the contest in 2016 will plan the action, and by last up to eight communities will be able to transform the vision and developed a reality.

The partners of this contest include the German Association of Cities and Towns, the German Association

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Part III of Towns and Municipalities, and the German Counties Association, that will organize, jury and finance it. The contest is a module of the “City of the Future” flagship initiative under the framework program “Research for Sustainable Development” , the F.O.N.A. The project group witnessed the lecture for the Lüneburg region, by the coordination of Prof. Dr. Daniel Lang, Dean of the Faculty sustainability at Leuphana University, where 25 topics have been discussed about the project “Future City Lüneburg 2030+”. The main subject covered the United Nations 17 sustainability goals (Sustainable Development Goals), on focusing a more careful use of resources, and establishing new standards of living, questioning which of the goals Luneburg has to achieve to 2030, and inquiring how the various actors will work together.

Lüneburg has already many initiatives, the main challenges are how the cities will react the need to develop such project and also the existing gap between the theoretical study and the reality. The principle of Agenda 21 applied the “Think globally, act locally” logo as an example to developed the “future city 2030+”.

Fields like mobility, food and lodging, energy supply, social issues or democracy will appear to all citizens, and one of the propositions is to make the head-makers of different areas as multipliers of knowledge.

One of the main actors in the Zukunftsstadt program is the Leuphana University, which participates in many initiatives, including spreading knowledge in

many levels. The university also has an independent module lecture for Bachelor students, where the object is work together with employers’ representatives from environmental organizations, and developed a Group’s future images from specific perspective, presenting these visions of the future on a conference week.

The contest and the mobilization that are already in on the way resulted in a union between civil society, science, business, politics, administration and other sectors of the city, in order to develop visions for the future of their communities, climate change ,on how to make cities livable in a sustainable way. The Zukunftsstadt is happening at the present time within the city of Lüneburg, so it does not include the Region itself. But it has been still considered important as an example and model for sustainable cities.

SMART REGION The Smart Region program is a collaborative project between the regions Harburg, Lüchow-Dannenberg, Lüneburg, Stade and Uelzen and the Süderelbe AG (public company supporting the economic development). The main actors involved are the universities, politicians, administration and business actors.

According to the Süderelbe AG, the project seeks to identify potentials in sustainability on the Northeastern Lower Saxony region and the Southern-Elbe-Region, lowering the disparities between the urban and rural areas. The aim of the program is to contribute to

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

the efficient use of existing potentials, strengthening inter-municipal cooperation. This could be achieved by facilitating communication, identifying mutual opportunities, providing technical and social infrastructure as well as increasing environmental and climate protection.

Some of the significant projects that already took place were the “connecting mobility through E-rental-stations” (E-Verleih-Stationen) in rural areas and “new local supply networks”: retail, e-commerce and delivery services. The interesting point concerning our project is the inter-municipal cooperation that was necessary to achieve on a larger scale territory. Another intention was to support the tourism projects, by increasing the attractiveness of the Northeastern Lower Saxony.

By that example we establish a connection to the concept that this project aim to develop, especially on the northeastern part of the Lüneburg Region that struggles with problems such as demographic change and lack of jobs opportunities.

LEADER The LEADER project “Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l’Économie Rurale” - meaning to develop actions for the revitalization of the rural economy and the support of regional cooperations between actors in the rural areas. It has occurred in three periods already (2000-2006, 2007-2013 and 20142020) being supported by a “Regionalmanagement”

that coordinates the working of the different actors, and the elaboration and realization that concern the projects professionally. “Rural development policy is an increasingly important component of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It promotes sustainable development in Europe’s rural areas addressing economic, social and environmental concerns. Over half of the EU’s population lives in rural areas, which cover 90 % of the EU’s territory. (European Commission, 2006).The projects usually seek to develop village areas, preservation/renovation and new use of historic buildings, re-naturalize of waters, help for companies founding, qualify for certain jobs in the region and protect natural landscape.

The Lüneburg region includes three different LEADER regions. The “Elbtalaue” located West of the Lüneburg region, with the main topics regarding tourism, landscape and energy. The second LEADER-Region Achtern-Elbe-Diek consists of the west part of Lüneburg Region. Since 2007, the project already showed its efficiency in matter of tourism, recreation and culture, future village and agriculture, in a good cooperation between the private and public actors, and the members, that made the decisions concerning the project, mainly focused to cooperate with Hamburg.

The third and last LEADER region that include parts of the Lüneburg region is the “Naturpark Lüneburger Heide”. Between the various infrastructure projects one that has developed the Region considerably, the Lüneburger Heide, natural preserved landscape, ap-

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pears as the main area that helped to improve the tourism sector in the Region. The Lüneburger Heide is located in the Landkreis Uelzen, and also considered in the scope of climate change, environmental, nature protection and economic development.

3.2.2 Cooperation schemes and initiatives JOINT REGIONAL COOPERATION INITIATIVES Lüneburg has a long history of cooperation, due to the fact that it was a city that used to be part of the Hanseatic League, based on its main product: salt.

It’s also one of the main cities in the region that has sustainable development as a northing factor on its planning. The initiatives situated in the Lüneburg Region usually include cooperation in fields as tourism, economy and work, education and integration, mobility and infrastructure as well as climate mitigation and resources.

LOCAL PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES To give an idea of how broad the range of sustainability related projects and initiatives in the Lüneburg Region ist, there’s a selection of them listed below: MODELLVORHABEN “LANDZUKUNFT” This initiative looks for a way to stable demographic change in the region. By keeping the people in the countryside and rise regional value, they are trying to solve the cross-branch shortage of qualified people situation.

(BMEL, n.d.)

ENVIRONMENT FAIR This fair, organized by the T.U.N (Technik, Umwelt, Natur) looks for organizing discussions and meetings around the city. (T.U.N., 2015) BUND FOR VEGAN LIFESTYLE This initiative is committed to spread the vegan lifestyle, by education and informing about the health and environmental benefits, and it’s also related with the organic farming promotion.(Freiraum Lüneburg UG, n.d.)

BÜRGER-WINDPARK AMELINGHAUSEN The citizens of the Samtgemeinde Amelinghausen and the Leuphana-University work on a project to support the production of renewable wind energy.

That’s why they are developing a wind park. The Leuphana University gives scientific input and the citizens contribute in this developmen tby joining the whole process and by financing it. (Bürgerwindpark Amelinghausen eG, 2016) CLIMATE MITIGATION PROJECTS The climate station for Hansestadt and district Lüneburg seeks for the Initiation, monitoring and implementation of climate protection projects in the region Lüneburg. It’s one of the main actors in the region regarding energy, climate change, environment, networking and participation. (Freiraum Lüneburg UG, n.d.)

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

KOKO - GRAIN CONNECTION KOKO is a group that is organized to finance and consume food from organic farming in Lüneburg. They want to promote organic farming in the region, improve health and nutrition and keep the transport distances low, in order to use less fuel for transportation.

The costs are kept very low, the packaging waste is reduced, and usually glasses, bottles, buckets and bags are reused. (Freiraum Lüneburg UG, n.d.)

LEUFARM - STUDENT COMMUNITY GARDEN The LEUFARM at the University of Lüneburg is a community garden project in the biotope garden campus. The idea came from a group of students seeking for more nature and 0km food. It also offer space for intercultural exchange, social, networking and participation of the population. (Freiraum Lüneburg UG, n.d.)

LÜNESCO - LÜNEBURG NETWORK FOR A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY (2013/2014) The project entitled LÜNESCO looks for options to promote sustainable development in community. It’s a part of the transdisciplinary research project of the Master Program in Sustainability Science from University, promoting educational, social and urban development. One of the standards is to promote youth participation in the city, considering the involvement of citizens essential for sustainable urban development context. (Freiraum Lüneburg UG, n.d.)

REGIO LUNAR E. V. The Regio Lunar initiative uses private money to strengthen regional purchasing power, by introducing a regional monetary system, self-help and self-sufficiency economy. The aim is to generate local economic cycles, in which not the money, but the products from the region are at the center and be encouraged.

(Freiraum Lüneburg UG, n.d.)

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4. Expert Interviews - Main Findings

INTERVIEW EXPERT I: The T.U.N. has been one of the first sustainability initiatives in the Lüneburg region; has been existing for 30 years now. According to the interviewed there are a lot of sustainability initiatives and projects going on in the region but no one has an overview. The social sustainability topic isn’t prioritized in the region; it’s rather the environmental and economic aspects. The refugee crisis is handled quite well in the Lüneburg Region though.

The T.U.N. supports the idea of a bottom-up organization to achieve a joint sustainable development of the region and doesn’t think the municipalities can or should provide this organization structure. They even offer to act as an umbrella organization, where all the local actors can come together, because they think the cooperation and the joining of forces will help the sustainable development of the region significantly. The financing of an organization structure is a big issue in the region.

There’s already small-scale cooperation in the region existing. An example is the cooperation between the T.U.N., from the city of Lüneburg and the Leuphana University. They are cooperating for example in the project Zukunftsstadt 2030+.

INTERVIEW EXPERT II: The city Lüneburg is a center of the northeast Lower Saxony and has the function to influence the surrounding positively. Lüneburg has the function and the tasks of an Oberzentrum. There’s a Raumordnungsprogramm where the prioritized areas for energy production are defined. This local energy is also supposed to provide energy for the city of Lüneburg.

Another important content is the fact that the municipality of Lüneburg has built up a strong cooperation with the university. It’s not a classical principal and agent relation, but both act as equal partners on sustainability projects. To achieve a goal in the Lüneburg Region personal contacts and exchange is very important. The municipality sees a strong connection between the local people and the political level. They are willing to provide a framework for the sustainable development, but the local actors have to be active themselves to achieve something. The administrative, political level shouldn’t regulate too much.

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

INTERVIEW EXPERT III: The city of Bleckede is more connected to the eastern parts of the region and this doesn’t include the city of Lüneburg. There’s a high risk that the development of the municipalities is continuing to diverge. The regional political level should make sure that the whole region is not drifting apart but develops in a sustainable way, everywhere.

There’s several Regionale Entwicklungskonzepte and many parts of the region, like the area around Bleckede, that are included in a region of the LEADER programme. There’s a meeting of all the mayors of the region each month, where common topics are discussed and some joint projects are created. For the eastern part of the Lüneburg Region, it is very important to make sure an economical strength is focused The framework makes it hard for the eastern part of the region to keep up with the city of Lüneburg. Problems are for example the infrastructure, which is rather weak in the east.

INTERVIEW EXPERT IV: One of the main findings is the way they deal with the topic of sustainable development. The Klimaschutzleitstelle is developing a monitoring system which is helping them to monitor climate transition in the region. This seems to be the most special project: “Participation and the orientation towards sustainable development and development of a monitoring system for climate protection” developed by the Klimaschutzleitstelle and one group from the Leuphana University. They are now reporting for the second time already and it’s been helping then to monitorate the region. Another good example is how the Klimaschutzleitstelle also involves other municipalities in the region, because it has spread through other fields, but maintaining the organization itself mostly in the Lüneburg Region. According to the expert one thing that could be improved with the inter-municipal cooperation (support from other municipalities) is the financial support and the general organization (facilitate to make contacts). The participation of the population is one other topic that is extremely important, and the lack of it could be a problem. The involvement of the local people are through projects regarding buildings changes (green housing, or reform of the buildings) and also supporting the changes in sustainable development, for example by using clean energy.

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INTERVIEW EXPERT V: This interview was essential to understand the relation and form of cooperation. According to the interview sustainability projects and the establishment of cooperations should start on the small scale and then sum up to participate. But including everyone right at the beginning takes too long, and is exhausting.

Bilateral cooperations for the sustainable development of the Lüneburg Region are probably better and easier to implement than platforms. An Oberzentrum like Lüneburg has a responsibility for the whole region, so sustainable projects in the city can have a positive impact on the surrounding areas as well. More cooperations, also in the form of sharing platforms would be positive for the Lüneburg Region. Specially due to the demographic change in the region, that is way more extreme in the rural parts than in the city Lüneburg. There’s also some projects and initiatives existing in the rural parts of the region, like the Bürgerwindpark project in Amelinghausen. This project is also important to raise the acceptance of the wind energy plants by the local inhabitants. But most of the initiatives are located in the city itself.

INTERVIEW EXPERT VI: The Leuphana University is one of the main actors of the sustainability topic in Lüneburg, therefore, this interview was essential to understand different ways they deal with this subject nowadays. With a long history of actions regarding sustainable development, they have acted in research projects in cooperation with other actors. The main finding to be highlighted from this interview was how the university is aiming to engage the population to sustainable actions, not only by introducing this topic to the students, but also to other citizens, especially the teachers in the surrounding schools that can act as “multipliers” of the sustainable ideas. So sustainable education is an important issue as part of the strategy that the university is trying to implement. In this aspect Lüneburg has a quite good perspective.

Case Study: The Lßneburg Region – An Analysis

5. Chapter conclusion 5.1 SWOT-analysis In order to continue with the conceptual part, the main results of the analysis are organised and categorized and serve as a foundation for the development of the concept. As a first step, the SWOT-analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) is used to clarify the main findings about the LĂźneburg Region which are relevant for the fields of sustainable development and inter-municipal cooperation. It is essential to regard the different developed parts within the region and the various economic, ecologic and social emphases.

Subsequently the SOAR-approach (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results) is applied to take advantage of the existing strengths and potentials and develop an action oriented concept (cf. chapter 5.2 SOAR-analysis).

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Strength Renewable energy (project 100 % RE-region, Klimaschutzleitstelle) Wind parks, solar panels and biomass as main sources Sustainable transport (public transport, carsharing, bike-systems) in the city Ecological orientated agriculture, diversity of local and typical products Leuphana University/Research Center provide sustainable knowledge and expertise Cooperations between the university and the city of Lüneburg and other municipalities; with schools; with companies; NGOs

Weaknesses Difficult structures for implementation, comparing with fuel or gas.

Renewable energy (potential of the expansion of solar, wind and biomass) potential for new jobs

Doesn’t have many people interest in this idea, due to the difficult of communication when compared with individual transport.

No consistent marketing of the products

Sustainable transport systems could help to access important points in the eastern part

The schools should develop an educational approach of sustainability, and not depend on the university.

Awareness of sustainability and existing projects (Zukunftsstadt, 100 % RE-region)

Not the whole population is engaged with that.

Regional authorities and local authorities as a base “Regionales Entwicklungskonzept” (REK) includes sustainability topics A relatively strong position of the green party in the region

REK is just informal instrument, no pressure to fulfil the proposals; not all renewable energy fields are included That’s not a stable position ; it can change from time to time.

A lot of NGO’s and initiatives for sustainable development (especially in the city of Lüneburg itself)

No overview about different initiatives; umbrella organisation is missing

Table 2 SWOT analysis

Opportunities

Growing trend of local produced organic products potential for new jobs Leuphana University/Research Center can attract more students within the future; Chances fot the creation of new cooperations (like the Zukunftsstadt project) Soft measure of cooperation through knowledge networks more cooperation possible!

Tradition of sustainable thinking since 1996 (Agenda 21 in the city of Lüneburg) could help to develop new concepts and ideas

The sustainability topic can be promoted more on a political level by the members of the green party Networks about sustainability based on various private and public actors could be developed

Threats Health of the structure (specially wind parks and solar panel in the houses), but considering the quality of services in the region, this doesn’t have to be considered.

Lack of interest from the population, after spending money to improve it.

Not very profiting area that could lead the region to a low economic position.

No possible threats found on this field.

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Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

Strength

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

Different financial sources are used for sustainable development and networking (LEADER, Zukunftsstadt etc.)

No overview about the financial sources that could be used is existing

Different financial sources can be used more for sustainable development and networking (LEADER, Zukunftsstadt etc.)

No organization or government wants to finance anything.

Location within the Metropolregion Hamburg (economy, infrastructure, knowledge)

Hamburg is more interest on stablishing relation with higher economies.

Metropolregion Hamburg is growing and attractive

Good traffic infrastructure connection between Lüneburg and Hamburg (train, highway)

Different states of Germany.

Development of the population in total is positive - today and to 2030 (city of Lüneburg and it’s surr ounding municipalities benefit) Tourism & close-to-nature extracurricular activity (historical center of Lüneburg, Lüneburger Heide, Elbtalaue, bikeways and hikingpaths) Diversity of plants and animals, protected areas and landscape on a large scale (UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve “Fluss -LandschaftElbe”

Critical development of the eastern part (decrease of the population), Aging of the population to 2030, Less children and less families No consistent marketing/branding - no coordination (different organisations)

More negative saldo of commuters (most people work outside of the region) No strong economy and the lack of job opportunities (especially in the Eastern parts) Lüneburg as a dormitory in the future for commuters to Hamburg?

Contrast between the urban-rural parts is expected to increase

Better coordinated marketing of the region, region branding possible

Unsustainable tourism could damage the protected areas

Restriction on protected areas for further developments (economy, building sector, infrastructure) Isolation of the Eastern part of the region (lack of infrastructure and public transport, no broadband internet) Urban-rural contrast: Different strengths that can be used

Table 3 SWOT analysis

Isolation of the Eastern part (less people move to this region because of the lack of necessary infrastructure, miv is getting more important) Urban-rural contrast: Threat that the rural part will totally

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5.2 SOAR-analysis As a strength based analysis the SOAR approach is helpful to benefit of the existing strengths and to evolve the potentials. Therewith it is easier to focus on the positive unique aspects and to regard the special needs of the various parts.

This approach facilitates the connection between the analytical and conceptual part plus the implementation of the concept on a realistic point of view. The necessary requirements and results are regarded and serve as a guideline for the following step, the concept for the LĂźneburg Region.

The weaknesses and threats can be eliminated improving the strengths and opportunities. Most of the existing weaknesses are consequences of the past actions and need to be reframed into action oriented provisions (Capela and Brooks-Saunders, n.d.).

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Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

Strength

Renewable energy

Opportunities

Renewable energy

Aspirations

Renewable energy

Results

Renewable energy

(project 100 % RE-region, Klimaschutzleitstelle)

(potential of the expansion of solar, wind and

Incentivate the existing cooperation in

Enlarge the production of

Wind parks, solar panels and biomass as main

biomass)

the field of renewable energy.

renewable energies in the

sources

→ potential for new jobs

Ecological orientated agriculture, diversity of

Growing trend of local produced organic

Systems to support local production and

local and typical products

products

to connect it with the citizens of the

products on total food

→ potential for new jobs

region through direct supply chains

production rises

region Share of organic farming

→ better coordinated marketing Leuphana University/Research Center provide

Leuphana University/Research Center can attract

Develop research projects and

Expanded research networks,

sustainable knowledge and expertise

more students within the future;

knowledge sharing

participation of citizens

Chances fot the creation of new cooperations Cooperations between the university and the city

(like the Zukunftsstadt project)

of Lüneburg and other municipalities; with

Soft measure of cooperation through knowledge

schools; with companies; NGOs

networks → more cooperation possible!

Awareness of sustainability and existing projects

Tradition of sustainable thinking since 1996

Participatory processes in all the levels

New projects and readiness to

(Zukunftsstadt, 100 % RE-region)

(Agenda 21 in the city of Lüneburg) could help to

involved

work together Sustainable policies promoted

develop new concepts and ideas A relatively strong position of the green party in

The sustainability topic can be promoted more on

Top-down coordination and planning

the region

a political level by the members of the green

framework

Regional political authorities and local authorities as a base

in the political level Inclusion of sustainability in

party

political agendas

“Regionales Entwicklungskonzept” (REK) includes sustainability topics A lot of NGOʼs and initiatives for sustainable

Networks about sustainability based on various

Bottom-up initiation as main driver for

impulses Local context related impulses

development (especially in the city of Lüneburg

private and public actors could be developed

sustainable development

(initiatives)

Different financial sources are used for

Different financial sources can be used more for

Information about possible financial

Better coordinated and

sustainable development and networking

sustainable development and networking

resources and coordination between the

efficient use of financial

(LEADER, national funds etc.)

(LEADER, national funds etc.)

financiers

support

Location within the Metropolregion Hamburg

Metropolregion Hamburg is growing and

Exchange of resources and/or

Joint sustainable development

(economy, infrastructure, knowledge)

attractive

inputs/outputs

itself)

Good traffic infrastructure connection between Lüneburg and Hamburg (train, highway) Different positive aspects within the various parts of the region

Table 4 SOAR analysis

in the Metropolregion, complementary aspects → interrelations

Urban-rural contrast: Different strengths that can be used and can support the other part of the region

Strenghts will be used to deal with needs within the region.

Each part of the region shall benefit from the cooperation and complement each other by

using its strenghts.

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5.3 Conclusion - Main trends and challenges The SWOT and SOAR analyses present themselves essential as an in-between step leading to the concept. The aim of the project is to achieve regional sustainable development through inter-municipal cooperation, and analyze and construct possible ways to accomplish so. Each part of the region shall benefit from the cooperation and complement each other by using its strengths that have been identified in the SWOT analysis and that have been addressed in a more particular way in the SOAR analysis. Strengths will be used to deal with needs and weaknesses within the region.

All the main trends and challenges that have been detected in the analysis have to be addressed in the concept because they are all critical aspects for the sustainable development of the region. Before the concept will be explained in the next chapter of this report, a brief summary of these trends and challenges will be given: One of the biggest challenges is the east-west difference in the region and the rural-urban contrasts.

The eastern part will have to deal with demographic change, peripheral circumstances and its weak economical position in the region. These topics have to be addressed in the sustainable development. The more central parts, the better connected areas and the city of Lüneburg will have to make a sustainable

growth happen on the contrary and will have to make sure, that they don’t act as “isolated islands“ in its surroundings. East and West, rural and urban have both strengths that have to be expanded such as the strong initiative base and research institutions in the Lüneburg city or on the other hand the large open spaces to be used as energy production sites or as farmland for a sustainable food production in the eastern parts.

It is very important that the large base of different actors in the field of sustainability is included in a concept for the region. In the analysis it became obvious, how many initiatives and institutions already exist in the field of sustainability.

However, it was proved in the analysis that these initiatives and private and public actors are not well interconnected and that a joining of these strengths has to be achieved. A big challenge will be the financial support for cooperation and the sustainable projects, as it was proved in the expert interviews.

On the other hand there’s a lot of potential financial sources – like for example the LEADER money provided by the EU or money that might be acquired by the Zukunftsstadt 2030+ project.

The social, the environmental and the ecological part of the sustainability have to be considered in the concept. After the analysis it is obvious that all of them

Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis

include weaknesses that have to be addressed. But all of them include a lot of strengths that can be expanded, that will give an answer the weaknesses and that will provide a sustainable future for Lüneburg.

Cooperation is the method which will be used to focus on all of these three subparts of sustainability in the following concept.

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Part IV

A Concept: Strategy for LĂźneburg Region

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1. Conceptual approach: From bilateral cooperations to networks.

“STRENGTHENING THE STRENGTHS“ As explained in the analytical part the concept is built on existing strengths of the Region and based on the resulting potentials of the Region with the characteristic of being expendable.

The most important one of these potentials is the wide base of voluntary groups and projects going on in the Region about its sustainable development.

The concept for the project is following some principles, that are derived from the outcomes of the analysis of the Region and from the input we got out of several expert interviews we had.

One is the “bottom-up“ start of the concept. We are convinced that through using the mentioned existing groups and volunteers we will have a more successful and accepted result that comes from the people in the Lüneburg Region. Starting from the bottom-up point is more sustainable than a top-down approach because it’ll be carried on by the local actors themselves.

The Second key word for the project is “small scale“.

The whole concept is supposed to be realistic and implementable in the Region. Therefore it is important to start on a small scale and go to bigger projects and

cooperations step by step.

This is also the third important principle to be mentioned at the beginning of this concept part. A step by step approach makes the concept easier to implement, easier to adapt to occurring circumstances and gives the local actors in the Lüneburg Region the possibility to extend their resources bit by bit and to build up something that will last long in the end.

“I think it’s better to start on the small scale, not on the bigger scale, and then develop step by step.“ (Interview expert I)

“Yes I think a bottom-up initiative would be more successful.“ (Interview expert I)

A Concept: Strategy for Lüneburg Region

2. Presentation of the concept.

The concept is divided in two phases and each of these phases is split into two steps. (fig. 12 and 13) Phase 1 of the concept represents a bottom-up approach and therefore is not organised like a “traditional“ top-down inter-municipal cooperation structure.

The first phase will point out and then extend already existing successful bilateral cooperations in the Lüneburg Region.

The second phase will go a step further and de-

velop a cooperation structure for the Lüneburg Region, beginning again on a bottom-up level and then adding a top-down framework in the end.

Each of the phases is connected to certain expectations. Phase 1 shall create an improvement of the sustainable development through short term measures that are easy to implement and based on existing bilateral structures. Phase 2 is supposed to create an improvement of the sustainable development through more complex networks that are supported by a top-down framework.

Phase 1

Phase 2

Step 1: Identifying existing successful bilateral

cooperations Step 2: Expanding these cooperations

Step 1: Creating a bottom-up network

Fig. 12 Concept Phase I

Fig. 13 Concept Phase II

Step 2: Instituionalizing top-down framwork

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In general the concept will give an answer to our research question. Therefore we develop a strategy to show how inter-municipal cooperation can promote sustainable development in the Lüneburg Region.

2.1 Phase 1 - Bilateral cooperations for the Lüneburg Region 2.1.1 Existing bilateral cooperations “I think one should start on the small scale and then ask others to participate. But including everyone right at the behinning takes to long, and is exhausting“ (Interview expert V) In phase 1 of step 1 of the concept we researched which bilateral cooperations that are already existing in the Region are based on non-governmental actors that are working very well already and therefore count as a strength for the Region. (cf. chapter III Case Study: The Lüneburg Region – An Analysis.) The only topics not included at the beginning of this concept are the tourism and the infrastructure. It doesn’t seem that there are existing convincing cooperations in the field of tourism that support the sustainable development of the Region. Tourism itself can be made more sustainable but doesn’t create sustainability directly.

This is why the topic will be excluded in the following concept. Infrastructure on the other hand can be a topic dealt with in the Second phase of the project,

when the municipalities are included directly. The beginning of the project is just built on non-governmental actors and since infrastructure projects are usually implemented by the government, it’ll be part of the later phase of the concept, where the municipalities will be directly included.

The selected example projects also can be extended in a short-term timeframe so that results can be seen soon. Another criteria for the projects was that an extension of them doesn’t require a lot of financial and personal resources. Last considered characteristic of the chosen examples was that they’re located in the different parts of the Region - rural and urban, East and West.

The projects that were chosen for the concept are listed below: THE “CAMPUS SCHOOL PROJECT“ A project between the Leuphana-University and three schools in and close to Lüneburg, the Oberschule in Jesteburg, the Oberschule am Wasserturm in Lüneburg and the IGS Lüneburg. The cooperation is about the organisational, contentual and methodical collaboration between academic education, scientific research and practical work. The Leuphana university works together with the schools on important challenges of today. The university benefits from the practical approach of the schools whereas the schools get an insight in the new concepts of the university. The whole cooperation is implemented through several transdisciplinary seminars. (Barfknecht, 2015)

A Concept: Strategy for Lüneburg Region

THE “ENERGY CONSULTING“ The “Klimaschutzleitstelle“ in Lüneburg is consulting private house owners in the challenge of how to make their homes energy efficient. (Landkreis Lüneburg 2016 c) Furthermore they have a bilateral project with municipalities; they consult them about how to make their public buildings more sustainable. The Klimaschutzleitstelle is also giving advice for the financing of climate protection projects. (Landkreis Lüneburg, 2016 d) CLIMATE PROTECTION CONCEPTS The Klimaschutzleitstelle also works on whole specific concepts of climate protection for different municipalities in the Region. So far there are three climate protection concepts for the municipalities Bleckede, Reppenstedt and Bardowick. (Landkreis Lüneburg 2016 d) WIND PARKS In the Samtgemeinde Amelinghausen there’s a bilateral cooperation existing between the citizens of the Samtgemeinde and the Leuphana-University. Together they want to develop a wind park. Role of the university in the cooperation is the scientific input and to develop financing- und communication stategies together with the citizens. The citizens contribute in this development itself but also by financing the whole project. (Bürgerwindpark Amelinghausen eG, 2016) SOLAR ROOF EXCHANGE There’s a bilateral cooperation between the municipalities and the citizens of the Region. The cooperation is about the public building roofs in the cities that

can be rented by citizens to use the big surfaces to install solar panels on top. They pay a rent for these roofs to the cities in exchange for being able to use the produced electricity. (Landkreis Lüneburg, 2016 e) ORGANIC FARMING The organic farm “Weidenhof“ close to the Western boarder of the Lüneburg Region has a bilateral cooperation with the people living in its surroundings.

The farm is financed by these people. In exchange to that the farm delivers food to all their founders. The food never enters the food market like this, but is the reward for the people, who support the local organic food. (Bloß, 2014) SUSTAINABLE COMPANIES The “Klimaschutzleitstelle“ in Lüneburg also has a bilateral cooperation with the companies of the Region.

They work together with the companies to develop an economic sector that includes climate, environmental and resource protection. This cooperation is seen as a challenge and a chance at the same time. There’s for example information meetings, consultations and competitions included in the cooperation organisation. (Landkreis Lüneburg, 2016 f) The chosen examples cover the following topics that represent the base for the sustainable development in the Region: Research, education, climate protection concepts, energy efficiency, renewable energies, organic farming and sustainable companies.(fig. 14, p. 82)

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Fig. 14 Topics and examples

All these broader topics can be fit in the triangle of sustainability. (fig. 15) They cover all the three columns of sustainability through knowledge and awareness, that contributes to the social sustainability in the Region by making everyone being able to join, through the focus on local economy and therefore supporting the economical sustainability by shortening transport ways, creating and keeping jobs in the Region and by making the local economical production sustainable and through climate mitigation measures that support

the ecological sustainable development of the LĂźneburg Region.

The different examples all belong to at least two or more fields of the sustainability triangle. The three columns can’t be separated from each other and influence each other significantly.

That becomes obvious just by looking at the examples we chose for the LĂźneburg Region.

A Concept: Strategy for LĂźneburg Region

Fig. 15 Topics in the Triangle of Sustainability

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2.1.2 Possible new bilateral cooperations All the mentioned existing bilateral cooperations have potential to be improved or even extended, so that more actors can join the projects to achieve progress in the effort to become a sustainable Region.

To become a Region that develops in a sustainable way, as many actors as possible need to be included to raise their awareness and work on the sustainability goal together. Therefore the concept continues with the extension of the existing cooperations and makes proposals for each of them.

THE “CAMPUS SCHOOL PROJECT“ The ongoing seminars in the project between the university and the schools are not about topics that are not related to the field of sustainability yet. They are about standard school subjects such as mathematics, English, German and so on. (Barfknecht 2015) Therefore it would be better to include some seminars that deal specifically with the topic sustainability in all its facets.

Moreover it would be much better to let other schools, also in the rural parts of the Region get part of the cooperation, to make sure the social part of sustainability is not missed. Students in the whole Region must get the chance to be informed and learn in the field of sustainability. They are the future of the Region and have to be taught how to live a sustainable in the Lüneburg Region from the beginning on.

A third possibility to strengthen this existing bilateral

cooperation would be to create cooperations between the schools and the university with local (sustainable) companies. Like this there could be practice partners in the cooperation to support it by their experience and also with financial resources. These companies in exchange to that, can be sure that the students of the Region, who might be future workers at their companies, learn more about the principle of sustainability and the connection to the economy.

THE “ENERGY CONSULTING The energy consulting project that mostly contributes to the ecological sustainability should make more efforts to strengthen the social sustainability by giving everyone a chance to join the cooperation. Making your home energy efficient, often by renovating it, implies a lot of financial investment from the citizens.

But many people don’t have enough money to renovate their houses of build with the cheapest material they can get, even though it might be not the most sustainable one on the market.

There should be a funding concept for these people, who are willing to make their homes sustainable, but can’t afford it themselves. There are different possibilities for that: One could be a standard subsidization by the local governments if someone considers sustainability aspects when building or renovating their homes. Another option could be a sponsorship of companies or citizens for citizens, where people and companies who have the money, either lend it to the people who can’t afford it themselves or even donate it.

A Concept: Strategy for Lüneburg Region

CLIMATE PROTECTION CONCEPTS Since there’s just three climate protection concepts existing in the whole Region, it would be necessary to develop such concepts for more parts within the Region. These concepts should also not just be focused on the cities in the Region, but should also be developed for the rural parts. For example some smaller villages could work on a joint concept together with the Klimaschutzleitstelle. To get the whole Region to act sustainable, the focus has to lie on the rural parts, as well as the cities, to get cities and villages, no matter which size, prepared to act properly in the context of climate protection. Climate protection has to start on a small scale so that the bigger scale goals can be achieved in the end.

WIND PARKS The wind park cooperation is a great example how renewable energy production can be developed by private investors together with the scientific experts.

For the example in Amelinhausen there’s already an existing organizational structure developed. For an efficient sustainable development in the whole Region of Lüneburg it would be very useful to build windparks like this in the areas that have the most potential and space for wind energy. In the Regionales Raumordnungsprogramm 2003 (updated May 2015) the areas around Bleckede, Bardowick and Dahlenburg are shown as areas with high potential for wind energy.

The wind park project could also be implied there.

This would also help to strengthen the economy in these parts of the Region. Especially in the Eastern part of the Region and therefore around Bleckede and Dahlenburg, a strengthening of the economical po-

tentials must be supported to make sure the Region develops economically sustainable and that not just the Eastern part falls behind the Western part.

SOLAR ROOF EXCHANGE The cooperation could be extended by involving more actors to the exchange. There could be an extension by local farmers or companies who can provide large roofs for solar panel use. The whole exchange system could still work the same: The roofs are rented from local citizens for a certain amount of money and in exchange for that the private investors can use or sell all the energy produced by that is produced on the roofs.

ORGANIC FARMING The cooperation that exists between the Weidenhof farm and the people living in its surroundings is a great example of how to make the food sector in the Lüneurg Region more sustainable. Other farmers in the Region should follow the example of the Weidenhof. There’s also the possibility to deliver to a wider area, such as to Hamburg to rise the costumer numbers. But the delivery system shouldn’t go to too far to prevent CO2-emissions and should be done by more sustainable modes of transport, such as ships or trains. The cooperations should be advertised better, they coud develop a joint marketing strategy. In the end the farms with organic and locally produced food will be strenghtened and the economical, the ecological and also the social column of sustainability will be influenced positively.

SUSTAINABLE COMPANIES The already existing cooperations between the Klima-

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Part IV schutzleitstelle and several companies should be a role model for other companies in the Region. More companies should follow their example and try to make their production and their buildings more efficient and sustainable.

These companies could moreover cooperate with each other to form a sustainable economic cluster in the end. The municipalities could support the companies with the application of existing national funding programmes for the renewal (for example KfW-programmes).

FINANCING AND RESOURCES Since all of the bilateral cooperations named above already exist, the human resources are already existing and don’t have to be generated. The financial resources – that are relatively low in most of the examples – can be the same as before. The cooperations are often based on voluntary work, financed by the citizens, by the municipalities or by companies. There’s a mix of resource origins, which makes it easier to rise them – easier as if it would just be based on public projects and the municipalities would have to invest a lot of money just themselves. The new actors who will be included in the extended bilateral cooperations will also contribute personally and financially to be part of the whole process. Who finances the existing as well as the future projects can be seen in the table 5.

The created new bilateral cooperations coming from the existing ones and the improvement of those has positive short term impact on the Region’s way to sustainability. Through starting on this small scale Lüne-

burg begins its journey towards sustainability in an efficient way and combines the strengths that are already existing in the Region to achieve a stronger sustainable movement. Through building this part of the concept on non-governmental actors, these measureBILATERAL COOPERATIONS AND ACTORS

FINANCING AND RESOURCES

Campus school project (University & Schools)

Local authorities, University

Focus on „sustain also in the rural p rations between s

Energy consulting (Klimaschutzleitstelle & private house owners, public buildings)

Local authorities, Regional authority, Private owners

People who want money should be Sponsorship by co

Climate protection concepts (Klimaschutzleitstelle & Bleckede, Reppenstedt, Bardo-

Each city

Adapt the concep on, not just focus for “sub-regions”

Wind parks (Amelinghausen & local people, University)

Regional authority, Citizens

Use the potentia Dahlenburg

Solar-roof exchange (farmers, city & people within the region)

Citizens

Extension by also roofs

Organic farming (Weidenhof & people)

Citizens

Farmers in the Re Hamburg; Better ducts; Strengthen

Sustainable companies (Klimaschutzleitstelle & companies)

Companies; National funding

More companies able economic cl

FINANCING AND RESOURCES

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A Concept: Strategy for Lüneburg Region

ments are also independent from political structures that makes them more flexible and easier to implement. This is also the principal for the step 1 of the phase 2 of the concept which will be explained in the following part.

MEASURES

RESULTS

al authorities, versity

Focus on „sustainability“ topic; Include more schools, also in the rural parts of the region; Strengthen cooperations between school projects & local companies

Job opportunities and mutiplication of knowledge

al authorities, ional authority, ate owners

People who want to contribute but donʼt have enough money should be financially supported: Sponsorship by companies (maybe also public money?)

Everyone could afford sustainable housing.

Green buildings.

h city

Adapt the concepts to various parts within the Region, not just focused within the cities, also concepts for “sub-regions”

Guide lines for each city and “sub-region”. Make cities and rural parts act sustainable.

ional authority, zens

Use the potential areas in Bleckede, Bardowick & Dahlenburg

Provide more sustainable energy.

More job opportunities and strengthen the economy.

zens

Extension by also using local farmersʻ or companiesʻ roofs

Provide more sustainable energy.

More job opportunities and strengthen the economy.

zens

Farmers in the Region could export their products to Hamburg; Better advertising & marketing of the products; Strengthen locally produced food within the Region

Better ecological footprint.

Increase sustainable life style.

Strengthen the agriculture sector.

mpanies; National ding

More companies should follow; Creation of a sustainable economic cluster; support from municipalities

More job opportunities and strengthen the economy.

Better ecological footprint.

Table 5 Phase 1 Step 2

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2.2 Phase 2 - A network of cooperation for the Lüneburg Region.

From the improved and extended bilateral cooperations it is necessary to go a step further and build more complex cooperations. The more actors are involved in cooperations the more they can profit from each other, work and develop a sustainable Region with each other. The existing problem in the Lüneburg Region at the moment is that most actors don’t know about their possible cooperation partners or how they could profit from each other. That’s why the Region needs an umbrella organisation that can join and inform, get input and help creating new bilateral cooperations and evenmore complex structures than that.

This is why it has to be the Second phase of the concept since it’ll take more time to organize the umbrella organisation within the Region as a base for the complex cooperation structures.

2.2.1 Bottom-up strategy.

“I think cooperative networks are really important.

Although I don’t know if the city administration would be the right place to establish them in.“ (Interview expert I) The step 1 of the phase 1 is built on the strong volunteer base of non-governmental actors that we have in the Region of Lüneburg. This makes the implementation easier, since there’s no party pressure or election period or other circumstances that influence the pro-

cess. The voluntary groups, that are already existing could join their resources to form an umbrella organisation where all the sustainability actors in the Region can be organized together.

The umbrella organisation would have to be big enough to represent every part of the Region but also small enough to make it easy to organise itself and it’s members. Therefore it would be ideal to get one volunteer of every Samtgemeinde and Gemeinde to join the group. That would mean round about eleven representatives from rural parts of the Region as well as from the cities, from the East as well as from the West, from more specific voluntary groups like the windpark initiative in Amelinghausen to more general ones like the T.U.N. in the city of Lüneburg.

Since the whole approach is supposed to create social sustainability it is important to make everyone in the Region be able to join the network. Which means that people from every single part of the Region, with different social backgrounds and different age can be part of the process towards sustainability. That’s why it is necessary to from different platforms to make sure everyone can participate.

“The personal contact is very important.“ (Interview expert I) Since the personal contact seems to be very important for the Region there have to be personal meetings of the group. These meetings have to be open to pub-

A Concept: Strategy for Lüneburg Region

lic so that every citizen of the Region who’s interested to get informed or to contribute something to the group can attend their meetings. Moreover, especially to reach the younger generations of the Region, there should be an internet platform where information is shared with the public. Social media would be an approach as well to reach the young generation in the Region. On the other hand it’s neccessary to include the older generations. Since they often don’t use the internet there should be a sustainability newspaper which informs about what’s going on. The already existing “Was zählt“ magazine by the Leuphana University and the T.U.N. could be used for this and be published more often or the daily newspaper could include a “sustainability page“ so that older people can read about the news there. A fourth platform that can be used is the environmental fair, that is taking place every year. Here the umbrella organisation could have a stand or discussion forums there and use the platform to address private actors as well as public actors and the economy of the Region.

FINANCING AND RESOURCES For the phase 2 step 1 the human resources needed would basically already exist. Since this concept part includes volunteers from the various non-governmental organizations in the Region that work on the topic of sustainability in different ways, the personnel would already be there to start building up the network. In the expert interviews it became obvious that one person would have to be hired and paid to be able to do the over-all organisation. This person could be someone already volunteering at one of the organisations.

Of course the network couldn’t be built without any

financial investment. But since most of the structures are already existing and just have to be coordinated and have to get more recognition from the public, the costs should be relatively low comparing to how big the outcome could be.

Since there’s a financial shortage at the municipalities of Lüneburg it’s not possible to make them finance the whole project alone. The city of Lüneburg has already hired a climate protection commissioner - so there seems to be a willingness to invest in the future sustainability of the Region. That’s why small financial support can still be expected from the municipalities in the Region. But the whole project has to be financed through a combination of several sources. In addition to investments for the municipalities the current fundings from the EU through the LEADER programme could be used to support the network. The three LEADER areas in the Region Lüneburg cover a big part of the whole Region and could therefore support the network in their specific areas or in general.

More fundings from the national government or the state Lower Saxony might be possible.

If this still doesn’t suffice to create the desired networks and their platforms, alternative financing methods could be added. For example there could be donations from the citizens or the local economy. And more informal financing platforms such as crowd-funding could be used to generate more money for the realization of the concept. Since the networks are not a governmental based structure, but are organized by the private people, such alternative funding methods are more conceivable.

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Part IV THE FOOD-ENERGY-CYCLE – A SCENARIO To make this step of the concept more clear, a concrete example of how this created umbrella organisation could work and how a more complex cooperation, derived from one of the bilateral cooperations that already exist in the Region could be created, will be described in the following paragraph: The existing bilateral “Organic farming“ cooperation between the “Weidenhof“ farm and the citizens of the surrounding villages can wants to extend their cooperation and therefore adds a note on the internet platform of the umbrella organisation to inform about what they’re doing and asks for interested other actors who would like to join their cooperation.

A company specialized on the production of renewable energy through biomass reads the online note on the homepage and contacts the farm. They want to join the cooperation by supplying the farm and its customers with renewable energy if they provide biomass for the farm from their household and farm on the other hand. Moreover the energy company would help financing the farm, if they deliver a lot of biomass for the energy production. (fig. 16) Like this the bilateral cooperation is developed into a cooperation with multiple actors and supports the sustainability in the Region even more through supplying the joining households and the farms with renewable, locally produced energies.

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Biomass

Biomass

Organic food

Population

Renewable energy company

Organic farmers

Financing

Energy

Energy and Financing Fig. 16 A Network Scenario

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2.2.2 From bottom-up to top-down.

Through the First phase and the First step of the Second phase of the concept, a base for inter-municipal cooperation has been built by local actors and initiatives. Therefore the concept can be seen as a new approach to create inter-municipal cooperation that’s focused on providing sustainability.

The new umbrella organisation needs support by the local government to get a high impact in the Region.

The recognition would rise if the political level promoted the idea and stand behind the whole process.

Moreover the political level can create links to other Regions to build up partnerships where the Regions could learn from each other and exchange ideas. Already existing platforms such as the „Deutscher Städtetag“ or the „Niedersächsischer Städtetag“ could be used for this kind of exchange. The government is furthermore a permanent institution that is built on a lot of members and isn’t built on a small number of volunteers such as the non-governmental institutions. That’s why it can create a better longevity than non-governmental institutions that are dependent on just a few single actors.

Last but not least some topics that have a high impact on sustainability require public implementation, such as infrastructure projects. The government needs to plan and implement concepts like a new bike path system in the Region to support sustainable ways of transport like bikes.

That’s why in the end of the concept there is an „in-

stitutionalization“ of the created organisation. This is where the inter-municipal cooperation from the governmental level is established. The government should participate in a more official and efficient way and should become included in the whole bottom-up process.

This could be realized by having a „Nachhaltigkeitsbüro“ in every Samtgemeinde like it is already existing in the city of Lüneburg. This doesn’t have to be an office with multiple people, but at least one representative of the government who’s responsible for the sustainable development. In total that would be around the same number as the non-governmental representatives. They could work as a contact between the non-governmental network and the political level and coordinate both. These administrative representatives could attend the meetings of the non-governmental umbrella organisation and give them input from the administrative side and take back the ongoing projects and ideas to the political level. This will raise the acceptance of projects on the governmental level and may also generate some public money going into these projects.

The regional administration sends a representative to the meetings. Since this political level has other authorities and is linked more to upper-regional processes it is very important to be included for example to make cross-regional-boarder projects easier to implement. Furthermore will this political level have the overall sustainable development of the Region in mind rather than single municipalitie’s interests which will be an important unbiased position for the organisation.

A Concept: Strategy for Lüneburg Region

This more complex system of representatives should be completed by other small-scale connections and collaborations. This could be for example the installation of the link on the municipalitie’s websites to the umbrella organisation’s website or the inclusion of articles from the „was zählt“ magazine to the cities websites.

Through adding a „top-down framework“ to the bottom-up network more recognition, stability and longevity will be achieved for the whole process

+

Top-down

Bottom-up

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3. Reflections and results THE GENERAL APPROACH AT THE BEGINNING The strengthening of the existing strengths ̶ the initiatives and cooperations ̶ will create a short-term but effective and spread out beginning of the whole process of cooperation.

Through the bottom-up initiation of the concept there'll be a higher acceptance of the whole approach by the locals and the existing initiatives.

The reason why there's not a working cooperation system so far, is because there's no initiative that has the resources itself to start organizing it.

This problem is solved by sharing the responsibility and creating a network of volunteer representatives that are supported financially by different sources of funding.

FINANCING AND RESOURCES AS A CRITICAL ASPECT The financing and the resources for the inter-municipal cooperations in Lüneburg are directly addressed in the concept. Since it builds a lot on existing structures and initiatives there's not a lot of human resources needed for the new structure. Furthermore there's several income sources for money too fund the organization, which is for example money from the LEADER programme of the EU or money that's already paid from the municipalities for institutions like the “Klimaschutzleitstelle“ or sustainability-related positions such as the “Klimaschutzbeauftragte“. Moreover

programmes like the “Zukunftsstadt 2030+“ might generate more financial sources to build up the cooperations.

Just in case the public and funding money doesn't suffice, there's still the possibility to generate more money through private donations or from the economies in the Region.

LONGEVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY AT THE END In the end the whole process will build a long-lasting network of inter-municipal cooperations in the Region of Lüneburg, between public actors like the municipalities themselves and by non-governmental actors, such as voluntary groups, companies and research and educational institutions.

It will be a mixture of on the one hand public support and stability from the top-down framework and flexibility and acceptance from the bottom-up approach on the other hand.

With an extension of the existing cooperations, the creation of new ones and a stable organisation structure to bring together all the sustainable actors in the Region, the Lüneburg Region can become a Region, that addresses the challenge of sustainability in a joint approach ̶ through inter-municipal cooperation that is created from a bottom-up base and complemented by a top-down framework.

A Concept: Strategy for LĂźneburg Region

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Part V

Conclusions

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Part V In general terms, this project sustains that inter-municipal cooperation can promote sustainable development in the Lüneburg Region - which leads us to the answer of the research question: How can the inter-municipal cooperation promote sustainable development in the Lüneburg Region?

Inter-municipal cooperation can promote sustainable development in the Lüneburg Region through valorising the existing local initiatives that appear to be very active and successful in the field of sustainability, by supporting and facilitating their engagement into a new network of cooperation among public and private actors from different parts of the Region. To include the various existing strengths of the Region, all local actors that are active in this field and are important to achieve sustainability together, a unique approach geared to the needs of the Lüneburg Region is necessary. The base is a regional strategy aiming in merging two opposite approaches, top-down and bottom-up, as the key for achieving the stability and longevity of the desired results in the focused area.

Through a better coordinated and efficient use of the existing resources in the Region, the strategy proposed by this project could generate results in the focus fields of intervention and other lateral results, such as on more job prospects in the Region, increase on the local’s awareness in regard to sustainability as a core issue for nowadays urban development theory and a further promotion of the Region itself through

the practices tied up in this strategy.

Furthermore, the developed strategy for the inter-municipal cooperation in the Region makes every citizen being able to participate and to join the force of the local actors, thus it creates social sustainability in all parts of the Region. It supports the sustainable local economy in the whole Region and consequently creates economical sustainability particularly in the underprivileged eastern part of the Region. Additionally it achieves environmental enhancements for example in the field of climate mitigation, hence it creates environmental sustainability in the whole Region.

Naturally the range of issues covered in this report is explored in a sufficient level only in some aspects from what it would have been in another context outside the academic project course. Due to the time restrictions of the course schedule, the lack of accessibility on the needed resources, the limitations of the materials only in German language and probably because of the international background of the project group working on a new context for most of them .

The concept could be completed in regard to the organisation issues, such as in better defining the role of the actors involved, the availability of resources in regard to the actions to be taken and the temporal extension of the different phases of the strategy proposed. Moreover different scenarios should be considered and different solutions designed in order to address the unexpected circumstances that might

Conclusions

occur in such a long and complex process.

Still there are other open questions to be discussed in the theoretical basis for this concept proposal, such as: What are the motivations behind the actors to engage in this process? Or what are the possible conflicts in bringing together two opposite approaches (bottom-up and top-down) in a single strategy? All these open questions are starting points for further advancement remain, and can be seen as additional work that can be done in achieving a complete strategy of promoting regional sustainable development through the inter-municipal cooperation.

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Glossary

Bilateral 1. Having or relating to two sides; affecting both sides; 2. Involving two parties, especially countries; Bottom-up Proceeding from the bottom or beginning of a hierarchy or process upwards; non-hierarchical.

Cooperation Voluntarily arrangement in which two or more entities engage in a mutually beneficial exchange instead of competing. Cooperation can happen where resources adequate for both parties exist or are created by their interaction.

Development The process in which someone or something grows or changes and becomes more advanced.

Inter-municipal Cooperation Refers to two or more neighbouring municipalities working together to perform municipal administrative tasks, deliver public services to citizens and promote local development in a more efficient and effective way than through isolated action.

KfW-programmes (Kreditanstalt fĂźr Wiederaufbau) Programmes, that are supporting companies with credits in topics like energetic modernization, energy efficiency or renewable energies Network 1. An arrangement of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines; 2. A group or system of interconnected people or things;

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Glossary SOAR analysis A strengths, opportunities, aspirations, results (SOAR) analysis is a strategic planning tool that focuses an organization on its current strengths and vision of the future for developing its strategic goals. This tool differs from the commonly used SWOT analysis. SOAR engages all levels and functional areas of an organization, while SWOT is typically a top-down approach. With SOAR, the focus is on the organization and enhancing what is currently done well, rather than concentrating on perceived threats and/or weaknesses.

Strategy (Urban Planning context) A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.

Sustainable Development Is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

SWOT analysis The strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) analysis presents a four-way look at an organization. Used in strategy planning, SWOT analysis forces an organization to take a look at itself and its position.

Top-down 1. Denoting a system of government or management in which actions and policies are initiated at the highest level; hierarchical; 2. Proceeding from the general to the particular;

Glossary

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List of figures and tables

Figures Figure 1: The dimesions of sustainable development ....................................................................................................p. 25

Reproduced figure based on source: ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (2001) The Dimensions of Sustainable Development. The Dac Guidelines: Strategies for Sustainable Development: Guidance for Development Co-Operation. [Online Image] Available from- https://www.oecd.org/dac/environment-development/2669958. pdf. [Accessed: 25th February 2016 ].

Figure 2: Administrative structure in Germany ..................................................................................................................p. 35

Reproduced figure based on source: PAHL-WEBER, E; HENCKEL, D. (2008) Mutual feedback principle. (p.39) The Planning System and Planning Terms in Germany. Academy for Spatial Research and Planning. Hannover.

Figure 3: The location context of Lüneburg Region ..........................................................................................................p. 43

Reproduced figure based on source: HAMBURG. (2016) Karte der Metropolregion Hamburg. [Online Image] Available from: http://metropolregion. hamburg.de/karte/ [Accessed: 5th January 2016].

Figure 4: Administrative subdivision of Lüneburg Region ...............................................................................................p. 45

Reproduced figure based on source: LANDKREIS LÜNEBURG. (2015) Städte und Gemeinden. [Online Image] Available from: http://www.landkreis-lueneburg.de/Home-Landkreis-Lueneburg/Staedte-und-Gemeinden-Landkreis.aspx. [Accessed: 15th December 2015].

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List of figures and tables Figure 5: Spatial planning system in Germany ...................................................................................................................p. 46

Reproduced figure based on source: PAHL-WEBER, E; HENCKEL, D. (2008) Mutual feedback principle. (p.39) The Planning System and Planning Terms in Germany. Academy for Spatial Research and Planning. Hannover.

Figure 6: Land use in Lüneburg Region ...............................................................................................................................p. 49

Reproduced figure based on source: LANDKREIS LÜNEBURG. (2015) Geoportal Landkreis Lüneburg. [Online Image] Available from: http://geo. lklg.net/terraweb_openlayers/login-ol.htm?login=geoportal&mobil=false [Accessed: 15th December 2015].

Figure 7: Demographic dynamics in Lüneburg Region ....................................................................................................p. 51

Reproduced figure based on source: LAND NIEDERSACHSEN. (2016) Regionalmonitoring Niedersachsen. [Online Image] Available from: http:// www.regionalmonitoring-statistik.niedersachsen.de/. [Accessed: 10th January 2016].

Figure 8: Age Structure in Lüneburg Region .......................................................................................................................p. 52

Reproduced figure based on source: LANDESAMT FÜR STATISTIK NIEDERSACHSEN. (2016) LSN-Online Regionaldatenbank. [Online Image] Available from: http://www1.nls.niedersachsen.de/Statistik/html/default.asp. [Accessed: 10th January 2016].

Figure 9: Infrastructure within the Lüneburg Region ........................................................................................................p. 54

Reproduced figure based on source: NORD-OST-NIEDERSACHSEN MBH. (2011) Infrastructure within the Lüneburg Region. (p.34) Nahverkehrsplan Landkreis Lüneburg 2009 – 2013. Lüneburg.

List of figures and tables Figure 10: Employees by economic sector in Lüneburg Region ...................................................................................p. 55

Reproduced figure based on source: BUNDESAGENTUR FÜR ARBEIT. (2015) Arbeitsmarkt im Überblick – Lüneburg. [Online Image] Available from: https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de/Navigation/Statistik/Statistik-nach-Regionen/Politische-Gebietsstruktur/ Niedersachsen/Lueneburg-Nav.html [Accessed: 28th February 2016].

Figure 11: Regional actors and cooperations in Lüneburg Region ...............................................................................p. 60

Reproduced figure based on source: FREIRAUM LÜNEBURG UG. (2015) Initiativen. [Online Image] Available from: http://www.lebendiges-lueneburg.de/initiativen/. [Accessed: 18th December 2015].

Figure 12: Concept Phase I.......................................................................................................................................................p. 79

Own figure Figure 13: Concept Phase II.....................................................................................................................................................p. 79

Own figure Figure 14: Topics and examples..............................................................................................................................................p. 82

Own figure Figure 15: Topics in the Triangle of Sustainability..............................................................................................................p. 83

Own figure Figure 16: A Network Scenario................................................................................................................................................p. 91

Own figure

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List of figures and tables

108

Tables Table 1: Time Schedule M1-Project .....................................................................................................................................p. 20

Own table Table 2: SWOT analysis ............................................................................................................................................................p. 70

Own table Table 3: SWOT analysis ............................................................................................................................................................p. 71

Own table Table 4: SOAR analysis .............................................................................................................................................................p. 73

Own table Table 5: Phase 1 Step 2.............................................................................................................................................................p. 87

Own table

List of figures and tables

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References

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AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR QUALITY ORGANISATION (n.d.) Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) Analysis. [Online] Available from: http://asq.org/service/body-of-knowledge/tools-swot-analysis [Accessed: 7th March 2016].

BUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR WIRTSCHAFT UND ENERGIE (2016) Förderdatenbank. [Online].

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MUNICIPAL COOPERATION ORGANISATION (n.d.) Main Page, Inter-Municipal Cooperation. [Online] Available from: http://www.municipalcooperation.org/index.php?title=Main_Page [Accessed: 7th March 2016].

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OXFORD DICTIONARIES (n.d.) Definition of bilateral in English. [Online] Available from: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bilateral [Accessed: 7th March 2016].

OXFORD DICTIONARIES (n.d.) Definition of bottom-up in English. [Online] Available from: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bottom-up [Accessed: 7th March 2016].

OXFORD DICTIONARIES (n.d.) Definition of network in English. [Online] Available from: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/network?q=Network [Accessed: 7th March 2016].

OXFORD DICTIONARIES (n.d.) Definition of strategy in English. [Online] Available from: Available from: http:// www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/strategy [Accessed: 7th March 2016].

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Text references ACADEMY FOR SPATIAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING (2012) Die Grundprinzipien des Planungssystems. [online]. Available from: http://www.arl-net.de/commin/planning-germany/12-die-grundprinzipien-des-planungssystems [Accessed: 3rd March 2016].

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BARTON, A. & DLOUHA, J.(2011) Multi-Actor Learning for Sustainable Regional Development in Europe: A Handbook of Best Practice p. 10-13.

BERTELSMANN STIFTUNG (2015) In den kommenden 15 Jahren schrumpft Niedersachsen um 140.000 Einwohner. [online]. Available from: https://www.bertelsmannstiftung.de/fileadmin/files/BSt/Presse/imported/ downloads/Bevoelkerungsprognose_Niedersachsen.pdf [Accessed: 28th February 2016].

References BERTELSMANN STIFTUNG (2016) Wegweiser Kommune – Statistische Daten. [online]. Available from: http:// www.wegweiser-kommune.de/statistik/bevoelkerungsprognose [Accessed: 28th February 2016].

BIOSPHÄRENRESERVATSVERWALTUNG NIEDERSÄCHSISCHE ELBTALAUE (2011) Lokales Arbeiten an globalen Themen. [online]. Available from: http://www.elbtalaue.niedersachsen.de/portal/live.php?navigation_id=28495&article_id=98924&_psmand=31 [Accessed: 2nd March 2016].

BIOSPHÄRENRESERVATSVERWALTUNG NIEDERSÄCHSISCHE ELBTALAUE (2016) Das UNESCO- Biosphärenreservat Flusslandschaft Elbe. [online]. Available from: http://www.elbtalaue.niedersachsen.de/portal/ live.php?navigation_id=12043&article_id=53970&_psmand=31 [Accessed: 29th February 2016].

BLAESCHKE, F. (2014 a) What drives small municipalities to cooperate? Evidence from Hessian municipalities. [Online] p. 16-18. Available from: https://www.uni-marburg.de/fb02/makro/forschung/magkspapers/14-2014_blaeschke.pdf. [Accessed: 21/02/2016] BLAESCHKE, F. (2014 b) What drives small municipalities to cooperate? Evidence from Hessian municipalities.

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BMEL (n.d.) Bundesprogramm Ländliche Entwicklung. [Online]. Available from: http://www.bmel.de/DE/ Laendliche-Raeume/BULE/Wettbewerbe/LandZukunft/_texte/Dossier-LandZukunft.html [Accessed: 15th March 2016] BOLGHERINI, S. (2011 a) Local Government and Inter-Municipal Cooperation in Italy and Germany. [Online] p. 13-15. Available from: http://www.uni-giessen.de/fbz/fb03/institute/ifp/pifo/ital/occasional_ital/local-government-and-inter-municipal-cooperation-in-italy-and-germany. [Accessed: 23/02/2016] BOLGHERINI, S. (2011 b) Local Government and Inter-Municipal Cooperation in Italy and Germany. [Online] p.

6-8. Available from: http://www.uni-giessen.de/fbz/fb03/institute/ifp/pifo/ital/occasional_ital/local-government-and-inter-municipal-cooperation-in-italy-and-germany. [Accessed: 23/02/2016]

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BUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR WIRTSCHAFT UND ENERGIE (2016) Förderdatenbank. [online]. Available from: http://www.foerderdatenbank.de/Foerder-DB/Navigation/Foerderrecherche/suche.html?get=1ec4731745adb4dcff2932c5d2c9e19e%3Bsearch%3Bindex&typ=qk&act=exe&gbrb=1&gbrl=2&gbt=9&brt=2&brh=&art=&qry=kfw&clt=Y&execsrh=Finden&pge[3]=21-30&cgparam.formCharset=ISO-8859-1 [Accessed: 15th March 2016].

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COUNCIL OF EUROPE, UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, LOCAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE OF THE OPEN SOCIETY (2010) Toolkit Manual: Inter-Municipal Cooperation. [Online] p.6. Available from: http://www.municipal-cooperation.org/images/4/4c/IMC_Toolkit_Manual.pdf [Accessed: 7th March 2016] EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2006) The Leader approach: a basic guide. Belgium. p.5 [Online] Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/publi/fact/leader/2006_en.pdf [Accessed: 28/02/2016].

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HEINZ, W. (2007) Inter municipial cooperation in Germany: The mismatch between existing necessities and suboptimal solutions . The Netherlands : Springer Netherlands.

HANSESTADT LÜNEBURG (2007) Kommunaler Klimaschutz in Lüneburg – Investitionen in die Zukunft. Oktoberdruck AG. Berlin.

References HANSESTADT LÜNEBURG (2015) Hansestadt Lüneburg begrüßt die 75.000 Einwohner. [online]. Available from: http://www.hansestadtlueneburg.de/Home-Hansestadt-Lueneburg/Stadt-und-Politik/Aktuelles-hansestadt-lueneburg/Pressearchiv-hansestadt-lueneburg/Hansestadt-Lueneburg-begruesst-die-75000-Einwohner.aspx [Accessed: 28th February 2016].

HANSESTADT LÜNEBURG (n.d.) Hansestadt auf dem Salz. [online]. Available from: http://www.hansestadtlueneburg.de/Home-Hansestadt-Lueneburg/Kultur-und-Tourismus/Hansestadt-auf-dem-Salz-hansestadt-lueneburg.aspx [Acessed: 28th February 2016].

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INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY (2011) Cohesion Policy and Sustainable Development Germany. German Development Institute. 2015. Orchestration: An Instrument for Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals KATES, W. & PARRIS, T. (2005 a) What is sustainable development? Goals, indicators, values, and practice. Environment: Science and Policy for Sutainable Development. [Online] 47 (3). p. 10-11. Available from: http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication-OFF/files/WhatIsSustainableDevelop.pdf [Accessed 21/02/2016] KATES, W. & PARRIS, T. (2005 b) What is sustainable development? Goals, indicators, values, and practice. Environment: Science and Policy for Sutainable Development. [Online] 47 (3). p. 12. Available from: http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication-OFF/files/WhatIsSustainableDevelop.pdf [Accessed 21/02/2016] KLIMASCHUTZLEITSTELLE (2014) Klimaschutzaktivitäten in Hansestadt und Landkreis Lüneburg. [online]. p. 3. Available from: http://www.landkreis-lueneburg.de/Portaldata/42/Resources/bauen,_umwelt_und_ tiere/klimaschutz/Bericht_Klimaschutzaktivitaeten_in_Hansestadt_und_Landkreis_Lueneburg_2014.pdf. [Accessed: 4rd March 2016].

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LANDKREIS LÜNEBURG (2016 b) Regionales Raumordnungsprogramm 2003 in der Fassung der 2. Änderung 2016. [online]. Available from: http://www.landkreis-lueneburg.de/Home-Landkreis-Lueneburg/Bauen-Umwelt-und-Tiere/Bauen-Planen-Wohnen/Regionalplanung.aspx [Accessed: 18th March 2016].

LANDKREIS LÜNEBURG (2016 c) Klimaschutz daheim. [online] Available from: http://www.landkreis-lueneburg.de/Home-Landkreis-Lueneburg/Bauen-Umwelt-und-Tiere/Klimaschutz-Landkreis/Klimaschutz-daheim-Klimaschutzansaetze-fuer-Privathaushalte.aspx [Accessed: 10th March 2016].

LANDKREIS LÜNEBURG (2016 d) Klimaschutz in Kommunen. [online] Available from: http://www.landkreis-lueneburg.de/Home-Landkreis-Lueneburg/Bauen-Umwelt-und-Tiere/Klimaschutz-Landkreis/Klimaschutz-in-Kommunen.aspx [Accessed: 10th March 2016].

LANDKREIS LÜNEBURG (2016 e) Solarenergie. [online] Available from: http://www.hansestadtlueneburg.de/ desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-8445/14595_read-62346/ [Accessed: 10th March 2016].

LANDKREIS LÜNEBURG (2016 f) Klimaschutz in Unternehmen [online] Available from: http://www.landkreis-lueneburg.de/Home-Landkreis-Lueneburg/Bauen-Umwelt-und-Tiere/Klimaschutz-Landkreis/Klimaschutz-in-Unternehmen.aspx [Accessed: 10th March 2016].

LANDKREIS LÜNEBURG (n.d. a) Kreisportrait. [online]. Available from: http://www.landkreis-lueneburg.de/ desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-8164/14278_read-6227/ [Accessed: 5th March 2016].

References LANDKREIS LÜNEBURG (n.d. b) Kreistag [online]. Available from: http://www.landkreis-lueneburg.de/ Home-Landkreis-Lueneburg/Politik-und-Verwaltung/Kreistag.aspx [Accessed: 28th February 2016].

LEGRAND (2016) Sustainable Development: Definition, Background, Issues and Objectives. [Online]. Available from: http://www.legrand.com/EN/sustainable-development-description_12847.html. [Accessed: 19th of February 2016] LEUPHANA UNIVERSITÄT (2015) Center for Sustainability Management (CSM). [Online] Available from: http://www.leuphana.de/institute/csm.html [Accessed: 27/02/2016].

LÜNEBURGER HEIDE GMBH (2015) Sehnsucht Natur – Aktiv die Lüneburger Heide erleben. Lüneburg.

MENSAH, A. & CASTRO L. (2004) Sustainable resource use & Sustainable development: A contradiction?.

[Online] p.5. Available from: http://www.zef.de/fileadmin/downloads/forum/docprog/Termpapers/2004_3b_ Mensah_Castro.pdf [Accessed 1/03/2016] METROPOLREGION HAMBURG (n.d. a) In the centre of the North – the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. [online]. p. 3-10. Available from: http://metropolregion.hamburg.de/contentblob/313356/data/imagebroschuere.pdf. [Accessed: 4th March 2016].

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NIEDERSÄCHSISCHES INSTITUT FÜR WIRTSCHAFTSFORSCHUNG (2014) Basisanalyse zur Identifizierung spezifischer Handlungsbedarfe für fünf Regionen in Niedersachsen. p. 18. Hannover.

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PAUL, B. (2008) A History of the Concept of Sustainable Development: Literature Review. Economic Science Series. [Online] 17(2). p.576. Available from: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.532.7232&rep=rep1&type=pdf [Accessed 19/02/2016] REDZUAN, M. & NIKKHAH, H. (2010 a) The Role of NGOs in Promoting Empowerment for Sustainable Community Development. [Online] p.89. Available from: http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JHE/JHE-300-000-10-Web/JHE-30-2-000-2010-Abst-PDF/JHE-30-2-085-10-2023-Nikkhah-H-A/JHE-30-2-085-102023-Nikkhah-H-A-Tt.pdf. [Accessed: 19th of February 2016] REDZUAN, M. & NIKKHAH, H. (2010 b) The Role of NGOs in Promoting Empowerment for Sustainable Community Development. [Online] p.86. Available from: http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JHE/JHE-300-000-10-Web/JHE-30-2-000-2010-Abst-PDF/JHE-30-2-085-10-2023-Nikkhah-H-A/JHE-30-2-085-102023-Nikkhah-H-A-Tt.pdf. [Accessed: 19th of February 2016] ROZEMA, A. (2011 a) Regional Sustainable Development: Barriers in Practice Findings from policy, citizens, practitioners and monitoring. [Online] p. 11. Available from: http://www.icis.unimaas.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Thesis-Van-Zeijl.pdf. [Accessed: 25/02/2016]

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WIRTSCHAFTSFÖRDERGESELLSCHAFT (2013) The Economic Development Company, [Online] Available from: http://www.wirtschaft-lueneburg.de/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-8191/%20shtml [Accessed: 02/03/2016].

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List of interviews

Interview transcripts Expert Interview I - Representative of T.U.N. 16th December 2015 - Interviewer: Susanne Gallenz Q: Seit den 80er 90er Jahren gibt es ja bereits Nachhaltigkeitsentwicklungen in Lüneburg.

Haben Sie, da Sie sich ja auch schon seit längerem mit der Thematik befasst haben Veränderungen in den letzten Jahrzehnten der Themenschwerpunkte feststellen können?

A: (stellt die Rückfrage) Ist diese Frage bezogen auf einen speziellen Bereich oder allgemein?

Oder alle Lebensbereiche?

Q: Allgemein. Es geht uns auch darum, zu sehen welche Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte in Lüneburg auch noch zu wenig im Fokus standen in den letzten Jahren.

A: Ich erzähle jetzt einfach mal vom T.U.N. Der Verein existiert schon 30 Jahre, ich selber bin aber noch nicht so lange dabei, sondern erst seit 10 Jahren.

Ich sage jetzt auch noch mal ein bisschen was zur Geschichte. Der Verein hat sich nämlich gegründet – T.U.N. das heißt ja Technik, Umwelt, Natur – und dieses TUN diese Abkürzung soll auch heißen dass man etwas “tut“ und nicht nur darüber redet. Und das ist dann sozusagen in den 80ern gewesen, als sich gegen Atomenergie aufgelehnt wurde, als man angefangen hat nach neuen Energien zu kucken und gekuckt wurde, wie kann man das ökologische Denken und diese ökologischen Bereiche den Menschen einfach mal näher bringen. Nicht nur darüber reden. Und so ist die Lüneburger Umweltmesse entstanden.

Q: Die ist also ganz am Anfang schon entstanden?

A: Ja die war ganz am Anfang schon da. Diese Messe findet in diesem Jahr bereits zum 20. Mal statt. Die Messe ist alle zwei Jahre nicht jedes Jahr. Es ist schon richtig, dass am Anfang in erster Linie der Baubereich vertreten wurde, weil es da die meisten Neuerungen gab, also andere Baustoffe oder Solarenergie, Photovoltaik. Das war ein großer Schwerpunkt, weil viele der Aussteller aus der Richtung kamen aber grundsätzlich hat der T.U.N. schon immer versucht alle Lebensbereiche mit abzudecken. Ob das jetzt Ernährung, Landwirtschaft,

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List of interviews Gesundheit ist.

Und in Lüneburg grundsätzlich gibt es unglaublich viele Initiativen, die sich mit bestimmten Themenbereichen beschäftigen. Das ist der helle Wahnsinn. Den Überblick hat eigentlich keiner. Im Laufe der Zeit ist es so entstanden, dass wir als Messe-Organisations-Team auch Wert darauf gelegt haben, dass sich diese Initiativen auch auf der Messe darstellen und sich gegebenenfalls auch noch vernetzen können. Ich hab das die letzten 10 Jahre auch organisiert, bei mir sind alle Fäden zusammengelaufen. Von daher habe ich einen groben Überblick, was es hier für Initiative gibt, aber ich kann nicht sagen, dass ich alle kenne (lacht). Und das ist uns ganz wichtig geworden, dass es nicht nur im Produkte geht oder darum was zu verkaufen, sondern dass es eher so darum geht, über ökologisches Handeln – jetzt heißt es nachhaltiges Handeln – zu informieren und zu zeigen, dass Nachhaltigkeit kein Verzicht sein muss, sondern auch einen Mehrwert haben kann.

Q: Also es ist schon mehr als eine Art Plattform gedacht und kein rein kommerzieller Messe-Sinn?

A: Nein, das war es noch nie. Es hatte immer den Hintergrund aufzuzeigen was es gibt, aufzuklären. Neue Forschungen vorzustellen und so weiter. Mit dieser Messe hat das angefangen, es sind aber auch Veranstaltungen organisiert worden wo zum Beispiel Mr.mann Scheer geredet hat, oder wir hatten auch schonmal Franz alt hier und sowas gestalten wir auch mit. Und wir haben auch schon mal eine Veranstaltung zu alternativen Krankenkassen gemacht, dann gab es die Geschichte mit Stromwechel, wie kann man auf ökologischen Strom wechseln und dann haben wir auch Veranstaltungen gemacht zum Thema Grundeinkommen – das spricht ja auch eben nicht nur die wirtschaftliche, sondern auch die soziale Komponente der Nachhaltigkeit an. Da haben wir mal hier mit dem Kino einen Film über das Grundeinkommen gezeigt. Kann ich nur empfehlen. Und solche Anderen Veranstaltungen ganz unterschiedlichster Art haben wir eben auch gemacht. Also da ist uns auch ein Anliegen, dass es eben auch in dem sozialen Bereich – das es auch sozial verträglich ist.

Q: Ja wir hatten auch den Eindruck, dass sehr viel zum Bereich Energie gibt aber dass wir nicht viele Informationen zum Thema soziale Nachhaltigkeit finden konnten.

A: Das ist auch noch nicht so verbreitet.

Als Auftaktveranstaltung haben wir mal mit einer Studentengruppe der Leuphana-Uniersität zusammen gearbeitet und die haben auch zwei Sachen, die sie organisiert haben.

Das ging es einmal um Vernetzung, da war eine Professorin aus Berlin da, die einen Vortrag gehalten hat und dann war auch ein Thema eine Parallelwährung. So etwas wie der Sterntaler oder der Chiemgauer. Die sind ja eher im Süddeutschen Raum vertreten. Daraus hat sich eine Arbeitsgruppe gebildet, die Workshops auf der Messe zum Thema Parallelwährung gemacht haben und daraus ist dann auch eine Parallelwährung entstanden.

Q: Achso, die gibt es also wirklich diese Währung?

List of interviews A: Die GAB es. Für mehrere Jahre. Das war der Lüner. Die ist aber sozusagen beerdigt worden. Man hat gesehen, dass wer hier wirklich nachhaltig unterwegs ist, der kauft sowieso hier ein und lässt das Geld in der Region.

Und dann zwei Währungen zu haben – macht nicht so viel Sinn, es ist umständlich. Und eigentlich wäre es ganz toll, wenn viele Geschäfte das mitmachen. Das hat beim Chiemgauer wohl ganz gut geklappt. Das ist hier eher nicht so der Fall gewesen. Damit das klappt muss man wirklich viele Betriebe und Geschäfte dabei haben, die dann auch danach Handeln,um das zu verstärken.

Q: Ist denn die Stadt bei der Einführung des Lüners beteiligt gewesen?

A: Gar nicht. Das war eine reine Initiative von Bürgern. Das Engagement von wenigen Leuten. Mehr ist das ja nicht. Und übrigens unser Verein, der ist auch nicht groß. Wir haben sehr wenige Mitglieder, die die Veranstaltungen dann mit organisieren. Das sind nur 10. Oder 8. Eine kleine Gruppe. Und es ist aber auch so, dass mittlerweile unter dem Dach des T.U.N. auch die Umweltfilmtage organisiert werden, das heißt das hat auch mal eine einzelne Person gemacht. Und drum rum entwickelt sich ja immer eine Gruppe, weil man es alleine ja auch nicht schaffen kann. Um aber Fördergelder z bekommen, geht das nicht mit einer losen Gruppe. Man muss immer eine Institution davor stehen haben. Viele wollen dann nicht eine eigene Initivative gründen.

Es gestaltet sich so, dass wir immer wieder Anfragen bekommen, von Initiativen, ob sie nicht was unter unserem Dach organisieren können.

Und das geh auch schon so in Richtung unsere Überlegung, wo wir gesagt haben, wir könnten ja auch als Dachverband agieren, wo sich alles trifft, wo sich jeder hinwenden kann, und man weitere Informationen austauschen kann und erfragen kann, was es schon für Initiativen zu bestimmten Themen gibt.

Q: Würden Sie das dann auch auf die Region beziehen oder nur in der Stadt Lüneburg?

A: Das ist eher so die Stadt. Zum Thema Nachhaltigkeitsinsel: Im Wendland sind die noch stärker. Das ist Richtung Gorleben. Wo die Anti-AKW Szene sich niedergelassen hat. Das ist nicht mehr Landkreis Lüneburg. Aber diese Region ist noch einen Schritt weiter. Das hat aber was mit der Geschichte zu tun, mit dem Atom-Wiederstand. Das sind jetzt schon die Enkelkinder, die das jetzt übernommen haben.

Q: Uns ist eben aufgefallen, dass es zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit unglaublich viel in der Stadt Lüneburg selbst gibt, aber in der Region nicht so viel vorhanden zu sein scheint. Lüneburg steht als Zentrum der Nachhaltigkeit da. Müsste man nicht noch mehr mit der Region vernetzen?

A: Ja das kann man auch. Es gibt schon zum Beispiel den Öko-Regio. Da haben sich Firmen zusammengetan, die nachhaltig wirtschaften, produzieren, anbauen. Das ist eben alles mögliche, auch Tischler, Bauern, Völkel (diese Säfte) und mit denen haben wir auch Kontakt und das ist dann immer so, mit denen wollten wir mal was machen, aber es nie hingekriegt. Es hat natürlich auch was mit der Zeit zu tun. Ideen gibt es viele, aber man

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List of interviews muss sich ja dann auch treffen und das dann umsetzen. Und jeder von uns geht ja einer anderen Arbeit nach, das ist dann schon auch manchmal schwierig das in Gang zu bekommen. Wenn Menschen aber gleich ticken, dan funktionieren Kooperationen auch, das hat sich dann auch immer mal wieder gezeigt.

Q: Also einen offiziellen Partner-Verein oder so gibt es nicht?

A: Nein, also mit Öko-Regio haben wir eben den Austausch, aber nichts offizielles. Das was so als Nachhaltigkeit gemacht wird ist finde ich von den Bürgern ganz viel. Was auch wichtig ist, ist die Klimaschutzleitstelle. Und dann gibt es noch so ein Schulbiologisches Zentrum, biologisches Zentrum. Die machen eben Umweltbildung in den Schulen und machen dann eben auch Projekte in den Schulen. Oder man kann als Schulklasse dort hingehen und workshops, Seminare machen. Das geht dann eher in den Bereich Bildung mit rein.

Wir haben auch einen Nachhaltigkeitsrat. Mit dem Dr. Rehbein, dem Nachhaltigkeitsbeauftragten bin ich auch viel in Kontakt. Und das Projekt, das an der Uni jetzt läuft nennt sich Zukunftsstadt 2030+. Und da ist der T.U.N. mit involviert, das bin dann also ich als Person. Daher bin ich auch mit der Uni im Kontakt. Da besteht eine gute Vernetzung.

Es ist ja wichtig dass dann jeder was davon hat. Es macht ja keinen Sinn, dass jeder vor sich hinwurstelt und jeder will das gleiche.

Und die Uni ist für manche Sachen auch gut, weil die Institution natürlich über Lüneburg hinaus bekannt ist und das ist natürlich was anderes als eine kleine Initiative. Da steht natürlich auch ganz anderes Wissen dahinter.

Q: Könnte die Kommune/die Stadt den T.U.N. noch mehr unterstützen? Müsste nicht von offizieller Seite diese Initiativn besser zusammengebracht werden?

A: Ich finde ja. Wobei ich nicht ganz sicher bin ob das bei der Stadtverwaltung gut angesiedelt wäre. Für Bürger ist es ja oft einfacher sich an unabhängige Stellen zu wenden. Grundsätzlich ist es schon ein bestreben einen Raum zu schaffen wo Universität, Zivilgesellschaft und Verwaltung zusammenkommen können. Und unterstützen könnte natürlich die Gemeinde. Aber das ist natürlich auch immer eine Frage des Geldes. Es gibt Menschen, die sich dafür bestimmt stark machen würden, aber wenn man kein Geld dafür kriegt geht es natürlich nicht, dann täglich fünf Stunden dafür aufzuwenden. Das können dann nur Leute sein, die im Ruhestand sind.

Aber so viel Ehrenamt kann man einfach nicht wuppen. Es müsste auch eine gewisse Kontinuität da sein.

Was wir hier auch da haben ist das Heinrich-Böl-Haus. Die versuchen auch innerhalb des Hauses eine Vernetzung zu schaffen. Und auch nach außen aufzutreten. Aber das ist auch echt schwer. Da ist gerade ein Umschwung gewesen. Ulli Hellfritz der das bisher immer organisiert hat ist jetzt auch in Rente gegangen und hat das jetzt an junge Leute übergeben.

Letztendlich trifft diese Frage genau das was wir gerne hätten. Das wäre genau was wir gerne hätten. Aber es

List of interviews fehlt eben das Finanzierungskonzept.

Q: Es wäre sicherlich ein großes Thema Fördergelder dafür zu nutzen.

A: Ja aber es ist auch schwierig zu sagen, welche Fördergelder denn in Betracht kommen. Von den Ministerien gibt es ja Fördergelder oder vond er EU also es gibt ja unglaublich viel. Aber allein die Recherche das alles rauszufinden... Das ist für uns alle echt schwer da einen Überblick zu bekommen. Es ist wirklich schwierig.

Und die Kommunen haben wenig Geld. Und es muss natürlich auch was für die Kommune nutzen, damit sie dann auch Geld zur Verfügung stellt. Aber es wäre natürlich besser, Projekte auf verschiedene Schultern zu verteilen. Dann ist es natürlich auch wichtig die Kontakte aufrecht zu erhalten. Der persönliche Kontakt ist da ganz wichtig. Das haben wir immer wieder gemerkt.

Q: Wenn wir schon bei der Thematik persönliche Ebene angekommen sind: Gibt es denn von der Stadt Lüneburg andere Kommunen, mit denen bevorzugt zusammengearbeitet wird? Z.B. aus politischem Hintergrund?

Gibt es da Städtekooperationen?

A: Unser Oberbürgermeister ist ja im deutschen Städtetag. Aber einen konkreten Partner im Landkreis gibt es nicht. Da müsste man dann schauen was für konkrete Projekte man zusammen machen kann. Derzeit sind ja alle sehr mit den Flüchtlingen beschäftigt, da geht gerade die ganze Kraft rein. Und an sich versucht man natürlich immer kleine Schritte zu gehen.

Q: Sehen Sie Probleme, wie zum Beispiel die Flüchtlingslage, dass das Thema Nachhaltigkeit in den Hintergrund geraten könnte? Bzw. was denken Sie was fehlt für diese Nachhaltigkeitsentwicklung?

A: Mut. Manchmal glaube ich fehlt der Mut. Also ich glaube schon, dass man viele Sachen schon weiß oder gern machen möchte. Dann ist das aber immer die Finanzierungsfrage und auch der Mut. Ich bin ja auch im Stadtrat von Lüneburg und Bauuauschuss tätig und es geht bei neuen Projekten immer um das Thema Stellplätze. Ich finde Hamburg ist da ein echter Vorreiter. Die trauen sich mal was. Die sagen auch mal, wie machen keine Stellplätze mehr oder wir gehen runter auf 0,8 oder so. Und hier fehlt der Mut. Das ist ja nun echt ne kleine Stadt. Also man kann schon überall hinkommen. Die Leute hier sind da einfach verwöhnt.

Und in Hamburg sind das eben ganz andere Dimensionen. Da ist es kein Problem mal drei Stationen mit der S-Bahn zu fahren oder so. Hier wäre das eine halbe Weltreise. Deshalb denke ich dass hier auch oft der Mut fehlt. Da muss man dann auch einfach mal die Proteste aushalten. Dann auch mal etwas was nachhaltig ist durchsetzen obwohl vielleicht 80% der Bevölkerung das vielleicht bekloppt finden.

Ein aktuelles Beispiel ist der Lösegraben. Da war der Weg erst nur Schotter. Bei einer Umstrukturierung zur fahrradfreundlichen Stadt ist jetzt ein Teil als Radweg gepflastert worden. Erst hat man sich aufgeregt weil man da mit dem Fahrrad nicht fahren kann weil es so hubbelig ist und jetzt regt man sich auf weil man Geld ausgiebt, dass das gepflastert wird. “Das Geld hätte man doch besser ausgeben können.“

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List of interviews Aber das muss man dann halt auch einfach aushalten können.

Q: Also ist teilweise in der Bevölkerung dann schon noch ein eher konservatives Denken da, nicht in Richtung Nachhaltigkeit?

A: Zum Teil ja.

Q: Denken Sie das ist in den ländlichen Bereichen des Landkreises noch extremer?

A: Das weiß ich nicht, aber das würde ich nicht sagen. Ich glaube das ist hier nicht so, aber das ist aber nur so ein Gefühl.

Q: Denken Sie das durch Projekte wie die Zukunftsstadt die Konzentration auf die Stadt Lüneburg noch weiter wächst? Das sich dich Stadt in erster Linie auf sich selbst und auf den Wettbewerb konzentriert und das Umland dann eher ausgeblendet wird?

A: Also ich glaube schon, dass es auch erst mal wichtig ist sich zuerst auf die Stadt zu konzentrieren. Also ich glaube es ist gut wenn es am Anfang eher überschaubar ist. Und wenn man dann kuckt was ist realistisch und auch einfach umzusetzen ohne großen Aufwand, auch finanziell. Und das könnte dann natürlich auch als Beispiel vorangehen und dann ist es auch einfacher die Region sozusagen “mitzunehmen“. Ich glaube am Anfang ist es besser sowas im kleinen zu sehen, gar nicht so im großen, sondern schrittweise aufweiten.

Q: Würden Sie dann sagen, dass Bottom-up Initiativen dann auch erfolgreicher sind?

A: Ja das glaube ich. Da ist mehr Kontinuität da. Manchmal entwickelt sich am Anfang vielleicht auch nur eine kleine Sache und dann finden das alle gut.

Das hat sich übrigens verändert. Wir setzen ja sehr auf Kontinuität beim T.U.N.. Bei der lezten Veranstaltung hatten wir jetzt auch drei junge interessierte Männer dabei. Aber ich hatte das Gefühl dass das dann immer nur so projektbezogen ist und dann sind die wieder weg. Das ist an der Uni ja auch so. Da sind die Projekte dann Semester-bezogen. Da machen die irgendwas und das ist ganz toll und dann ist das Semester vorbei und dann gibt es das nicht mehr.

Das ist schon schwierig. Für so eine Weiterentwicklung der Nachhaltigkeits-Aspekte ist das natürlich NICHT nachhaltig.

Und da sind wir wieder bei so einer Stelle wo alle Fäden zusammenlaufen. Dann könnten ja zum Beispiel so studentische Ideen weitergetragen werden. Dass die nicht verloren gehen.

Q: Wer denken Sie könnte sowas dann auf die Beine stellen?

A: Also grundsätzlich wenn die Finanzierung geregelt wäre, könnte der T.U.N. das machen. Mit einer bezahlten Stelle, die auch kontinuierlich geschaffen werden würde wäre das machbar.

Das wäre schon, wenn es da so Töpfe geben würde, dass Kommunen dazu verpflichtet sind, dass es eine zentrale Stelle gibt wo jeder hinkommen kann.

List of interviews Mittlerweile gibt es jetzt an der Uni eine halbe Stelle, die die Projekte an der Leuphana Universität koordiniert.

Q: Das wäre ja dann bestimmt auch eine gute Basis um Kommunen zu vernetzen?

A: Ja richtig. Diese Stellen könnten sich dann auch untereinander austauschen und sich vernetzen. Das könnte man gut über den Landkreis machen oder auch mit benachbarten Gemeinden.

Die einzelnen Kommunen tragen ja auch schon was dazu bei. Da kommt es natürlich auch immer darauf an wie engagiert die einzelnen Gemeinden sind.

Q: Wissen Sie dazu ein Beispiel?

A: Nein, da fällt mir gerade keines ein.

Q: Viele nachhaltige Aspekte sind natürlich auch mit finanziellem Hinergrund verbunden. Zum Beispiel regionale Produkte vom Bio-Bauern zu kaufen, kann sich vielleicht nicht jeder leisten? Oder das eigene Haus energieeffizient umzurüsten usw. Wie sehen Sie das denn diese soziale Ungerechtigkeit sozusagen?

A: also grundsätzlich glaube ich hat das etwas mit den Menschen an sich zu tun. Zum Beispiel mit dem Bio-Essen. Wenn ich zum Beispiel viel Fleisch esse dann müsste ich natürlich viel Geld ausgeben für BioFleisch. Aber ich könnte natürlich auch einfach weniger oft Fleisch essen. Das ist einfach eine persönliche Entscheidung. Manche Dinge können auch funktionieren indem man einfach Gewohnheiten umstellt. Wie ist das z.B. auch mit Mensa Essen? Oder dem Essen in Kindergärten? Wenn ich da regionale Produkte koche, dann unterstütze ich natürlich auch die Region.

Mit dem Wohnen, das da vieles dann schon teuer ist – naja es hat natürlich ganz viel mit der eigenen Wertigkeit zu tun. Wie wichtig einem das Thema Nachhaltigkeit ist.

Derzeit steigen die Miet-preise sowieso exorbitant an. Alle wollen nach Lüneburg. Es gibt einen Wohnungsmangel hier und es ist auch echt schwer finanzierbare Wohnungen zu bekommen, für die nicht so gut Verdiendenden oder die Studenten. Das ist im Moment eine ganz große Problematik. Hinzu kommen jetzt natürlich auch noch die Flüchtlingsunterkünfte. Das ist natürlich schone eine riesen Aufgabe die eine Kommune da bewältigen muss. Wobei ich das Konzept, was sie in Lüneburg erarbeitet haben, das finde ich schon echt klasse. Die machen das dezentral, dass nicht so viele an einem Ort sind. Dass die Flüchtlinge auf die Stadtteile verteilt werden. Die Flüchtlinge werden sowohl in Bestandsgebäuden, als auch in Neubauten untergebracht.

Wir haben ja hier noch eine Kaserne, wo gerade wieder drei Gebäude angemietet werden können vom Bund.

Da gibt es dann Potenzial und es ist so, dass es immer eine sozialpädagogische Betreuung und einen Sicherheitsdienst, auch nachts, gibt. Und es gibt auch wirklich viele Menschen hier die sich für die Integration engagieren – Studenten und auch viele Ehrenamtliche. Das Konzept geht auf, dass sich das eben auf alle Stadtteile verteilt und dann ist die Integration natürlich auch viel einfacher.

Man hat so angefangen als interkultureller Garten, der dann von verschiedenen Menschen zusammen beack-

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List of interviews ert wird. Das ist auch so aus einer studentischen Intiative entstanden. Manchmal geht das so ganz einfach, wenn man bei so einem Kleingarten fragt, “wir haben da so eine Idee, haben das und das vor“. Und dann meinten die, “das unterstützen wir – ihr braucht auch keine Pacht zu zahlen.“ Das sind so Kleinigkeiten, aber die gehen dann meistens so schnell, wenn man die unbürokratisch macht. Dann funktioniert das auch. Sowas hat dann auch länger Bestand.

Und für die Region ist ja auch das Ziel und irgendwann nur noch mit regenerativen Energien zu versorgen.

Dazu hat ja die Leuphana auch schonmal einen Bericht gemacht, wie das jetzt ist und wie das sein kann und wann das sein kann. Das wird auch ganz konkret in Gebieten wo neu gebaut wird, direkt umzusetzen. Also es wird auch versucht lokal die Energie zu nutzen.

Das könnte vielleicht auch noch mehr gemacht werden.

Q. Wie stellen Sie sich Lüneburg in 2030 vor?

A: Ich glaube dass sich nicht so ganz viel verändert. Was ich mich aber wünschen würde wäre zum Beispiel die ganzen Grünbereiche in Lüneburg miteinander verbinden könnte.

Was ich auch gut finden würde wäre eine bessere ÖPNV Anbindung in der Stadt. Dass man da in anderen Kategorien denkt. Zum Beispiel kleinere Busse, die immer bestimmte Straßen abfahren und da kann man unabhängig von Haltestellen ein- und aussteigen. Ich würde persönlich dann auch mehr damit fahren. Und natürlich auch die Verbindung zum Umland! Ich hab eine Kollegin, die fährt zur Zeit immer mit dem Auto weil sie sagt, wenn sie mal länger bis als um acht Uhr abends arbeitet, kommt sie mit dem Bus nicht mehr nach Hause. Da müsste es dann andere Strategien geben. Was ich auch super finde ist das Stadtrad, das wird super genutzt und wird auch immer mehr ausgebaut. Also Fahrrad-mäßig sind hier sehr viele unterwegs. Also das hat sich viel gewandelt, das viel mehr Leute mit dem Auto fahren und auch nicht mehr nur junge Leute, sondern auch die älteren Leute jetzt so mit den Elektro-Fahrrädern. Viele Mensche nutzen das auch um fit zu bleiben und an der frischen Luft zu sein. Was ich auch immer mehr sehe sind diese Anhänger von jungen Leuten mit Kindern, das ist schon klasse. Das fällt wirklich auf.

Und ich weiß, die Kaufleute wünschen sich ja in Zukunft eine überdachte Fußgängerzone. (lacht) Also das ist eine Vision, die ganze Fußgängerzone überdacht. Wie ein großes Kaufhaus.

Q: Gibt es denn noch viele lokale Läden in der Stadt?

A: Also die Leute von außerhalb sagen immer es gibt super viele kleine süße Lädchen und die Lüneburger selber sagen es gibt immer mehr Ketten.

Es gibt inzwischen auch eine Lokalrunde, dass heißt das die Inhaber-geführten Läden dann bis 22 Uhr geöffnet haben. Das ist so eine besondere Aktion und das ist inzwischen eine Gruppe von 60 Leuten.

Was hier auch ganz viel geworden ist ist Gastronomie, an jeder Ecke macht inzwischen ein Kaffee auf. Aber die

List of interviews sind wirklich nett. Der Trend geht schon mehr wieder zu individuellen, kleinen Lädchen.

Also das ist auch Teil der Vision, keine ausblutende Innenstadt. Also da achtet man in der Verwaltung auch drauf. Also es wird auch keine Konkurrenz an der Peripherie geschaffen. Es gibt auch so ein Einzelhandelsguthachten, welche Bereiche verkauft werden können und so weiter und auch dass man eben nicht zu der Innenstadt Konkurrenz schafft. Und die tägliche Nahversorgung wird da auch angesprochen. Prinzipiell ist das hier schon gut verwirklicht.

Was ich immer schlimm finde sind diese Discounter. Das ist auch nicht einfach sich dagegen zu wehren als Verwaltung. Die kämpfen eben mit ganz anderen Bandagen. Das ist dann schon teilweise Erpressung. In Lüneburg haben wir auch so hier angesiedelte Investoren, die kaufen dann Grundstücke auf und nach deren Meinung wird dann auch der B-Plan entwickelt.

Letztendlich hat es immer was mit dem Geld zu tun. Die Kombination gute Ideen und Geld ist immer schwierig zu finden.

Q: Das ist mit Sicherheit auch ein Problem für die Nachhaltigkeit oder?

A: Ja ganz konkret gibt es da derzeit ein Beispiel. Da soll Gewerbe gebaut werden. Und die Stadt möchte zumindest in den oberen Stockwerken wohnen haben. Aber dann noch die ganzen Parkplätze drum rum. Da werden dann so viele Flächen versiegelt. Da gibt es dann immer Konflikte. Da gibt es hier eben große Widerstände.

Es ist auch immer die Frage, ob sowas überhaupt noch zeitgemäß ist.

Q: Gut, ich denke dann haben wir ja jetzt vieles wichtiges abgedeckt. Ich bedanke mich bei Ihnen für die Zeit, die Sie sich genommen haben und für die vielen interessanten Einblicke!

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List of interviews Expert interview II - Representative of Sustainability in Lüneburg Municiplaity 24th November 2015 - Interviewer: Julian Herzel Q: Ist die Stadt Lüneburg eine “Insel der Nachhaltigkeit” im Landkreis Lüneburg oder wird der gesamte Landkreis nachhaltig?

A: Also ich glaube wir machen schon ganz viel wenn Sie jetzt auch den Landkreis reflektieren. Also… wir sind ja auch eine große selbstständige Stadt, aber wir sind natürlich eng mit dem Landkreis verbandelt und wir haben unter anderem eine gemeinsame Klimaschutzleitstelle, die sollten Sie vielleicht auch nochmal dann anfragen (bei Mrs. Nicklaus oder Mrs. Panebianco oder bei Mr.n Winkelmann). Die wird sozusagen von Stadt und Landkreis gemeinsam getragen und so als beispiels es gibt eine 100 % Erneuerbare Energien-Studie für den Landkreis Lüneburg und das umfasst natürlich auch die Stadt, also solche Sachen machen wir dann schon zusammen.

Und wenn Sie bei dem Projekt “Lüneburg 2030+” bei der Auftaktveranstaltung waren, dann könnte man sich ja fragen wo ist Lüneburg und wie versteht sich Lüneburg, also ich sag jetzt mal bestimmt nicht parzellenscharf, sondern wir sind halt Zentrum in Nordost-Niedersachsen und so als Funktion muss mans einfach sehen und da strahlen wir natürlich ins Umland aus - und umgekehrt auch. Und isoliert werden wir das nie hinbekommen.

Ob wir da gut vernetzt sind oder so ist noch ne andere Geschichte aber vom Selbstverständnis einfach her.

Lüneburg ist Umsteigepunkt am Bahnhof für die Pendler in der Region, die Busse fahren natürlich auch in den Landkreis, das sind nicht nur Stadtbusse. Wir haben natürlich auch ein großes Parkhaus am Bahnhof, was vorwiegend natürlich Kunden nutzen dürften, die überwiegend einen längeren Anreiseweg haben und keine attraktiven ÖPNV-Verbindungen.

Ob man das jetzt unter Nachhaltigkeitsaktivitäten immer subsummieren kann weiß ich nicht, aber da ergibt sich sicherlich so ein Gesamtbild der Verflechtung zum Landkreis hin.

Oder die Uni ist zwar in der Stadt aber die machen halt auch viele Sachen also da lief zum Beispiel so ein Seminar zum Phosphorrecycling oder sowas in der Landwirtschaft, wir haben zwar auch noch ein bisschen landwirtschaftliche Flächen, aber (ehm) ich sag mal das Ganze spielt da ne Rolle.

Q: Das macht ja auch keinen Sinn das immer so parzellenscharf zu sehen, sondern das ist ja auch eine Frage welchen Bereich man abgrenzt.

A: Ja genau.

Q: Und würden Sie dann auch sagen, dass so die wesentlichen Bereiche oder Themenfelder abgedeckt sind?

(Energie, Mobilität, Kultur, Bildung, Gesundheitsversorgung)

List of interviews A: Der Landkreis hat ein Schulzentrum da werden primär die Landkreis-Kinder da aufgenommen, so es gibt zwar glaube ich auch ein Gymnasium in Bleckede aber hier das ist zum Beispiel auch mitten in der Stadt.

Oder die Kreisverwaltung ist mitten in der Stadt ne, also insofern strahlt das (ehm) das müssen Sie als ein Gebilde verstehen, also da gibt es ganz viele Verflechtungen und Verbindungen und das kann man gar nicht alles trennen. Und durch die Funktion als Oberzentrum das wir hier haben ergibt sich das ja schon aus der Landesplanung sozusagen welche Bedeutung ein Oberzentrum für die Umgebung zu erfüllen hat.

Q: Aber das heißt auch wenn sich jetzt die Institutionen hier in der Stadt Lüneburg befinden erfolgt schon auch eine Zusammenarbeit, weil das ist ja nicht unbedingt die Voraussetzung - kann ja auch sein man agiert da aneinander vorbei.

A: (Lacht) Also ich sag mal so, gewisse Sachen sind da natürlich die der Rat hier der Region Lüneburg bestimmen kann, sozusagen andere Sachen sind eben auch Pflichtaufgaben die Lüneburg erfüllt oder der Kreis erfüllt; wissen Sie das ist ne ziemlich komplexe Geschichte, wir versuchen (ehm) - Einkaufsstadt Lüneburg, das ist natürlich so ne Geschichte, wir leben oder die Kaufmannschaft lebt nicht nur von den städtischen Kunden, sondern das ist natürlich auch attraktiv für den Landkreis und so weiter also (ehm) jedenfalls ist das mein Verständnis von der Stadt, das man eben immer kucken muss was für Funktionen dann dahinter stehen.

Also die Ratsbeschlüsse reichen natürlich nicht (lacht) - gut über - ich sach mal wenn (ehm) der Landkreis und die Stadt haben das Theater gemeinsam so also die sind eine GmbH, also es gibt noch eine gemeinsame Veranstaltung und zwar die GfA - Gesellschaft für Abfallwirtschaft und die ist auch glaube ich zu 50 % Landkreis zu 50 % Stadt als Gesellschaft, die machen hier die Müllabfuhr, also das ist natürlich dann auch zweckmäßig da eine gemeinsame Gesellschaft zu haben die das macht.

Oder die Trinkwasserversorgung läuft über die Purena, das ist jetzt ne eigene Gesellschaft und die hat natürlich auch Brunnen in der Stadt aber auch im Landkreis, so und Abwasserreinigung macht bei uns die AGL, so und wir reinigen zum Beispiel auch Abwasser für Nachbargemeinden mit, Badowick hat keine eigene Kläranlage sondern die pumpen ihr Abwasser hier zur Lüneburger Kläranlage, wir machens teilweise für die Nachbargemeinden mit, dort wo es sich halt anbietet und aufgrund der Topografie einfach passt und dann gibts diese Zusammenarbeiten.

Ja vielleicht noch ein Beispiel, was übergreift wir haben einen eigenen Stadtforst, 1.400 Hektar und wir haben auch Waldflächen außerhalb von Lüneburg das beschränkt sich nicht aufs Stadtgebiet, also da gibts schon auch Verflechtungen jetzt über die Stadt hinaus.

Q: Also gibt es jetzt auch im Bereich gerade der Erneuerbare Energien dann noch Verknüpfungen mit anderen Gemeinden oder kann das komplett Landkreisbezogen betrachten?

A: Also da hätte ich jetzt mal die Bitte das sie genauer in der Klimaschutz-Leitstelle nachfragen..

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List of interviews Eine Verknüpfung hätten wir da, also die ergibt sich vielleicht nicht so sehr mit dem Landkreis, aber Energieversorgung gibts eben - Strom, jeder kann ja seinen Anbieter wählen, die Stadt hat das jetzt so gemacht oder Teile des Konzern Stadt muss man sagen, das wir den Strombezug ausgeschrieben haben, so und dann hat man im Rat vorher diskutiert welche was man einkauft und ich sach mal is nicht nur der Preis, so kurz gefasst man wollte Erneuerbare Energien haben und nicht aus alten Wasserkraftanlagen, gewonnen hat die ENBW das sind irgendwelche Wasserkraftanlagen modernerer Bauart, dass wird natürlich irgendwo im Netz eingespeist und dann hier in Lüneburg wird nicht (lacht) der Strom verbraucht sondern irgendein Strom, aber es wird natürlich eingekauft und eingespeist ins Netz.

Q: Und da geht es um die Versorgung öffentlicher Gebäude?

A: Ja genau, Schulen und hier also teilweise ist auch noch das Klinikum dabei, das weiß ich nicht genau, ob die was eigenes machen, so Erdgas wird hier auch ausgeschrieben, das machen wir konventionell, weil es da gar nicht so viel erneuerbares Erdgas geben würde das man die Stadt versorgen könnte, das geht nicht, da haben wir uns beraten lassen.

So noch ein Modell Nahwärmeversorgung, wir haben hier das hat ein bisschen Tradition auch, wir haben hier in ganz vielen Neubaugebieten auch Nahwärmeversorgung oder steht dann ein Blockheizkraftwerk und das wird halt betrieben also zumindest das eine, das Neue jetzt mit Bio-Erdgas. Das wird aber irgendwo eingespeißt und eingekauft, aber natürlich nicht in der Stadt und das ist natürlcih auch so ne verflechtung jetzt bei Energien.

Also der Kreis macht beispielweise ein Raumordnungsprogramm jetzt mit Vorzugsflächen für Energien, die werden natürlich auch irgendwie Lüneburg versorgen, aber die wären natürlich nicht im Stadtgebiet weil das zu nah dran wäre.

Q: Wenn Sie jetzt noch in anderen Bereichen denken sind Sie jetzt der Meinung das Kooperationen noch verbessert werden könnten oder sind da welche komplett außen vor gelassen worden?

A: Wissen Sie, weiß ich nicht, also unser Bürgermeister ist entweder Stellvertreter, das wechselt immer, Präsident vom Niedersächsischen Städtetag so und der weiß natürlich genau, was in größeren Städten und Gemeinden in Lüneburg auch vorgeht (eh so) und der hat da haben wir glaube ich schon ein ziemlich gutes Ohr dran was bei anderen so passiert und er hat viele Sachen von denen er hört die in wesentlich größeren Städten passieren, ziehen wir uns dann hier in Lüneburg rein so und wir sind ja ziemlich klein mit 75.000 Einwohnern und wir versuchen solche Verbindungen auch zu nutzen, ob wir da auch konsequent sind weiß ich auch nicht. Aber wir versuchen das und man bescheinigt uns das auch das wir haben uns letztes Jahr für den Deutschen Nachhaltigkeitpreis beworben und da hat man uns auch bescheinigt, das wir solche Kooperationen und Verbindungen konsequent nutzen für die Stadt und ja…

List of interviews Q: Können Sie da auch konkrete Städte nennen?

A: Ja, ne also das wir mit anderen Städten viel zusammen machen glaube ich eher nicht, aber die Ideen, die andere Städte also so Projekte die die haben, also so konkret jetzt die Metropolregion um Hannover rum die war Schaufenster für Elektromobilität so das haben wir hier mitbekommen, die wollten so ne sieben Städte Tournee, Probefahrten und Stände, das haben wir uns wir waren die kleinste Stadt die da mitgemacht hat, wir waren sozusagen haben das hier organisiert das die hier mitmachen. Das ist so ein konkretes Beispiel wo wir mitmachen obwohl wir ja eigentlich nicht müssten - da haben wir dann gesagt komm wir würden da gerne mitmachen (lacht) und das ist auch sehr gut gelaufen und hat viele Besucher angezogen. Also das ist so würde ich so sagen das wir Ideen die irgendwo in Niedersachsen entstehen aufgreifen und da versuchen wir dann auch uns da irgendwie dranzuhängen.

Aber so direkt Kooperationen zwischen Städten zu bestimmten Fragen zwischen Städten jetzt mal zum konkreten Thema Nachhaltigkeit das gibts nicht, das könnte man vielleicht noch verbessern.

Q: Okay, also das ist ja schoneinmal interessant…

A: Naja weil man da ja schon viel voneinander lernen kann und wenn man jetzt, das findet jetzt noch nicht statt das Projekt Lüneburg 2030+, aber bei anderen Förderprojekten ist das so, (seufzt) das BMWF versucht immer die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Forschungseinrichtungen und Städten zu fördern, das heißt dann zwar ein bisschen anders, und da machen wir dann auch mit, und die versuchen dann auch das sich die Städte vernetzen so da gibts vereinzelt mal Forschungsprojekte - (ehm) wir hatten jetzt so eins Nachhaltige Kommunalverwaltung von der deutschen Bundesstiftung Umwelt ist es gefördert worden und da war dann zum Beispiel Freiburg im Breisgau mit dabei so die hatten zwar letzten Endes andere Themen und spielen was Thema Nachhaltigkeit angeht vielleicht auch in ner anderen Liga, sind vielleicht auch schon länger mit dabei aber es ist interessant sich da mal auszutauschen im Rahmen eines solchen Forschungsprojektes - also das versuchen wir dann schon zu nutzen.

Q: Und über welche Plattform auf welcher Ebene funktioniert das dann?

Also in dem Fall gabs die Leuphana Universität die hatten ne Idee für ein Forschungsvorhaben und die haben dann nach nem Praxispartner gekuckt wer da mitmacht die Freiburger haben mitgemacht und wir haben ja gesagt.

Wir haben inzwischen ja zumindest mit unserer Uni ne enge Zusammenarbeit aufgebaut, das haben sie ja vielleicht auch bei unserer Veranstaltung gemerkt wenn man irgendwie meint was gemeinsames bewegen zu können, dann trifft man sich telefoniert mal miteinander und da sind wir eigentlich weit weg von diesem klassischen Auftragnehmer-, Auftraggeber Verhältnis, sondern man entwickelt das gemeinsam und sieht das wo man zusammenarbeiten kann.

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List of interviews Q: Ja, ist ja auch sinnvoll…

Ja und Kontakte zu haben kann nie schaden und wie das dann zustande kommt, also es ist ganz oft so, dass das auf ner persönlichen Schiene läuft wenn man sich kennt und dann sagt hier da können wir doch was zusammen machen, und das muss man sich ja auf der persönlichen Ebene dann auch erstmal aufbauen.

Q: Und inwiefern unterstützt der Landkreis/die Stadt dann auch Vereine oder Initiativen die dann direkt von den Leuten ausgehen?

A: Also was der Landkreis jetzt genau macht weiß ich nicht, aber zum Beispiel es gibt hier mehrere Vereine die sich um Erneuerbare Energien kümmern, Zukunftsgenossen und da hat die Stadt zum Beispiel Anteile gekauft, so und da arbeitet man zusammen, ohne die jetzt dominieren zu wollen ist man da jetzt dabei.

Dann gibts einen Verein der ist auch schon lange mit dabei SunOn heißen die glaube ich und die kümmern sich um Photovoltaik (ehm) da gibts auch ne Zusammenarbeit, da haben wir so ne Solardachbörse, die kucken halt wo wir städtische Dächer zur Verfügung stellen können für Leute die willig sind was mit EE zu machen und nicht über ein eigenes Dach verfügen.

Ehm ja… haben Sie schon vom Schulbildungszentrum Schubz gehört?

A: Ja… Also die sind jetzt im ehemaligen Altenheim an der Vogelei Heim und das ist auch wieder so ne Geschichte die eigentlich erwachsen ist au so einer Idee die ursprünglich aus der Lehrerschaft entstanden ist - und Stadt und Landkreis tragen dieses SchubZ, das ist Bildungsarbeit also da müssten Sie den Mr.n Kohlers, den Geschäftsführer sprechen, die schleußen ungefähr rund 20.000 Jugendliche durch Kurse bei Umweltbildung.

Oder (ehm) in Echen gibts diese Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt von der Landwirtschaftskammer und auch da werden Jugendliche durchgeschleußt die da jetzt zum Beispiel unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten in der Tierhaltung kennenlernen, das die sich auch ein Bild machen können was es da für Unterschiede gibt.

Q: Und jetzt mal auch auf den Bereich Regionale Landwirtschaft oder regionale Produktion zu sprechen zu kommen, sehen Sie da jetzt auch die Stadt oder den Landkreis in der Pflicht das zu fördern, oder soll das eher von den Bauern, von den Initiativen ausgehen?

A: Ja ich mein was können wir da machen, Lüneburg hat einen lebhaften Wochenmarkt, einen Marktbeschickerverein gibts da mit dem wir natürlich auch eng zusammenarbeiten und auf dem Marktplatz ist mittwochs und sonnabends dann Markt, da werden dann natürlich auch regionale Produkte angeboten. Es gibt auch einen Wochenmarkt in Kaltenmohr oben der läuft am Freitag, Ich glaub auch das diese Märkte sehr gut angenommen werden und da können dann regionale Anbieter dann natürlich auch kommen und Produkte und Stände aufbauen.

Wir können natürlich die Bedingungen und die Rahmenbedingungen schaffen das der Wochenmarkt gut ange-

List of interviews nommen wird, der wird auch schon gut angenommen.

Q: Thema Tourismus - Nachhaltiger Tourismus da gibts ja die Lüneburger Heide Tourismus GmbH, wie ist das dann mit der Region verknüpft?

A: Wir haben hier eine Stadtmarketing, die auch touristische Angebote hat, wir haben jetzt einen neuen Geschäftsführer; Lüneburg wirbt auch damit Tourismusstadt zu sein, Tourismusangebote sind schon zahlreiche da, aber da werden sie nicht das Wort Nachhaltigkeit finden. Also bei unserem Projekt “Lüneburg 2030+” ist ein Seminarprojekt auch Tourismus und da soll die Marketing mit der Lüneburger Heide GmbH und dem Pendant aus dem Bioshpährengebiet im Elbtal zusammenkommen und vielleicht ne gemeinsame Vision entwickeln. Die Lüneburg Marketing ist erstmal auf die Stadt fixiert, aber es gibt auch Bestrebungen die zu bündeln. Ein Thema war mal, aber ich weiß nicht was daraus geworden ist, Elberadweg ist ein Thema und hier kann man jetzt Leuten die auf dem Elbradweg unterwegs sind, vielleicht auch mit Pedelecs, die Möglichkeit bieten, das sie in Lüneburg nen Abstecher machen können, finden die ne Lademöglichkeit oder was wo sie ihr Gepäck abgeben können, aber fragen Sie da einfach mal bei der Tourismus GmbH nach, oder schauen Sie auf der Internetseite was die so anbieten im Bereich Tourismus.

Ansonsten gibt’s jetzt eben auch noch wegen der Telenovela Rote Rosen, viele Touristen die nur deswegen kommen, sich die Drehorte anschauen, das ist jetzt ne Form von Tourismus die jetzt in Lüneburg total in Ordnung machen, die gehen zur Fuß und dann gibt’s thematische Stadttouren wo die sich dann die Stadt anschauen können; ich würde mal sagen das ist ne Form des sanften Tourismus.

Aber sagen wir mal so Nachhaltigkeit, was ist schon Nachhaltigkeit (schmunzelt), das ist schon n schwieriges Thema; ich glaube auch nicht das die mit dem Thema Nachhaltigkeit da groß Leute anziehen können sondern man muss halt kucken das die Angebote stimmen.

Q: Und wie wichtig finden Sie allgemein Wettbewerbe oder Auszeichnungen für die sich die Stadt oder auch der Landkreis bewerben kann, wie zum Beispiel “Nachhaltigkeitsstadt” um dann eben auch die Vorgaben zu erfüllen?

A: Ja also diese Preise die sind ganz schön Anspruchsvoll und machen ganz schön viel Arbeit da so Bewerbungen zu schreiben und das ist schön wenn man da halt mal mitmacht, aber das kann man nicht dauerhaft machen. Also es gibt viele Preise die da ausgelobt sind und das schafft man im Alltagsgeschäft so gar nicht und ich glaube auch nicht, das sind immer so Highlights die man mal hier mal da mitnimmt aber das ist kein Alltagsgeschäft. Also ja es macht Mühe, ist auch schön wenn man mal wahrgenommen wird, aber das muss auch leistbar sein, da gibts auch Grenzen wo man einhalten muss.

Q: Aber würden Sie sagen das steht auch in irgendeinem Verhältnis, das sich das dann auch auszahlt; oder das es auch ein großer Schritt Richtung nachhaltige Stadt oder Region ist?

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List of interviews A: Also ich glaube eher das es so ist das man sich dann auch mit anderen Städten vergleicht und ich bin da ein bisschen skeptisch, also es gibt viele Preise, da wird man dann auch von vielen Seiten angestachelt, die würden es ja auch so machen, aber da müssen Sie eher die Leute fragen die dann auch die Preise ausloben.

Also sagen wirs mal so, wir könnten die Alltagsarbeit locker einstellen, wenn wir uns bei allen möglichen Preisen bewerben wollen, müssen wir da wirklich bei allen dabei sein, oder lässt sich da so ein gesundes Maß finden. Wir müssen ja auch nicht die eine Stadt sein, so sind wir eine von Vielen.

Also ich bin bei diesen Preisen ein bisschen skeptisch, ich weiß nicht ob einen das dann auch dauerhaft anstachelt. Bei dem deutschen Nachhaltigkeitspreis von letztem Jahr, da haben wir prompt auch Gegenwind bekommen von Menschen die sagen Lüneburg hat das nicht verdient, weil sie einfach ne andere Idee von Stadtentwiclung haben und dann haben sie intern die Querschießer und dann muss man wirklich kucken.

Oder fahrradfreundliche Kommune, also ich glaube wir haben da ne ganze Menge vorzuweisen können das auch darstellen, aber wenn sich das dann als so eine Art Selbstverpflichtung entwickelt und dann regelmäßig sich dann dort zu bewerben wo dann andere auch den Fortschritt messen wollen, also ich bin da schon sehr zweifelhaft.

Q: Was denken Sie wie dann Lüneburg in 30 Jahren oder 2050 aussehen wird?

A: (lacht) Also das ist lange hin, jetzt haben wir erstmal die 2030 Themen die auch länger da sind, das ist auch total interessant, aber ich weiß es nicht. Wenn wir heute kucken, Lüneburg lebt von seinem Stadtbild von seinen vielen Denkmalen, ich denke auch das das in Zukunft so sein wird.

Und dann muss man kucken Lüneburg ist Einkaufsstadt und da wird es in den nächsten Jahren auch noch große Veränderungen geben. Da gibt es so Initiativen BuyLocal oder Lass das Geld in deiner Stadt kauf nicht alles bei Amazon aber ich glaub mal um diese Einkaufslandschaft zu erhalten mit dieser Versorgungsfunktion, da bedarf es schon großer Anstrengungen.

Und ich sag mal das wir den Konzern Stadt zusammenhalten können, das ist auch noch so ein Thema, Hamburg beispielsweise hat die Kliniken verkauft, wir haben das halt nicht gemacht. Im Gegenteil wir haben das erweitert und ich hoffe das wir den Konzern zusammenhalten können und sich das langfristig auch so trägt, weil wir auf die Weise uns auch kommunalpolitisch Einfluss geltend machen können.

Wir haben ne Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Lüneburger Wohnungsbau, mit der können wir, die ist fast zu 100 % gehört der Stadt, also mit der können wir auch preisgünstigen Wohnraum anbieten.

Und dann glaube ich haben wir ziemlich gesunde Lebensbedingungen, haben aber auch Grenzen weil die Bahn mitten durch Lüneburg geht, haben also ein Verlärmungsproblem, das ist auch der Plan wir werden auch ne stadtnahe Autobahn bekommen, ich hoffe aber auch das wir nicht durch den Durchgangsverkehr sei es jetzt auf der Schiene oder der Straße ersaufen.

List of interviews Dann denke ich das wir nach wie vor dafür kämpfen müssen das wir ne gesunde Umwelt haben. Da ist der Landkreis Lüneburg oder die Umgebung schon mit der Heide und der Elberegion auch gut aufgestellt und auch dafür müssen wir kämpfen das das so bleibt.

Und sie fragten ja jetzt 2050, das ist lange hin, aber wenn man da gesunde Lebensbedingungen hat und einige Arbeitsplätze, das ist auch schon viel wert.

Q: Aber denken Sie das es auf jeden Fall auch wichtig ist, das Thema Nachhaltigkeit langfristig innerhalb der nächsten Jahre oder Jahrzehnte auch als Überthema zu berücksichtigen, oder ist das eher so ein Nebenthema?

A: Nee, gar nicht, ich finde der Ansatz ist schon richtig, aber man kann nicht unter Nachhaltigkeitskriterien alles bewerten wollen. Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung das ist für mich ein ziemlich komplexes Thema.

Also ich glaube schon das das wichtig ist, es kommt so drauf an wie man das verpackt. Sagen wir mal 100 % Erneuerbare Energie-Region, beim Strom können wir das schaffen, und wir wissen das wir im Wärmebereich auch noch große Anstrengungen leisten müssen, aber es muss gemacht werden…

So die… ja was soll ich dazu sagen ich glaube das der Ansatz richtig ist, Dinge nicht eindimensional zu betrachten, sondern vernetzt und mehrdimensional zu betrachten, ich glaube das machen wir auch, ob wir das genügend machen, das weiß ich nicht, aber man kann immer mehr machen, aber ich glaube schon das ist der richtige Ansatz.

Q: Was denken Sie wie Themen die Flüchtlingsproblematik, der Haushalt, oder Ressourcen dagegenspielen?

A: Wenn sie da mal kucken in dem Eckpunkte Papier, da ist ja ein wesentlicher Teil der Anstrengungen diese finanzielle Nachhaltigkeit, also heute einen Haushalt zu fahren, der zukünftige Generationen nicht über Gebühr belastet. Ich glaube schon das das Schwerpunkt bleiben wird in den Anstrengungen.

Integration von Flüchtlingen, sagen wir mal so, ich möchte eigentlich immer mit dem Ende des 2. Weltkrieges anfangen da wurde Lüneburg plötzlich doppelt so groß. Und da war es dann ne Aufgabe Wohngebiete zu schaffen.

Das war sicherlich ne große Welle und ob das so richtig war ist die Frage. Ich glaube es ist ne ganz große Aufgabe bei der Integration von Neubürgern. Das primäre ist erstmal das die ein Dach überm Kopf haben und menschenwürdig untergebracht werden.

Q: Um jetzt kurz nochmal zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit zurückzukommen, das setzt sich ja aus den drei Säulen Ökonomie, Ökologie und Soziales zusammen, in welchem Bereich sehen Sie da noch die größten Bemühungen in Zukunft?

A: (lacht) Ja, also wiegesagt, die Stadt wird vermutlich immer einen ökonomischen Schwerpunkt haben müssen und man wird kucken müssen, wo man da investiert und die Stadt hat da jetzt so einen Bildungsfond aufgelegt auch mit Zustimmung des Landes, Teilhabe durch Bildung, aber nicht die Leute an die Hand zu nehmen

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List of interviews sondern ermöglichen das sie auch teilhaben können.

Bei dieser Dreidimensionalen Betrachtung da fehlt mir so ein bisschen der Bereich, also es gibt ja auch so ne vierte Dimension Kultur, die müssen Sie irgendwie immer mit reinnehmen, da reden auch immer mehr Leute davon. Das müsste man irgendwie betrachten… aber wie gesagt Sie haben nach dem Schwerpunkt gefragt, Ökonomisch müssen wir den setzen aber auch den Konzern Stadt zusammenhalten.

Q: Wie wichtig finden Sie denn dann auch die übergeordneten Vorgaben wie die Sustainable Development Goals der Vereinten Nationen, kann man das auch so im Landkreis umsetzten?

A: (Lacht) Wir haben ja auch gesagt in dem Projektseminar 2030+ das wir das aufgreifen wollen und bei der Bevölkerung dafür zu werben, aber da können Sie auch nicht ewig drauf rumreiten, das ist ja auch ziemlich komplex. Ich glaube schon das es der richtige Weg ist.

Aber wissen Sie, beim Thema Nachhaltigkeit ist es so das viele Menschen abdrehen und sagen das ist mir zu komplex, das verstehe ich nicht, insofern muss man mit den übergeordneten Zielen, wie kann man Sie runterbrechen. Und wenn Sie jetzt bei der Auftaktveranstaltung waren der Saal war ja auch voll insofern spricht das auch viele an. Also ich finde diese Themen und Ziele wichtig.

Q: Denken Sie um noch mal das Thema gemeindeübergreifende Kooperation aufzugreifen, denken Sie das auch die Bürokratie oder Verwaltung eher Kooperationen verbessert oder ist es eher so ne Hürde?

A: Ja, also ich bin immer so der Meinung Verwaltung soll sich so an ihre Aufgaben halten und Dinge verwalten die auch zu verwalten sind. Da muss man immer so ein bisschen Aufpassen das man sich als Verwaltung nicht zu sehr in Bereiche einmischt, die eigentlich privat sein sollen. Das man nicht in Lebensbereiche eingreift wo jeder frei entscheiden sollte.

Da könnten Sie auch fragen was ist Verwaltung.

Die Politik will gestalten, also auch Kommunalpolitik hier. Also die politischen Parteien sind ja auch eng vernetzt, die haben ja auch alle ihre Institutionen die sie tragen und die sie wählen, insofern gibt’s ja auch ne enge Verbindung mit der Zivilgesellschaft über die Parteien. Wir können versuchen bestimmte Bürger mitzunehmen oder Rahmenbedingungen zu schaffen aber wir sollten halt nicht.. da wäre ich persönlich auch wenn mir jemand aus der Verwaltung sagen sollte wie ich zu Leben hätte, da gibt es auch Grenzen, das will ich gar nicht. Das müssen Bürger schon selber in die Hand nehmen. Wir können die Rahmenbedingungen schaffen, wir können fördern, wir können sehen wo etwas ist was wir unterstützen können, aber ich sehe das nicht so das die Verwaltung zu viele Dinge regeln sollte. Weil sonst haben Sie bald so Verhältnisse, wo der Staat viele Dinge regelt.

Ich möchte auch das es in dem bildungs- und kulturellen Bereich bestimmte Unabhängigkeiten von der Ver-

List of interviews waltung gibt. Wenn wir Dinge unterstützen können dann gerne, aber wir müssen auch kucken das wir nichts überstülpen.

Wobei wir immer mal kucken müssen das wir den Blick nicht auf die Lebenswirklichkeit draußen verlieren. Das ist gar nicht einfach, den Blick auf die Notwendigkeiten zu behalten.

Q: Ich bedanke mich vielmals für das Interview und die Zeit die Sie sich genommen haben auch in Vertretung der Gruppe.

A: Vielen dank, bitte lassen Sie mir den Bericht zum Ende als pdf-Datei zukommen.

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List of interviews Expert interview III - Representative of Bleckede Municiplaity 18th December 2015 - Interviewer: Julian Herzel Q: Was gibt es für Projekte in Bleckede die sich mit der nachhaltigen Entwicklung beschäftigen - in der Gegenwart und der Vergangenheit?

A: Wir gehören hier zum UNESCO-Biosphärenreservat Fluss-Landschaft-Elbe. Dieses Reservat ist in Niedersachsen umgesetzt worden im letztendlich im Projekt Niedersächsische Elbtalaue verankert als Modellregion für Nachhaltigkeit. Wir als Stadt Bleckede haben bei Einrichtung dieses Reservats eine Gesellschaft gegründet, mit der wir das Informationszentrum für dieses Biosphärenreservat betreiben. Das heißt dort machen wir Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung, das auch in einem Netzwerk was wir betreuen für das gesamte Biosphärenreservat. Wir haben dafür Personal eingestellt, haben da eine Ausstellung eingerichtet, haben da jährlich ungefähr 20.000 Besucher/Kunden die sich da informieren, dass geht los über Reisende die hier vorbei kommen, Kindergärten und Schulklassen die wir da betreuen. Es geht im Endeffekt um die Vermittlung der Ziele des Biosphärenreservats in den Bereichen Ökologisches, Soziales und Ökonomie und ist aber im Wesentlichen aufgehängt an den Urwerten die wir haben. Wir haben zum Beispiel dort dargestellt, die Flora und Fauna die wir hier haben. Wir haben dort Aquarien in denen lebendige Fische ausgestellt sind, lebende Biber; wir arbeiten ständig an der Fortentwicklung.

Wir sind dann vernetzt sag ich mal, auch mit der Verwaltung in verschiedenen regionalen Arbeitsgruppen, wir haben ein Regionales Entwicklungskonzept aufgestellt für die gesamte Region - alle Gemeinden im LK Lüchow-Dannenberg und Lüneburg. Wir haben dort ein Regionales Entwicklungskonzept aufgestellt und entsprechende Ziele festgelegt und sind da jetzt auch aufgenommen als LEADER-Region, haben da jetzt ein gewisses Budget aufgenommen um die Ziele im Bereich Nachhaltigkeit umzusetzen.

Q: Dann würden Sie sagen, dass sich das Thema Nachhaltigkeit eher auf die Region Fluss-Landschaft-Elbe bezieht, oder auch auf den Landkreis Lüneburg?

A: Nein, wir haben hier regionale Kooperationen, gehen auch nach Lüneburg, aber was das Thema Nachhaltigkeit angeht, teilen wir uns unseren Naturraum eher an den Bereichen der Elbe mit den Herausforderungen und Problemen eher mit Lüneburg oder den westlichen Gemeinden. Insofern sind wir eher in den östlichen Bereich vernetzt und das endet sozusagen vor den Stadttoren Lüneburg.

Q: Was würden Sie sagen ist die Rolle der Verwaltung auf dem Weg zur Nachhaltigkeit?

A: Einmal setzen wir die Ziele um die uns der Stadtrat vorgibt. Unsere Aufgabe im Bereich Nachhaltigkeit ist es die Themen vorbildlich zu transportieren im Hinblick auf den Klimawandel, insbesondere irgendwo auch transportiert werden müssen wo die öffentliche Hand mit gutem Beispiel vorangehen soll. Zum Beispiel en-

List of interviews ergetische Sanierung öffentlicher Liegenschaften - CO2-Reduzierung, wir haben ein Klimaschutzteilkonzept gemacht, in dem wir alle öffentlichen Liegenschaften untersucht haben lassen und dann eine Priorisierung erstellt haben. Um zu sagen, Leute wir müssen unsere Gebäude optimieren - hat immer zwei Aspekte die CO2-Reduzierung die Fördergeleder bringt und wirtschaftliche Aspekte. Wobei ich auch sagen muss, dass die Amortisationszeiten mit ner CO2-Reduzierung manchmal schon verdammt lang sind.

Wir haben jetzt ein weiteres Beispiel, als Vorbild in diesem Zusammenhang, ein Elektrofahrzeug an unseren Dienststellen - ein Projekt von der Metropolregion Hamburg und des Bundeswirtschafts- oder -umweltsministeriums das gefördert wird - der Marke BMW zu einem halben Leasingpreis. Wir haben mit dem örtlichen Energieversorger vereinbart, dass der hier vor dem Rathaus eine Ladesäule hinkommt, die einmal unserem Fahrzeug zugute kommt, aber auch von der Öffentlichkeit genutzt werden kann.

Q: Also sehen Sie das auch als sehr wichtiges Ziel an, das den Bürgern zu vermitteln, dass die Stadt Richtung Nachhaltigkeit etwas macht?

A: So ist es.

Q: Was denken Sie, was die Rolle der Bevölkerung dabei ist, den Weg Richtung Nachhaltigkeit zu gehen - auch Richtung Vereine, Initiativenbildung?

A: Also da ist bei uns aus der breiten Bevölkerung außerhalb der politischen Parteien wenig Initiative sich genau dieses Themas anzunehmen. Ich glaube es ist in der Bevölkerung so, wenn es sich im Geldbeutel auszahlt, dann ist man dabei aber wenn es zu teuer ist, ist man nicht dabei.

Also noch ein Beispiel, was ich vorher vergessen habe, wir haben vor 4 Jahren gemeinsam mit unserem regionalen Energieversorger ein Projekt gestartet, haben alle Dächer unserer Liegenschaften mal durchrechnen lassen und haben sie dann in einem großen Projekt komplett verpachtet an dieses Unternehmen, die dann dort ca. 17 PV-Anlagen installiert haben - auch mit Zählwerk vor der Grundschule.

Q: Wenn Sie die Beziehung oder Verflechtung zur Stadt Lüneburg betrachten, da diese sich ja auch bemüht Zukunftsstadt 2030+ zu werden und die Klimaschutzleitstelle hat? Was für eine Aufgabe sollte die Stadt übernehmen?

A: Die Klimaschutzleitstelle ist ja vom Landkreis Lüneburg eingerichtet. Die Klimaschutzleitstelle hat zum Beispiel auch das Klimaschutzteilkonzept für die energetische Sanierung der öffentlichen Liegenschaften angeschaut und koordiniert. Die Stadt Lüneburg ist da sozusagen nicht aufgetaucht. Also was die Stadt Lüneburg in dem Bereich macht, das bekommen wir hier weniger mit, oder was die Klimaschutzleitstelle mit der Stadt Lüneburg macht, das kann ich von hier aus nicht beurteilen. Aber jedenfalls gibt es hier von uns aus keine Zusammenarbeit.

Q: Würden Sie sich da mehr Kooperation oder Zusammenarbeit wünschen?

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List of interviews A: Also ich hab sie bisher noch nicht vermisst. Wenn natürlich irgendwo ein spannendes Projekt um die Ecke kommt wenn ich das mal so sagen darf, würden wir uns einer Kooperation nicht verschließen. Wir hatten bei diesem Klimaschutzteilkonzept zum Beispiel viele kleinere Gemeinden gebündelt und wir haben das als Stadt Bleckede übernommen für die Samtgemeinde Dahlenburg und für die Gemeinde Amt Neuhaus. Und diese Bündel waren im Landkreis Lüneburg drei- oder viermal vertreten – die Stadt Lüneburg war da glaube ich ein extra Teil weil die eben die entsprechende Größe haben.

Q: Gibt es sonst noch Kooperationen zwischen Bleckede und anderen Gemeinden?

A: Also diese LEADER-Region ist ne ganz wichtige Ebene, die wir dort haben, wir arbeiten zum Beispiel, also die Stadt Lüneburg nimmt für uns gewisse Leistungen wahr, insbesondere machen die für uns die Personalabrechnung und Sachbearbeitung. Es gibt da auf der Verwaltungsebene unterschiedliche Kooperationen in mehreren Bereichen, wir arbeiten an bestimmten Beschaffungen zusammen für Schwimmbäder und solche Geschichten also wo man wirklich die Vorteile erzielen kann. Also im Verwaltungsbereich gibt es schon Kooperationen im Rahmen der Überschrift inter-kommunale Zusammenarbeit. Wir haben zum Beispiel; organisatorisch treffen wir uns einmal im Monat alle Bürgermeister im Landkreis zu unserer HVB-Dienstbesprechung (Hauptverwaltungsbeamte), in der wir sozusagen die Themen besprechen, die uns alle gemeinsam berühren.

Manchmal kommt dann durch die Zusammenarbeit auch das ein oder andere Projekt zustande was dann auch nach ein paar Monaten wieder vorbei ist. Also diese Kooperation ist ganz wichtig, das ist auch ne Arbeitsteilung, jeder nimmt sich mal an einem Thema an und dann ist wieder jemand anderes dran.

Wir haben noch eine zweite Arbeitsebene, die nicht ganz so regelmäßig stattfindet so vierteljährlich, die Arbeitsgemeinschaft Elbtalaue-Wendtland das ist im Prinzip von den teilnehmenden Gemeinden deckungsgleich mit der LEADER-Region. In dieser Arbeitsgemeinschaft sitzen die Gemeinden, aber auch die Wirtschaftsförderer der Region, die Biosphärenreservatsverwaltung und der Bauernverband mit drinnen.

Q: Also erfolgt dann schon auch eine ziemlich enge Zusammenarbeit und ein gegenseitiger Austausch?

A: Also wir sind hier ich glaub in diesem Teil recht gut vernetzt. Das glaub ich gibt es auch so in der Form so intensiv nicht, wie gesagt für uns als Bleckede so ein bisschen Scharnierfunktion einmal im Landkreis Lüneburg drin, aber dann auch im Landkreis Lüchow-Dannenberg.

Wir haben einfach auch viele Themenfelder wo wir denken, wir müssen uns vernetzen. Wir haben uns auch darüber hinaus vernetzt, als Stadt Bleckede, wir sind Gründungsmitglied der Hochwasserpartnerschaft Elbe.

Q: Sehen Sie im Bereich der Nachhaltigkeit im Ökologischen, Sozialen oder Ökonomischen in einem Feld noch besonderen Handlungsbedarf?

A: Also wir sind ja hier im Osten des Landkreises Lüneburg in einem relativ strukturschwachen Raum. Das heißt unsere Menschen arbeiten nur zu einem sehr geringen Teil in Bleckede, selbst sie pendeln sehr stark

List of interviews aus Richtung Lüneburg und Hamburg. Natürlich würden wir uns wünschen hier sehr starke ökonomische Leistungen auch auf die Platte zu bringen. Aber wir sind auch ein stückweit von der Infrastruktur – Autobahn, Eisenbahn – zu weit entfernt, dass hier neue Unternehmen sagen ich gründe ein Unternehmen hier in Bleckede. Wir waren lange ja Zonenrandgebiet, die Grenze ging ja hier durch und in der Zeit wurde durch Zonenrandförderung einiges an Gewerbe hier angesiedelt von der wir auch heute noch profitieren, die haben sich auch teilweise gut entwickelt. Aber neue, nennenswerte Unternehmen kommen nicht so nach. Also da wäre auch mehr Erfolg wünschenswert aber ich sehe auch die Rahmenbedingungen die nicht so günstig sind.

Q: Denken Sie das man da in Zukunft bestimmte Schrauben drehen kann, dass sich da etwas an der Situation verbessert?

A: Also das haben Sie in der Diskussion vielleicht auch mitbekommen, es gibt ja den geplanten Bau der Elbbrücke, die Elbe ist hier bei uns eine natürliche Grenze, das lässt sich nicht wegdiskutieren, so dass sich vielfach die Dinge was Einzugsgebiete angeht Richtung Elbe erstrecken, sozusagen in so nem großen Halbkreis. Beim Thema Einzelhandel, Einzugsgebiete würde uns sozusagen eine Verbindung über die Elbe helfen, langfristig zu sagen dieses natürliche Hindernis auszugleichen, aber die Entscheidung ist derzeit im Landkreis Lüneburg gefallen, diese Brücke nicht zu bauen.

Q: Jetzt schon als abschließende Frage, wie sehen Sie persönlich den Landkreis Lüneburg und die Stadt Blecke im Jahr 2030?

A: Also der Landkreis Lüneburg hat ne durchaus heterogene Struktur. Die Stadt Lüneburg mit ihren Randgemeinden wächst, das ist hervorragend auch für uns, da siedelt sich Wirtschaft an. Ich glaube schon, dass Lüneburg eine wachsende Region bleiben wird auch bis 2030 gesamt, auch dadurch, dass vielleicht Projekte wie die Autobahn Richtung Wolfsburg realisiert werden, da bin ich auch sehr zuversichtlich, dass Lüneburg eine gute Ausgangsposition hat.

Insgesamt sehe ich etwas kritischer die heterogene Entwicklung im Landkreis, sozusagen der Abstand zwischen den Siedlungen der Ostgemeinden (Amt-Neuhaus, Neudahlburg, Bleckede) von dieser Entwicklung nicht in dem gleichen Maße profitieren wie die Randgemeinden. Und da habe ich die Befürchtung, dass wir dann die Entwicklung der Gemeinden weiter auseinandergeht.

Ich sehe eigentlich die Aufgabe des Landkreises Lüneburg in der Ausgleichsfunktion als Landkreis entgegenzusteuern – mit Infrastrukturprojekten, mit Schaffung von Anreizen für Wohnen, Wirtschaft und so weiter hier im ländlichen Raum. Da gehört für mich zum Beispiel auch dazu Breitbandförderung. Im Wesentlichen gehören diese Projekte auch dazu, dass die Gemeinden im ländlichen Raum den Anschluss nicht verlieren.

Dazu gehört auch der ÖPNV, das die Verbindungen in die Fläche mindestens gehalten werden, das ist alles nicht kostendeckend.

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List of interviews Q: Ich bedanke mich vielmals fĂźr das Interview und die Zeit die Sie sich genommen haben auch in Vertretung der Gruppe.

A: Vielen Dank, bitte lassen Sie mir den Bericht zum Ende als pdf-Datei zukommen.

List of interviews Expert interview IV - Representative of Klimaschutzleitstelle 30th November 2015 - Interviewer: Susanne Gallenz and Amanda Rolim Q: As we found out in our research there’s always quite a history of the sustainable development in Lüneburg.

Since when does the Klimaschutzleitstelle exist and since you’ve been working in this field here have you seen more trends, topic changes etc. over the years?

A: The history of sustainability here in Lüneburg in the first connection was the earth sustainability, because they have the use of land very peculiar which is the land is development because of earth sustainability, too much use of land and forest and grass land. And sustainability came to Lüneburg in, I don’t know the exact date because I started here to study in 2003, but in the 90’s. 1994 the university developed towards environmental sciences, Agenda 21 started groups like T.U.N., Frau Puschmann has started in Lüneburg, nuclear waste was a big topic here. And in the neighbour region, Lüneburg was also a member of the Klima-Bündnis, an international aggregation of towns and also in the 90’s. So you have to see the university was always a big factor here in environmental topics and also in sustainability debate and local council debate. In 2009 I think, the Leuphana University made a strong focus on sustainable university, the contribution of university in sustainable matters in the town of Lüneburg. And the sustainability sciences, the transdisciplinary research, focusing on the development in the university. The sustainability council, the Nachhaltigkeitsrat in Lüneburg developed, I don’t know the exact date also not a topic - you could talk to Dr. Rehbein or Frau Puschmann about it. In 2008 the Klimaschutzleitstelle was formed together from the town of Lüneburg, and the region of Landkreis Lüneburg. It was formed together as this organization that needs to be or want to be a network on climate protection, and focus on cooperation networking, and project and development in old projects, in education and also on energy topic. So it’s a short overview about the topic of sustainability and climate protection.

Q: Which projects are you working on at the moment? Do they involve cooperation with other municipalities within the region of Lüneburg?

A: Well the town, the municipality of Lüneburg is at the moment focusing on the project Zukunftsstadt 2030, with the sustainable department of the Leuphana University. This project is following the “DialogN” process that went through the last years, a process that organized public participation and the orientation towards sustainable development in certain topics. Development of monitoring system for climate protection is a topic that is debated in town, but also in the region of Lüneburg, an university group developed the monitoring system in the field of climate protection and we are now reporting with the second time and it is helping us to monitor how climate protection and energy transition are going on here in the Landkreis.

In the region of Lüneburg the topic energy and climate protection field is very much developed in wind energy,

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List of interviews we find out special places where wind energy can be placed and this is a big contribution for the development. We, as the Klimaschutzleitstelle have projects under the topic Klimaschutz, which is focusing on private household and energy savers, energy uses, that we want to promote. We have energy efficient cooperation in the corporate field that we want to support corporations that are focusing on energy efficiency in the producing sector, also the small and little cooperations.

Energy and climate protection in municipalities and between the municipalities is also focused on the last two years, I had a project with six municipalities here in the Landkreis, focusing on the buildings of the municipalities, checking them, the public buildings, schools or smaller buildings. We all went with the experts through the buildings and checked them, what needs to be renewed and how renewable energy can be introduced in there. The Landkreis is also developing a new concept for the public transport. This is a topic and we’re trying to spread also car sharing in other municipalities. We already started with one municipality outside Lüneburg.

There’s a few headlights on the topic, in the town of Lüneburg and also in the region.

Q: And are there also another people from the outside coming? Like from the smaller villages to talk to you? Or it’s mostly people from Lüneburg who are actually interest in making their buildings more sustainable?

A: With the campaigns we want to promote about solar energy and energy efficiency we are always focusing in the town and region of Lüneburg, because of their focus on private house holders where we focus on municipalities, we have a big focus on the town of Lüneburg but also on the town of Bleckede, and other municipalities, trying to look at their public buildings or starting this little campaign about climate protection issues, depending on their wiliness or their awareness of the problem.

Q: I went to Lünestorm, the energy company here, and I understand that they are a private company and here it is more like action from the government or like a public organization. And you mentioned the wind energy that you may allow them to use the rights fields, how does this work? Is it a cooperation with the private company?

A. The Landkreis is a planning the organization for the land use here in the region, which land can be used by the wind energy, which can be used for solar energy, which cannot be used because of we have a up line in the region or we have a forestation process going on - so the whole of the Landkreis is only to see which areas can be used, which areas should the wind energy focus on. And the other region on where energy is not allowed, that’s the planning focus of the Landkreis, nothing more. Because we are a regular environmental organization in cooperation with the Bundesland Niedersachsen. So not involving with wind energy plan.

Q: Do you think Lüneburg is on the right path towards sustainable development? Would you say there are aspects which are still lagging behind?

A: Difficult question. I think Lüneburg could step forward in sustainability, our major relations with other majors that focus on this topic, and publishing the Klima-Bündnis. We have the Nachhaltigkeitsbüro, we have the

List of interviews university, which is a very strong actor, focusing on little projects on sustainable development. My professional focus is climate protection, so I can talk more about that topic than sustainable development. And the research from the university is also very important. The research on the east of the region and other ecological focus topics, but also the Zukunftsstadt 2030. They are focusing in sustainable development in the town of Lüneburg.

Q: Do you consider inter-municipal cooperation as one way to reinforce sustainability actions within the Region of Lüneburg?

A: Yes of course. It’s the way that municipalities can learn from each other, the town of Lüneburg is a fair trade town, so certified, because the little shops and stores offer potatoes and fair trade products. In the town hall when there are sessions, or petitions, and there’s the certification process that Lüneburg has to go through, that is for example other municipalities could take over. The town of Lüneburg tries to evolve some public building to very efficient energy buildings; that is also something that other municipalities can learn. And Leuphana university is now building a very new building, high level energy efficiency. And it also has to be a learning process between the municipalities, for example through stronger cooperation and this is the focus. I think its very import.

Q: What do you think for example is the advantage for the city of Lüneburg? Are they providing this information basically towards like the smaller cities? What do they get from other cities? Is there something that the city of Luneburg is interest in getting from the others there?

A: We are the network of Klima-Bündnis and in the network of major who work on their towns on sustainability topics. And there are also learning processes taking place looking on the project that is now ended with Leuphana University, we‘re exchanging with Freiburg on the topic of energy and public buildings, focusing on financial aspects and that was a learning process on high level. And Leuphana is the big actor here, and in the town of Lüneburg, they have a lot of inputs here in the town. And we have municipalities here in the Landkreis which are much forward in energy protection, forward in building new buildings or heating regions, spreading them out, so it’s not only the town of Lüneburg, it’s the whole other municipalities.

Q: What could be improved in your projects with the support from other municipalities?

A: Well what always is a focus on climate protection is the involvement of the society groups like the T.U.N. is involved with Frau Puschmann, the civil society has to activate the citizens that we have to achieve sustainable development to achieve climate protection goals. And there are now the civilians they can now fulfill any goals, so you have to think about cooperation and also corporates to finance to promote certain special energy efficiency, like heating pumps on heating systems or solar energy. You need to have outstanding organization like energy cooperation. We have energy corporations who have 10 to 12 solar energy plants, bigger energy plants, and they are all financed through financial support from the citizens of Lüneburg. They came together

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List of interviews to finance a solar energy plan. And cooperation like this is very important for energy transformation. And the university is always important, they started to focus on the region of Lüneburg strongly in the 90’s, and that’s a very important factor for Lüneburg.

Q: Is there a certain municipality Lüneburg tends to cooperate with (Hamburg, another smaller city)?

A. I told you that there’s the Klima-Bündnis, that we have the contact with majors, we have a cooperation with Hamburg, and we have a cooperation with Harburg. So it’s the neighbour of our Landkreis in the north. We are all connected with other climate protection managers in the county of Niedersachsen, regular networking, and now we’re focusing also in the region corporation, 6 or 7 climate protection managers, in the neighbour Landkreis. To see what other approaches they are using, and see if we can learn from each other.

Q: Is there one favorite cooperation that is spread out in different cities, there are a lot of different partners basically?

A: Yes, we have to differentiate between which level we are working on, so we are working on approaches like private household, or if we are working on the topic of energy efficiency. Of course it is another network that we are looking on, and so each project and each topic has to see what the network stands for, if they can support your approaches, bring new approaches, bring knowledge into your focus.

Q: Which sector of renewable energy is the most important one for the region of Lüneburg? (Most potential in the future) Is it possible for inter-municipal cooperation to have a positive influence on this particular sector?

The wind energy is now contributing up to 25% of the electric energy used in the amount here in the Landkreis and then we are standing in areas with wind energy plan and then we have probably 70% in 2020 wind energy contributing on electricity. Also solar energy, to relate that now is only 4%, and realistically it will stay under 10%. Inter-municipal cooperation is very important, The municipality of Bardowick, they got involved in an organization that is now planning the concrete wind energy plant, not in the Landkreis, but in the municipality of Bardowick. They went together with the agriculture organization, and they are now together planning how much of wind energy are we bringing up in the area where they are planned by the Landkreis. So that’s an example for municipalities that are now in cooperation with another actor to focus on wind energy.

Another big topic is energy efficiency, to reduce the use of energy, and there cooperations are quite important.

We have here the town of Lüneburg, chimney, steam, gas machines that are producing electricity and heat, and they are very efficient because they are using the whole amount of the energy, that very important technology that can only be promoted and expanded in Lüneburg, when the planning organization are planning new areas for living, and working together with the citizens to spread this technology.

Q: What kinds of barriers or challenges could such cooperations have?

A: Well a big struggle is to work with the old buildings that we have here in Lüneburg, that’s why the network

List of interviews energy is existing otherwise you can’t really bring energy towards these old houses, but you can build energy efficiency as it should be. So that’s a big struggle to work with those old buildings. It’s a big struggle also that Lüneburg is expanding, always growing inhabitants, the need to spread a new area outside the main town, and to bring there sustainability planning, an energy efficient planning, a planning that won’t cause to much traffic in the city where you have always narrow streets; that’s a very important topic where we should focus on, so we don’t have problems, future problems, which are caused by a sustainable planning process, and that always possible when again, you have promotive cooperation, by advice also the University, what was the connection with other international towns strongly engaged with sustainable planning. Contribution is not easy and we bring up here into the town, it’s very important, so when we build now this new areas we don’t cause the problems that we are struggling with now in other areas that we are dealing.

Q: When we talk about sustainability now that you are planning for a sustainable future basically, so we found out in our project it’s especially the east of the Landkreis, that is also struggling with demographic change, that will have less people in the future, but you are also talking about expanding renewable energy building, new wind energy plans and all this. Is there already a thought about that? Do you already think about how you can make this part more sustainable in the future? Because it will be probably, like, will have more challenges, because it has less people, so you try to bring something new, but will there be people for that?

A: Well the rural areas of the region, they will have a demographic change, or you see that because the people who used to bucked are going down, standing for a strong public traffic factor. You have to seek for new ideas for this process that is going on in the Landkreis. There are bucked carrying that are organized by the citizens itself in the municipalities. It’s a very narrow topic, but it’s a new topic that now is coming up, and involves a lot of people who are using public transport. The rural areas are supported, the houses they are developing, by new energy plans, by new agriculture sectors, which are produced there not only Bleckede but also positive aspects, that are coming because the climate protection towards the rural area and we need traffic solution or this area will prove it very difficult and the town of Lüneburg don’t have this problem because it has too much traffic already. And the eastern areas they will struggle to form some system, healthy system for transport and so on. But I think we will find a solution, but it’s a long discussion Q: So you think inter-municipal cooperation will be even more important in the future because of this?

A: Well I guess probably one way, but it’s really a practice to bring this cooperation up, because we also have a focus here that is to bring together the municipalities. That’s not an easy discussion; cooperations are not always as easy as it should be.

Q: What role does the participation of the inhabitants (initiatives) of Lüneburg/the region play? How are they involved?

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List of interviews A: We talked already about wind energy, development, energy cooperation citizens which we have in Lüneburg, which is focused on bringing the citizens together, financing new energy plan and there are also process going on how the activate citizens, and there’s also process on how we activate householders, because they are living in the houses of the 60’s, and consuming a very high energy amount for heating. We have three or four regions here in the city of Lüneburg where there’s a concept for renewing the building for bringing it to this country area. These concepts are all about to activate the citizens and the social net, like the university for supporting the town; I don’t see a clear solution for bringing energy efficiency and climate protection in those regions or in the town of Lüneburg.

Q: But is it hard to motivate the people or are they very open here?

A: Well we always had actors who were very forward, so active in solar plans, green roofs, but we have a lot of buildings that were build up in the 60’s or 70’s. They will absolutely poorly seek energy consumption. We have also programs which the municipalities are giving people money so they check their building and also check places where you check it, and it’s not worth, renewing it or breaking it down. The amount of work is not working with the new system. But it’s always a discussion. It’s a lot of money to bring up a single housing to a good standard. It’s much easier when you work with bigger buildings which are owned by coorporations which is especial light on housing and renewing houses, which is the only renovation you can go through. And can go from that to its private owners, to advice them separately, financing, to bring them separately and a lot of houses are owned by people older than 60, and they are not welling to adapt new concepts. Will be done, it’s a big struggle for climate protection in Germany towards this land of buildings in from the 50’s.

Q:Yeah, but how this does this affect tourism in Lüneburg? Because I know that Lüneburg is famous for not only the nature but also for this old buildings and old town. Do you have like a rule for all the downtown buildings?

A: Yes of course. Just buildings like from the 80’s, that can be renovated and have energy efficiency, but not far away. We have big areas spreads with buildings in the city. In these building you can even bring up double glass windows, which are fine, very strong combination.

Q: Is there tendencies that the rural parts are more complicated?

Especially with the private owners to talk about? Because they have a more conservative opinion, because you mentioned these old people, that’s difficult to reach. What’s the difference with the city of Lüneburg?

A: Yes sure. You can make money with these old buildings, and that can cause many problems, and in the eastern region of Lüneburg region, it’s very difficult, when you don’t have a big amount of buildings. It’s good for climate protection you have a high amount of housing here in the city of Lüneburg, also because a lot of money is going to the housing renovation and also private investors from Hamburg are arriving. But only from the view

List of interviews of climate protection, I think in the rural areas are much more difficult to motivate the population.

Q: The three pillars of sustainability are the economical, the ecological and the social aspect. Which of these fields requires the greatest effort by inter municipal cooperation to reach the goal of sustainability and what do you think are the problems why it’s underdeveloped?

A. So the focus of this question is also municipalities and cooperation, right? Well generally I would say that all the 3 pillars of sustainability are build together, they belong together. But Germany has a focus on ecological and economical aspect. Especially on renewable energy, a very strong debate in a regional level. Another question is the social project in energy efficiency here in Lüneburg, in Germany the social aspect is lacking. I see also in the German debate issues to bring up solar panels, in a more economical way.

Q: What social project is that?

A: We advise the householders to reduce the amount of energy used. It’s a funny thing actually, the cooperation didn’t work for this project in the whole Landkreis. The political support wasn’t enough I think.

Q: What problems do you see in the upcoming years related to achieving the goals of sustainability?

A: We can hardly set priorities, again, it’s how you set it for sustainable development, they are all looking on ecological problems. When you talk about climate protection or you also focus on how the society wants to manage this future. I think that when you think about a development of a region or a town there’s a set of the right priorities. Is it to bring down individual traffic for example? Needs of policies, instruments, fulfill these priorities, these goals. very much about goals setting, we have this political point of view. We have public organization focus and they need to have priorities in this political point of view. Which sustainable future exist?

Q: Where there’s this lack of point of view, are there municipalities where they don’t care about this?

A: Well you can say to bring in climate protection issues is very, very difficult. For the personal that now it’s working on the municipalities this focus on this project that now exists. We have financing problems and municipalities that are struggling with them. Municipalities that have good knowledge, not really you can say you have to do this or that. This climate protection goal that needs to be fulfilled. We have old buildings and we have to innovate them trying to bring these buildings up to good usage, not waste energy too much.

Q: Is there a part of the Landkreis where there is lacking of money??

A: In the point of view of the climate protection, well there’s as certain east and west difference.

Q: That’s what we thought, because in our research we realized that the east seems to have most troubles.

A: Well as I say, we always have to bring up climate protection issues in the development as a focus, transport, traffic, and building. We have to integrate climate protection issues; what can all this initiatives contribute?

Q: How do you think will Lüneburg and its region look like in 2030? “Vision 2030”.

A: So I hope we have more sustainable neighbourhoods, economy and environment are very well resolved,

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List of interviews I hope that there’s still a lot going on in Lßneburg; could grow step by step, and fulfill sustainable goals and climate protection fields. And also that the sectors of climate protection and energy could be together in the building sector. There could be more participation from the house holders, students and civil society.

List of interviews Expert interview V - Representative of Leuphana University 21st December 2015 - Interviewer: Susanne Gallenz Q: Wer sind Ihrer Meinung nach die wichtigsten Akteure im Bereich Nachhaltigkeit in Lüneburg und im Landkreis?

A: Also ich kann es natürlich nur aus meiner Position der Uni sagen. Und da arbeiten wir eben zur Zeit mit dem T.U.N. - also dem Umweltverein Technik, Umwelt, Natur mit der Vorsitzenden Susanne Puschmann und der Stadtverwaltung, dem Nachhaltigkeitsbeauftragten, Dr. Rehbein zusammen. Also das sind schon zwei sehr wichtige Akteure, die wichtigsten Treiber, die am Thema Nachhaltigkeit arbeiten. Und sonst haben wir mittlerweile relativ gute Kooperation mit der Klimaschutzleitstelle.

Und im Landkreis, wir haben immer wieder Projekte zu Phosphor in der Landwirtschaft. Da arbeitet die Universität auch viel mit dem Bauernverband zusammen. Da hab ich aber inhaltlich keinen so großen Einblick, was da so passiert. Aber da bestehen auch schon seit längerem Kooperationen.

Q: Die drei Säulen der Nachhaltigkeit sind die wirtschaftliche, die soziale und die ökologische.

Welche der Säulen ist Ihrer Meinung nach im Landkreis/in der Stadt Lüneburg noch zu wenig im Fokus bzw. umgesetzt und warum?

A: Naja ich würde sagen in der wirtschaftlichen Nachhaltigkeit..naja eigentlich kann ich es nicht wirklich sagen.

Natürlich ist es immer so, dass es wenn man mit wirtschaftlichen Akteuren in der Stadt zusammenarbeitet, dass es immer darum geht etwas zu erhalten oder weiter zu entwickeln, was es schon gibt. Also da auch zu schauen, was für wirtschaftliche Kooperationen es gibt, also welche wirtschaftlichen Alternativen, was sind Tausch-Dinge, Sharing-Plattformen, da gibt es relativ wenig meiner Meinung nach, da könnte mehr passieren.

Dann die soziale Komponente, da gab es ja vor zwei Jahren das Projekt DialogN, da wurde eben versucht die verschiedenen Initiativen zur Nachhaltigkeit zusammenzubringen, vor allem unter dem Dach der Leuphana und des T.U.N., da ging es viel um die soziale Nachhaltigkeit.

Und die ökologische Nachhaltigkeit wird ja auch von der Klimaschutzleitstelle verteten. Da geht es ja vor allem um die Energiewende, also auch um die regionale, dezentrale Energieversorgung und -produktion. Und auch die Projekte zur Phosphor-Landwirtschaft, da wird ja vor allem auch die ökologische Nachhaltigkeit fokussiert.

Also ich kanns jetzt nicht genau sagen, welche Säule da unterrepräsentiert ist.

Also in meinem Verständnis hat die Nachhaltigkeit vier Säulen, nämlich noch die kulturelle und da gibt es meiner Meinung nach relativ wenig, was da direkt gefördert wird.

Q: Was würden Sie dann dazu zählen zum Aspekt der kulturellen Nachhaltigkeit?

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List of interviews A: Ja eben auch die kulturelle Inklusion aller Bevölkerungsgruppen. Das ist eine Sache die in Lüneburg sehr fragmentiert praktiziert wird. Sie haben eine Szene der Hochkultur, oder eine Szene die sich als Hochkultur versteht und eben dann zum Beispiel studentische Gruppierungen, die eben versuchen alternative Kulturkonzepte in die Stadt zu bringen. Aber auch eben migrantische Kultur. Das sind eben Dinge, die in Lüneburg sehr wenig stattfinden und wenn sie stattfinden, dann eben sehr fragmentiert stattfinden. Da könnte mehr passieren, also dadurch vor allem dass die Uni ja auch eine große Kulturfakultät hat und die Stadt ja auch mit einem Theater und dem Museum ja auch größere kulturelle Institutionen hat und es auf der anderen Seite viele kulturelle Projekte aus der Studenten-Szene gibt, ist es eben sehr fragmentiert und eben eher gegeneinander gearbeitet.

Q: Befasst sich die Universität auch mit dem Landkreis und anderen Städten dort oder nur mit der Stadt Lüneburg selbst? Können Sie Beispiele von Projekten außerhalb Lüneburg nennen?

Gibt es auch Projekte/Kooperationen mit anderen Akteuren, z.B. Universitäten/ Hochschulen im bzw. nahe des Landkreises?

A: Ne mir fällt da nichts direkt an. Also im Landkreis gibt es eben kaum andere Hochschulen, deshalb sind die Kooperationen da sehr rar gesät. Die Kooperationen mit Praxis-Partnern beziehen sich – jedenfalls aus meiner Sicht – sehr stark auf die Stadt Lüneburg. Ich muss gestehen, dass ich da ja auch nur einen Ausschnitt aus der Uni kenne. Aber soweit ich weiß ist es schon eher in Lüneburg. Das ist dahingehend ein “blinder Fleck“. So ein Oberzentrum, wie es Lüneburg ja ist, hat ja auch eine gewisse Verantwortung gegenüber dem Landkreis und strahlt eben auch in den Landkreis aus. Man sollte deshalb auch mehr dort machen. Aber passiert ist bisher wenig. Weil nachhaltige Entwicklung auf dem Land ja auch aus verwaltungstechnischer Sicht ja relativ schwer ist. Schauen wir uns die Mobilität an, schauen wir uns den demographischen Wandel an, das sind eben Herausforderungen die auf dem Land größer sind als in der Stadt. Da ist es auf der einen Seite natürlich dringend, dass da was passiert, dass es da Konzepte gibt, aber eben auch größere Herausforderungen.

Q: Gibt es auch Projekte im östlichen Teil Lüneburgs? Handlungsbedarf im Osten?

A: Ich kenne jetzt die Situation dort nicht so genau, aber prinzipiell ist es ja schon so, dass zum Beispiel der demographische Wandel auf dem Land deutlich stärker ist als in der Stadt. Und sich dann auch die Mobilitätskonzepte die es gibt sich ja sehr stark auf die Stadt konzentrieren. Und das sind eben zwei große Herausforderungen – neben der Energie, die ja auch im östlichen Teil Thema ist mit den vielen Biogas-Anlagen, die es dort gibt, mit regenerativen Strom, ob das der nachhaltigste Strom ist, ist nochmal eine andere Frage. Aber da passiert was, da werden Konzepte entwickelt. Auch was Bürger-Windparks angeht. Ah da fällt mir ein, da gibt es ein Projekt, ein Bürgerwindpark in Amelinghausen, da wird versucht ein neues Beteiligungsverfahren der Bürgerbeteiligung an Windparks entwickelt. Auch bezüglich der Akzeptanz der Windkraftanlagen auf dem

List of interviews Land.

Ich sag mal, wenn wir uns jetzt anschauen Mobilität, demographischer Wandel, Energie, ökologische Landwirtschaft. Da gibt es auch Interesse von den Bauern an Kooperationen mit der Leuphana. Also ich sag mal auf dem Land gibt es viele Potentiale, Kooperationsmöglichkeiten, die noch nicht weiterentwickelt sind. Wenn man sich die vielen Förderprogramme von Bund und Ländern ansieht, da geht es vor allem um die Stadt.

Schauen wir uns Zukunftsstadt an zum Beispiel. BMBF-Projekte sind dann stark fokussiert auf Stadt., dass da das große Potential liegt. Da bin ich unschlüssig, ob das der richtige Schlüssel liegt. Das ist eine große Herausforderungen auch das Land, das uns umgibt. Viele Produkte, nachhaltige Produktion von Lebensmitteln, da brauchen wir das Land sehr, da müssten wir das Land auch stärken dahingehend.

Q: Denken Sie, dass Projekte wie die “Zukunftsstadt Lüneburg 2030+“ die Stadt Lüneburg nicht noch mehr zu einer “Nachhaltigkeitsinsel“ entwickeln, da sich nur auf die stadtinternen Projekt konzentriert wird, oder denken Sie dass es auch einen Einfluss auf den ganzen Landkreis hat?

A: Ich sehe das eher als Vorteil auch für den Landkreis. Wie gesagt, Lüneburg ist ein Oberzentrum und strahlt auch relativ stark in den Landkreis aus und viele, viele Menschen kommen nach Lüneburg um hier zu arbeiten, um in Lüneburg zu konsumieren, um einzukaufen, um Kultur zu konsumieren, deshalb hat das schon sehr viele Vorteile. Also ich würde nicht sagen, man muss das eine lassen und das andere tun. Für den Landkreis klar, man könnte mehr für den Landkreis tun, aber ich würde noch nicht sagen, dass wir zu einer nachhaltigen Insel hier in Lüneburg sind. Also dafür passiert im Landkreis dann doch zu viel. Also gerade wenn man zum Beispiel nach Amelinghausen schaut, was ja jetzt auch ein größeres Dorf ist, da passiert schon auch einiges.

Die ganze Region Heide hat natürlich auch eine gewisse Affinität dem Klimawandel gegenüber, die haben ja auch auf nachhaltigen Tourismus einen Fokus. Die könnten natürlich auch zum Beispiel mit der Uni kooperieren. Aber bisher ist da eben noch nicht viel da. Ist aber natürlich immer einfacher für Studierende in die Stadt zu gehen, weil das natürlich immer erstmal näher ist.

Q: Was passiert mit den Ideen des Zukunftsstadt-Projektes wenn die Umsetzungsphase nicht erreicht wird?

A: Also da gibt’s so zwei Antworten: Zum einen ist es ja so, dass so ein Projekt wie Zukunftsstadt so Initiativen, studentische Projekte ja vor allem darum geht die Kooperationen, die Netzwerke in den einzelnen Handlungsfeldern zu stärken, da auch Potentiale zu wecken, die dann eben auch ohne weitere Förderung, weiterentstehen können. Also eher so Initialzündungen, dass dann in diese Richtung weitergegangen wird. Da haben wir schon sehr gute Erfahrung gemacht als Uni. Also bei uns sind es ja oft so Master-Projekte, die laufen dann ein Jahr lang und da haben wir gute Erfahrung gemacht, dass es dann danach auf irgendeine Weise weitergeht.

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List of interviews Dadurch entstehen Kooperationen zwischen Praxisakteuren, die dann danach auch zusammen weiterarbeiten, die ein Gefühl dafür bekommen haben, was denn wichtig ist.

Ich betreu zum Beispiel ein Projekt zum lokalen Einzelhandel. Und man muss sagen, dass der Einzelhandel in Lüneburg mittlerweile durch universitäre Projekte eine starke Kooperation durch Universitätsprojekte entwickelt hat. Für nachhaltige Entwicklung des städtischen Einzelhandels. Wir hatten ein längeres Forschungsprojekt vor 4-5 Jahren und jetzt fangen wir wieder an und man merkt, dass Kooperationen damals weitergegangen sind. Auf einer bilateralen Ebene und dadurch haben sich auch Projekte entwickelt, wie “buy local“ wo sich der unternehmer-geführte Einzelhandel zusammengeschlossen hat. Und da gibt es jetzt zum Beispiel auch die Lokal-Runde einmal im Monat wo dann unternehmer-geführte Einzelhandels-Geschäfte Freitags bis 22 Uhr aufmachen. Solche Sachen, weden dann eben auch einfach weiter geführt.

Der andere Teil der Antwort ist, dass der Nachhaltigkeits-Beauftragte der Stadt auch schon gesagt hat, dass es auf irgendeine Weise auch ohne Förderung weitergehen soll. Wie das dann ist, das ist dann nochmal eine zweite Frage. Aber das Interesse der Stadt ist groß, das Projekt weiter zu führen. Das hat viele Gründe. Zum Beispiel hat die Stadt noch immer kein Nachhaltigkeits-Konzept, der Bürgermeister hat immer noch keine Zukunftsvision, wo es so mit seiner Amtszeit hingehen soll. Das sind alles Dinge, die das Interesse der Stadt steigert. Auch die Kooperation zwischen Stadtverwaltung und Uni werden immer stärker, also bis jetzt wars eben so, dass wir auf der Ebene Nachhaltigkeits-Beauftragter und Uni als Kooperations-Partner. Aber es werden auch immer mehr andere Dezernate involviert, zum Beispiel das Sozial-Dezernat, Tourismus, Stadtentwicklung, da entstehen gerade viele Kooperationen.

Also dahingehend hat das Projekt bereits viele Kernziele erreicht.

Q: Gibt es etwas, das bei den universitären Projekten durch die bessere Unterstützung anderer Kommunen und Städte der Region verbessert werden könnte? Bzw. bedarf es besserer/neuer Plattformen der Kooperation, ggf. von offizieller Seite der Verwaltungen?

A: Ich weiß nicht ob Plattform das richtige ist. Also oft das nicht einfach bilaterale Kooperationen sind die entstehen durch Projekte. Also ich sag mal die Stadtverwaltungen sind zumindest meines Wissens nach schon durch ihre Nachhaltigkeits-Beauftragten vernetzt, die sich treffen. Also ich glaube Vernetzung ist schon das A und O aller Initiativen. Um etwas voranzubringen muss man sich treffen und Ideen austauschen und so – ich glaube da kann es nie genug geben.

Bzw. kann es irgendwann so viele geben, dass es einfach zu viele gibt, dass man dann gar nicht mehr weiß wo man überall hingehen soll.

Bei einer Plattform denk ich immer eher an eine Internet Plattform.

Aber wie gesagt, den DialogN gab es ja schon einmal, das wurde vom BMBS gefördert. Wo es darum ging

List of interviews verschiedene Akteure und Initiativen zusammenzubringen und denen einen Raum zu bieten. Das hat auch mehr oder weniger gut funktioniert. Bei der Stadt ging es dann eher darum, dass solche Initiativen immer von den gleichen Menschen besucht werden. Und das sind dann aber nicht die Menschen, die am Ende die Entscheidungen treffen, die an den Schalthebeln in der Stadt sitzen. Das versuchen wir jetzt mit Zukunftsstadt 2030 verändern. Wir wollen auch den Entscheidungs-Träger mit einbinden, in der Stadtverwaltung aber auch zentrale Akteure in der Stadt, zum Beispiel die Industrie- und Handelskammer, den Leiter der Krankenhäuser in der Stadt Lüneburg und so weiter. Die Initiaven in Lüneburg, die super wichtig sind, aber es muss eben auch jemand dabei sein, der eine Entscheidungs-Macht in Lüneburg hat. Auf der einen Seite eben die Initiative und auf der anderen Seite aber dann auch eben derjenige, der Entscheidungen trifft.

Im Landkreis kann ichs jetzt schwer sagen. Natürlich schon die Kooperationen aufbauen. Aber ob das eine Plattform sein muss. Ich bin ja eher der Verfechter von bilateralen Kooperationen und dann am Ende noch weitere Akteure mit einbeziehen.

Als Student war ich immer ein großer Fan davon immer alle bei Entscheidungen mit einzubeziehen. Mittlerweile finde ich dass man in einem kleinen Kreis anfangen soll und dann andere zu fragen “wir machen hier etwas – wollt ihr mitmachen?“. Aber ganz am Anfang alle schon mit einzubeziehen, der ganze Prozess dauert viel zu lange, das ist so ermüdend.

Q: Welche Herausforderungen sehen Sie in Zukunft bei dem Versuch das Ziel der Nachhaltigkeit Im Landkreis Lüneburg zu erreichen?

A: Also für den Landkreis ja eben vor allem der demographische Wandel und die Mobilität. Also vor allem alternative Mobilitätskonzepte, wie sie es ja in Hamburg, Berlin oder München ja schon gibt. Also die Verwebung von öffentlichen Verkehr und Individualverkehr, also zum Beispiel Sharing-Konzepte. Die gibt es in Großstädten schon sehr viel. In Lüneburg gibt es ja zum Beispiel schon das Bike sharing. Diese Konzepte könnten auch in kleineren Städten funktionieren. Aber ich bin unsicher ob das so im ländlichen Raum so umgesetzt werden kann, das ist sicherlich eine Herausforderung.

Genau, dann eben der demographische Wandel, die Migration. Das wird wahrscheinlich alle betreffen und da wird die Nachhaltigkeit auch mitzuarbeiten haben. Aber das kann ich noch überhaupt nicht abschätzen, was das bedeutet.

Energie würde ich sagen sind wir in Lüneburg und Umgebung relativ gut aufgestellt. Da wird das Biogas Thema sicherlich nochmal Thema werden inwieweit dass das richtige regenerative Energiemittel ist in der Masse.

Deshalb würde ich sagen, sind das die groben Herausforderungen.

Q: Wie denken Sie wird Lüneburg im Jahr 2030 aussehen? Ihre Vision 2030.

A: (Lacht) Ja also ich bin da im Moment wohl auch ein bisschen vom Zukunftsstadt Projekt geprägt, da befas-

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List of interviews sen wir uns gerade mit der Innenstadt und dem Einzelhandel.

Menschen kommen aus dem Landkreis mit E-Bikes oder öffentlichen Bussen/Nahverkehr nach Lüneburg, um da auch auf alternative Mobilitätskonzepte zurückgreifen zu können um in einer grüneren, nachhaltigen Stadt grüne Produkte auszuleihen oder zu kaufen. Sie halten sich gerne in der Innenstadt auf, da sie hier mit vielen Menschen unterschiedlicher Kulturen unterschiedlichen Alters in Kontakt kommen und der Strom kommt zu 100 Prozent dezentral aus dem Landkreis als Wind, Biogas oder Photovoltaik bezogen.

Genau, das ist so meine Vision.

Ja da haben wir uns eben viel im Projekt damit beschäftigt, was ist eben eine Vision. Meiner Meinung nach muss es eben ziemlich konkret sein, damit es eine Vision sein kann.

Q: Ja wunderbar, dann haben wir auf jeden Fall noch viele Inputs von Ihnen bekommen. Vielen Dank!

List of interviews Expert Interview VI - Representative of Leuphana University 14th December 2015 - Interviewer: Seyhan Özçelik & Amanda Rolim A: I work in the department for knowledge and technology transfer entrepreneurship in Leuphana University.

Last year we had a big regional development project here in Lüneburg called Innovation Incubator. It has total budget of 98 million. So, it is a very huge project with a lot of different projects, skims, programs and types. The idea is to knowledge transfer to small medium sized enterprises in the region. The region is between Hannover, Hamburg and Bremen.

One of the focus area of the Innovation Incubator was energy but we had also many other sustainability projects. My position in this major project was project developer. So, I developed a lot of cooperations with regional actors. Not only sake of sustainability but also other fields. We brought them together with scientists. They were development projects and in the end we had also the head of regional development. So it was like the context point for all the regional stakeholders and also for the companies that the most important cooperation partners in this project.

That is why I know a lot about this project (Innovation Incubator) but not much from the university; like from the teaching side. But that’s why I talked to my colleague he is going to give you an interview and he knows better about those teaching projects which are also a very important part of cooperation. So I can’t give the picture for whole university now but at least I can give you some insights.

Q: Do you think the city of Lüneburg is rather a “sustainable island” in its surroundings or would you say the whole Landkreis Lüneburg is (getting) sustainable?

A: First of all what is the definition of sustainable for you? I mean; Lüneburg is a sustainable city or not? I am not sure. There is a lot of effort going towards sustainability and for sure they are also in the Landkreis.

But is it a sustainable island? I mean what you really should consider that different things. It is not like only talking about Lüneburg but the other regions in the means of socio- economic structure and the structure of administration. So there are some regions as the Wetland which has a long history of sustainability. And there is a lot of effort, and a lot of initiatives and even the Landkreis doing a lot of stuff. That is not comparable to other Landkreise. But on the other hand you also need to see that the demographic structure of administration and the challenges are totally different. And Landkreis, there are big issues like demographic change and the city budget. I mean they can’t really spend much more, but still they have now a new sustainability manager for example. They have it for the first time. Somebody dedicated to this job, so I think all the Landkreis, there are also initiatives to coming up with the sustainability topic. And for sure in the Landkreis there is something already happening. But it is always hard to judge in what position in political terms.

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List of interviews Q: We would like to know that if Lüneburg has cooperation projects like the Leader project with the areas outside the Lüneburg. For example Zukunftsstadt 2030 talks mainly about Lüneburg itself so we would like to know like if there is a cooperation between the city.

A: I am not sure about all cooperations but maybe my colleague can tell you. But about Zukunftsstadt, it is about the funding skim. So that’s always what you need to keep in mind if you talk about university like practice cooperations. There are two things, one is like education. Because it is the kind of your task so you are trying to find these cooperation partners in the region but they are whole for bigger projects so it is mainly about funding skim. So there were also efforts to build a sustainability project the seller and they are also other cooperations with other regions. But it really depends on the project level. When you have to write the structures to build the pro-jects. Cause as you know the universities always have problems like you can’t stop teaching. If you want to do other projects you need to find funding. And you really need to find the right part-ners coming for your consults. That is even to certain degree more important than how far they are. It is like how good cooperation partners trust the relationships you have. You can work in together on the project.

Q: What would you say are the most successful sustainability projects in Lüneburg/Landkreis?

A: I can just tell you my personal opinion because it is really hard to judge I guess. First of all, how you are going to decide the success of a sustainability project? Because there are a lot of dimensions. So, it is better to say which project works well and which not. So from the Incubator we have one network of companies which thought to different plans. It is not only about administration but also about companies who are dedicated to their business and less and more sustainability. So it is rather big network; all together 30 companies from the region working together in this network. Trying to improve their business and actually also in this way communities and stuff. So this is like one project on one side. For example the other project we have on sustainability in the building sector. Which is one of like leverages for a sustainable development in the future. So we then had a project with the chamber of crafts and many different companies. So they develop also light farm for how administrative can procure sustainable and how companies can offer / what kind of help that they can show communities that they are sustainable. Because it is a big issue for companies. There is this requirements to for sustainability and all this crafts sector. They are not maybe elaborated in this field.

So it is very hard for them to fulfill these requirements. Especially for small companies then big companies. I think a lot about teaching projects my colleague will tell you. So there are many different projects and many different cooperations. So it is really hard to say which is the most successful one.

Q: Who are the most important actors working in the field of sustainability in and around Lüneburg?

A: It is a question that I want to skip to my colleague.

Q: What would you say is the role of the Leuphana University on the way towards sustainability?

List of interviews A: Sustainability has a long history in our university. University really early started to this field. Early then most of the all universities in Germany. Actually also in cooperation the region has a long tradition. Many companies and many administrative bodies you will find Leuphana alumni.

So I think this is one point and the other part; there are for sure different cooperations where the university always bring in students, or research project like today; we have research knowledge and institution organizations within the region. I would say we triggered this development also for the companies as I said there are eco pioneers in this field involved in this idea and seeing there are opportunities for this kind of change agent in the region also on the different levels. And also university trying to develop its sustainability strategy. The cooperations and also the best case for sustainable university. So there is this sustainability report. But I don’t know if you heard already. I think it is a good source for you because there is also information about cooperations, teaching and the efforts.

Q: What kind of projects does the University develop (future/past projects)? Who’s usually organizing these?

A: I would not focus what kind of project. But who is organizing this. Because it is more related to my work because I was doing project development. And at the moment I am also developing in Incubator, network of different universities so for the topic of sustainable. Actually it is very company focused again. So there are different ways of. One side it can be all the different researchers developing projects. That is one way of developing projects and getting grant. And then there is also in this field cooperation developing for teaching. And in our university there is a lot of cooperations. I implemented the teaching. So it is mostly developed by professors or stuff or even students if they have ideas. And then we have branch of technology and knowledge transfer.

We also developing projects wherever we see possible brands. We informing our colleagues and institutes. And we are helping them to developing projects, finding partners. We have also have a lot of institutions asking for projects like administrations, reports and studies Q: Do you think that projects like the “Zukunftsstadt Lüneburg 2030+“ develop Lüneburg even more like a “sustainable island“, just focusing on its own projects or does it have an influence on the whole Landkreis as well?

A: It is hard for me to tell especially on the Landkreis. If you see the other Landkreise everybody is watching what others are doing, they all know what Uelzen is doing and they see that Lüneburg doing something so.

Ones I was in one Landkreis and we were developing a project they were pretty much know what was going on Lüneburg and really thinking about the building up the same way. They have been as far as Lüneburg till now. But to my think it is always reaching to others. Because like planning every region has different focuses on different topics. For sure sustainability nowadays always is a topic. So some Landkreise, they already much further developed but some of them actually started with the topic. But I think all these projects have an impact

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Q: In general: Does the university also focus on the Landkreis or other municipalities or just on the city of Lüneburg and its projects?

A: No, also in the different Landkreise. Even in the Innovation Incubator we had all together like 500 cooperation partners within this region. And it is for sure we have a lot of cooperation partners within in Lüneburg the city and the Landkreis. Because in special distances it is always more easy to build a cooperation. But also there are cooperations with more far away regions. It is getting more difficult. Cause for example to build a teaching cooperation it is hard to get our students there. So there are some problems that when we talk about funded project. Maybe you have more cooperation when it close because it is easier. But there are no boundaries. So it depends on people. If you have other cities, municipalities, good partners, open partners which are happy to cooperate then the distances are not that important. If you are closer they can come here more and we have a lot of events. And it is easier to get to know each other. But for example I have a partner who is sustainability manager in Uuelzen and I think now it is going to be very easy with Uelzen to communicate. There will much more things will be going on with Uelzen cause everybody know each other so that is the point.

Q: In our project we pay special attention to the east part of the Lüneburg like Bleckede and we would like to know are there projects also taking place in the eastern part of the Landkreis?

A: I don’t know. I know that there were some initiatives. I worked on one with the municipality. Actually it was a consulting project.

Q: What role does the participation of the inhabitants of Lüneburg/the region play in the sustainable development? How are they involved in projects of the university?

A: It depends on the project design but there are many projects citizens are involved. It really depends on which field you are working on. Also there are a lot of events which are focused on citizens but it is not like that. It is hard to tell, it differs from project to project. Like before I told you about this network of companies focusing on citizens. I think also in Zukunftsstadt the citizens will also be involved.

Q: Question out of the schedule projects about teaching sustainable development not only like education system in here the university but also for high schools or kinder gardens?

A: One thing we have a big branch of education of teachers. Teacher education for sustainable development is one part. Sustainable development, how it can be involved in education of teachers. And there are many cooperations with different schools from the region. So also sustainable education is an important issue. There are many activities dedicated to this in Leuphana University about teaching. Toward teaching we have projects with schools and kinder gardens.

Q: What problems do you see in the upcoming years for managing to follow the path of sustainability?

List of interviews A: Yes but the challenge for the city or university, society?

Q: Yeah, let’s consider it for university.

A: Maybe I am not right person to answer but it is better for you to check the sustainability report there is more information about this in it. Better than my personal guess.

Q: Do you think that the current projects and initiatives related to sustainability in and around Lüneburg are organized well? Is the established communication platform efficient enough? What would you recommend in order for better and faster results to be achieved?

A: Yes, I think they organized well. So far there are not so many complains. What is pretty good, through the Innovation Incubator and the last years we had experienced cooperating externals. So I told you, we had about a lot of partners. And what we are doing now is building a knowledge transfer not only for sustainability project but certain branches that are dedicated to cooperation. So it is not only going to be technology transfer but coordinating different cooperations of the university; with the region and the companies. There is a cooperation culture and expertise how to cooperate in a professional way. Cause it is very different if you are working with other scientists. So the cooperation must be very different and also we learned a lot in the last years. For example when we did events in the beginning and there were not so many people coming. We changed the language so we were able to reach out to the people in the region. So for example; in Incubator we had one forum about future of retailers. We had 130 retailers from all over the region coming there which showed that we were able to reaching out by changing our language from scientific to more science marketing way. It is very important and certain skill that which university even can come better. But you need to really focus and see that is different when you are doing science cooperations. It is nothing like everybody can do because normally it is a different type of professional who must develop this kind of platforms. You need to be able to take different perspectives Q: Are there existing projects of cooperations with other Universities/cities/regions according to sustainability in Lüneburg?

A: Yes, but actually I can’t tell you now how many. There are many different cooperations within projects with different cities also with universities. So there is a big cooperation even with a joint research center. Also, that is the structure of nowadays scientific life to have cooperation. So all the funded projects have cooperation partners from different universities within Niedersachsen within Germany and even Europe. Because we have a big branch of sustainability so there are a lot of cooperations with institutions.

Q: Do you think that more cooperation between the different municipalities would improve the efficiency?

A: Depends. There is like a focus on cooperation. But I guess yes. It is the question where this efficiency problem actually is. If there is a municipality and they are not just putting focus on sustainability, and there

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Q: The three pillars of sustainability are the economical, the ecological and the social aspect. Which of these fields requires more initiatives and projects, requires the greatest effort by inter-municipal cooperation to reach the goal of sustainability? What do you think are the problems why it’s underdeveloped?

A: I am not a sustainability expert and I don’t think you can really divide this to different fields. That is really hard to tell but at least what you can tell the ecological idea of sustainability there are a lot of funding even the municipalities have quite a lot opportunities for doing something in this field.

Q: How do you think will Lüneburg and its region look like in 2030? Your personal vision 2030.

A: I think the inter-link between Lüneburg and Hamburg would be much stronger. Because we even see it now that Hamburg is reaching out to Lüneburg. Many people commuting Lüneburg which is a middle centrum and has an important role for the region. The areas that are marginalized will be getting even more marginalized.

But Lüneburg is getting more important for the region. It is quite attractive for living now and inhabitants are rising. In comparison to most other parts of the region Lüneburg has a quite good perspective.

Q: Thank you for the interview and the time you have invested.

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