Environmental and Climate Protection in Adult Education on Site Best Practice Projects

Erasmus+-Project Climate Protection on Site Environmental and Climate Protection in Adult Education on Site Best Practice Projects 1st November 2018 – 31st October 2020 Harz-regenerativ-Druiberg e. V. Verein zur Förderung der kirchlichen Umweltberatung e. V. Federación española por el medio ambiente y contra el cambio climático LENERG Energia Ügynökség Nonprofit Kft. Foreword In the project Climate protection on site, new strategies in adult education were deve- loped with the aim of motivating local people to do more climate and environmental protection. It was about a combination of theoretical input in the context of workshops but also practical experience of initiatives and projects, which are already implemented locally. Of particular interest is the cultural and climatic differences in the participating countries and how they deal with the issue of environmental and climate protection and which strategies they develop. It was also important that in the context of the project sustainable networks were tied, which enable a professional and perso- nal exchange as well as the possibility of mutual learning beyond the project. As part of the project, about 40 people from the adult education sector dealed with the topic of environmental and climate protection. In this way they picked up the topics in their networks and thus broadened them. As a concrete result of the project, we present you this guideline with best practice projects of the participating organisations: Envi- ronmental and climate protection in adult education on site. I hope you will enjoy it! Dardesheim, December 2020 Dr. Wendelin Bücking This guideline is published under the creative commons licence: The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. 2 Added value of the energy transition for local people RALF VOIGT HARZ-REGENERATIV DRUIBERG E. V., DARDESHEIM The use of renewable energies is shaped by citizens who are for and against it. In Dardesheim, too, we had to work on this topic at the beginning of the use of renewable energies in the wind farm, in order to show our citizens the possibilities, but also the loads. There were many doubters and ignorance here, too. Opponents of renewable energies in particular make a lot of wrong arguments and spread uncer- tainty. It is essential to discuss transparently the advantages and disadvantages with them and to make the development with the citizens, not by passing them. Taking citizens with us and allowing them to participate in the development, as well as always reacting to their concerns and also letting them participate in the success, are the successful paths followed in Dardesheim. In this way we were able to rise a high level of acceptance and the sense of belonging to the conversion process. This paths we used: 1. The first point was to demonstrate openness and transparency with the citizens. We used discussions and conversations with interested and open minded citizens. 2. We presented the advantages but also the disadvantages face to face with the citizens and burdens were not hidden. We held open discussions and gave answers to the problems. 3. We included as many as possible of the property owners in a compensation system based on their burden in order to avoid envy or rejection. We kept the principle of equal treatment ? we did not allow any losers of the project. 4. We secured that added values stay in the region - company headquarters were installed in the region, so the tax power and the added value remains in the plant location and new jobs were created. 5. We created opportunities for citizens to participate with investment in the windfarm. This possibility was offered the citizens of Dardesheim and the other villages around the wind farm, but it was also strictly limited to the region, because this should not be used by investment companies. This means that all citizens 3 could participate, even if they have no own property in the area of the windfarm. Safe dividends were paid also during the banking crisis. Citizens can see their investments every day. The participated citizens are not against the windfarm! 6. New-technology jobs ensure that young people stay in the region. 7. New energy tourism enable new work areas, the awareness of the region grew and the existing catering structures were able to participate. 8. We promoted the life of the associations in the villages around by sponsoring from the financial results of the windfarm and we informed about it in the regional media and in our regional and political networks. 9. We give an annual environmental protection prize in order to support projects and interested citizens and to publish best practice projects. We do good things and talk about it! 10. We spread constant information about the region, projects and technology via the magazine called ?Windblatt?. 11. We launched an offer in order to draw regional, regenerative and affordable energy for the citizens. 12. We supported and implemented regional energy projects and use eg. sector coupling, system stability, security of supply and electric mobility. 13. We consult citizens, associations and other regions on the use of renewable energies and energy efficiency ? how they can implement energy efficiency projects as well as the initiation and the support for projects. 14. We implement research projects with scientific institutions in the region, we bring together most different partners, without exclusion, in order to be successful in developing intelligent systems. 15. We conducted events for specialists, giving lectures and visits in order to provide information to other national and international regions, e.g. Saarbeck, Wolfsha- gen, Punsk, etc. 16. We are ready to take on a moderator / mediator role in the cooperation and discussion of the most diverse partners. We can support other projects with the experiences we gained with our project in Dardesheim. 17. We contact politicians in order to create the necessary framework conditions for the necessary changes. 18. We carry out public events with citizens, associations, administrations and the government to inform about the results and to take them with us on energy transition process. Nobody should feel excluded. 4 The Dardesheim City Orchestra at the base of a wind turbine With the strategies we presented above, we have succeeded in generating acceptance for renewable energies, with a focus on wind energy, among the citizens of Dardesheim and the surrounding area. For our children, the existing wind farm and the use of other renewable energies are a matter of course on the way to the urgently needed energy transition. 5 A delegation of regional politicians, district administrators and local parliamentarians visits the Druiberg wind farm 6 Wind power creates jobs. 4,000 new jobs in Magdeburg wind power production and 8 maintenance specialists 7 The church environmental system Grüner Hahn DR.WENDELIN BÜCKING VEREIN ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER KIRCHLICHEN UMWELTBERATUNG (FKU) E. V., GERMANY With the publication of the encyclical Laudato si of Pope Francis, climate protection and sustainable development have finally arrived as a topic in the catholic church. The aim is to implement the exemplary work of the church develop aid organisations in the church institutions in the local and regional environment by climate-effective activities. People are motivated to a more climate-friendly lifestyle with educational offers and programs. With the church’s environmental management system Grüner Hahn (green rooster), environmental groups are supported on site and enabled to implement climate-friendly actions and projects (e. g. in parishes or conference hou- ses). With the help of Grüner Hahn, the christian communities are now enabled to be perceived as a socially influential force in the future, especially in the areas of climate protection, justice and sustainability. With the help of Grüner Hahn, future viability of the Catholic communities in rural areas can be secured. Local people are motivated to deal with a new, climate-friendly lifestyle. Thus, catholic communities can influence their local environment and contribute to securing the future of rural areas in Saxony- Anhalt. The mission to preserve creation belongs to the basics of the judeo-christian tea- ching. When the catholic church passes the idea of the preservation of the creation, it will be asked whether it reaches this goal itsself. Therefore, its answers must be credible and its activities should be transparent. In the seriousness of campaigning for preservation of creation, it must not be overtaken and overtrumped by other com- mercial enterprises, banks or municipalities. Sustainable development is a globally recognized guiding principle that the chur- ches contributed significantly. With the development of systems and indicators that reflect social, ecological and economic issues, the catholic church contributes to that our earth remains habitable for future generations. Church parishes use heating energy, electricity and water, paper is required and also construction projects have an ecological impact. Experiences with environmental management systems show that in addition to reducing the impact on the environment, these fields offer considerable potential for economic savings, too. So you can imagine, that church environmental management is a future-oriented 8 opportunity for church congregations and institutions and also for all Christian chur- ches as organisations in the social context. Everyone is invited to take part in the continuous improvement process and talents, knowledge and skills are demanded. Outsiders are addressed and integrated in the work with the evironmental protection. Because environmental protection is viewed as a less central field of activity, a new "leadership and corporate culture"could be tried out, which could be trend-setting for successful community participation.

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