"First of all, it must be clarified whether administrative districts will benefit from the funding at all", Schuster said, but expressed confidence. "If we want to get people away from the car and towards local transport, then there must be attractive offers," he said. He will also work to ensure that not only new customers can buy such a ticket, as is currently the case.

With the announcement of a new edition of the Climate Ticket, the extensive "2025 Programme of Measures for Climate Protection", which was approved by the majority of the district parliament on Tuesday, is getting a new boost. Only the representatives of the AfD, the NPD and the referendum saw no need to become active for climate protection. Spokespersons from all other factions made it clear that local measures were also extremely important for climate protection, for the Left it should have been even more than what is now available in paper form.

Steering group: "Now comes the effort of work", said district environmental officer Christoph Schwarz on Wednesday. First of all, a steering group will be formed in the Kreishaus, to which the treasurer Svenja Udelhoven and the Kreiswirtschaftsförderer Hermann Tengler belong in addition to himself, in order to initiate the next steps. Because the list of measures should not remain a mere declaration of intent, the district administrator assured: "All future projects must orient themselves at these goals.

CO2-neutral buildings: Major construction measures such as the Bornheim rescue station or the youth welfare centre in Eitorf are to become CO2-neutral, including the district hall, which is currently being extensively adapted to the new fire protection regulations. "Our aim is to have a CO2-neutral district administration by 2025," said Schuster. Some things, such as resource-conserving work or comprehensive mobility management, are already being tackled, while structural implementations are associated with financial expenditure - and the politicians are deciding on this. However, the political groups have already signalled their willingness in the specialist committees. However, the installation of photovoltaic systems on roofs and facades of the district's own buildings is also to be promoted.

Cycle paths: Where the district is responsible, cycle paths are to be expanded. Schuster would prefer a cycle path between the branches of the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, i.e. between Sankt Augustin and Rheinbach.

Energy Agency: The municipality of Windeck is now a new member of the Rhein-Sieg Energy Agency. "However, I would like all municipalities on the left bank of the Rhine to join in as soon as possible," said Schuster. In general, a "climate check" is to be carried out for every new development of building areas: "This means that it will be checked where the energy comes from, how energetically it is built and what is happening with e-mobility“.

Biogas and e-bus fleet: The district also wants to take the issue to its associated companies: the Rhein-Sieg-Abfallwirtschaftsgesellschaft (RSAG), for example, is to speed up the construction of the biogas plant, and RVK (left bank of the Rhine) and RSVG (right bank of the Rhine) with their bus fleets are to move in the direction of zero emissions. New construction projects of the non-profit housing association (GWG) are to be implemented in terms of energy generation, heat generation and insulation according to modern energy standards.

Local transport: The biggest topic, however, is and remains transport - and especially the bus and train services. With a current annual deficit of 35 million euros, Schuster no longer sees much room for manoeuvre for the municipalities. The next price increases will relieve the district budget by eight million euros. "This is why we have to move away from pay-as-you-go public transport to tax-financed public transport. The federal and state governments must support the municipalities financially," he demands. In view of the many cancellations and delays on the 66 line, Schuster said: "Local public transport must become more attractive and more competitive.

Original text: Dylan Cem Akalin

Translation: Mareike Graepel