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The results achieved so far verify just how successful Hamburg's climate protection concept is: As part of the Companies for Resource Protection project, 810 compa- nies in Hamburg, for instance, cut their carbon dioxide emissions by around 219,000 tonnes per year through energy efficiency measures promoted by the city. Compared to the base year of 1990, energy used for heating was reduced by 40% and the resultant CO2 emissions were cut by 45%. The number of green electricity custom- ers in Hamburg grew considerably dur- ing the year-long initiative – the municipal provider alone, Hamburg Energie, doubled its customer base and the StadtRAD bike rental system is now used by more than 180,000 customers on a regular basis. Moreover, the waterfront project Hafen- City Hamburg is regarded internation- ally as the epitome of sustainable urban development. The city's successes also include UNESCO's declaration of the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park as a World Natural Heritage Site. The widespread commitment of Hamburg's citizens for greater environmental protection can also be seen in its cityscape: A growing number of new trees are lining Hamburg's streets. And new trees are being planted all the time as part of the “My Tree – My City” campaign – more than 3.000 since the campaign started! or one year, in 2011, Hamburg was able to demonstrate which measures a city can use to cut CO2 emissions. At some 2,000 events, residents and representatives from politics and public admin- istration, as well as businesspeople and associations discussed how cities can be prepared for the future. Households, families and children were also encour- aged to act in a more environmentally-conscious way. On its tour through 18 European cities, the “Train of Ideas” got over 70,000 EU citizens involved in this process. As a role model and ambassador for urban environmental and climate protection, Hamburg has set new standards. One of the reasons why the city was awarded the title of European Green Capital by the European Commis- sion was for its ambitious climate protection goals: As a growing industrial and commercial metropo- lis with Europe's second-largest container port, by 2007 Hamburg had succeeded in reducing its CO2 emissions within the city by 15% compared to 1990. Hamburg will play its part in Germany meeting its climate protection targets: By 2020 those emissions are to be cut by 40% compared to the base year of 1990 – through sustainable management and con- struction, environmentally-friendly transport, envi- ronmental protection, sustainable consumption and educational programs. HAMBURG, GERMANY, IS NOT ONLY A CITY OF MILLIONAIRES AND BRIDGES BUT HAS ALSO BEEN NAMED EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL. F 7 For more information go to http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital www.meinbaum-meinestadt.de THE CENTERS Hamburg as European Green Capital 2011 { 67 } DES ANNUAL REPORT 2012

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