Globally sustainable municipality
In the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the city of Jena has developed an integrated sustainability strategy for a sustainable Jena as a model municipality. This was carried out with external support as part of the "Globally sustainable municipality in Thuringia" project.
The strategy was developed with the broad participation of civil society and adopted by the city council.
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
New global framework for sustainable development and poverty reduction
At its summit in New York at the end of September 2015, the United Nations adopted the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" and created a new global framework for sustainable development and poverty reduction. The goals adopted by 193 heads of state and government are intended to drive the transformation of economies and societies towards ecologically, socially and economically responsible development on a global scale in order to enable future generations in all parts of the world to survive and have prospects for development.
The 2030 Agenda brings together two previously separate UN negotiation processes, the Rio process (Local Agenda 21), which was established at the Earth Summit in 1992, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
17 universally applicable global sustainability goals
The 2030 Agenda comprises 17 universally applicable global sustainability goals, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the first time that a uniform system of goals has been created that is recognized by all nations and covers all aspects of sustainable development. 169 sub-goals have been formulated for implementation, which serve as indicators and monitoring mechanisms.
In the coming decades, the 2030 Agenda will shape action at international level as well as at national and local level. However, without the involvement of local authorities, the 2030 Agenda will remain largely ineffective.
Jena commits to the goals of the 2030 Agenda
The Association of German Cities has drawn up a resolution entitled "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Shaping sustainability at municipal level", in which the signatory municipalities signal their willingness to commit to selected sustainability issues and take appropriate measures within their means.
With the city council resolution of 15.03.2017, the city of Jena committed itself to the goals of the 2030 Agenda and thus to sustainable development at municipal level.
Implementation in Jena
Jena is a model municipality in the "Globally Sustainable Municipality in Thuringia" project
In order to implement this process in a meaningful way, Jena took part in the "Globally Sustainable Municipality in Thuringia" project as a model municipality. An integrated sustainability strategy for a sustainable Jena was developed with external support. The project sponsor Zukunftsfähiges Thüringen e. V. advised and supported the city of Jena in the development of the sustainability strategy in individual consultations, workshops and networking events.
Presentation of the project to the urban development committee
On February 9, 2017, the project manager, Katrin Nolting, from the Zukunftsfähiges Thüringen e. V. association presented the project to the Urban Development Committee.
City council resolution on the sustainability goals
On 09.05.2019, the city council confirmed the sustainability goals of the city of Jena in the context of the 2030 Agenda. Together with the thematic guidelines, strategic and operational goals, they form the basis for the development of the sustainability strategy with an action plan for a sustainable Jena.
Six extensive steering group meetings were required to reach this milestone. The constructive discussions in the meetings showed how important the issues of sustainable urban development are to Jena's urban society. Some of the individual target formulations were the subject of intense debate, but in the end it was possible to agree on good compromises.
In the further course of the project, the sustainability goals will be underpinned with measures and submitted to the city council for approval as a sustainability strategy for the city of Jena.
City Council resolution on the action program
On 27.04.2021, the Jena City Council adopted the "Sustainability Strategy of the City of Jena - Program of Action" by a majority vote with an amendment from the Social Committee. A comprehensive package of measures for the sustainable development of Jena was thus adopted, which was the result of a lengthy participatory process involving over 30 stakeholders and the Climate and Environment Round Table (RTKU).
However, this is not the end of the process. The aim is to implement the sustainability strategy, review the achievement of the goals and continuously develop the strategy further. The action program will be evaluated every two years.
Development and long-term implementation of the strategy
For the development and long-term implementation of the sustainability strategy, it is necessary to establish binding working structures in the municipality. This will define clear responsibilities and functions, create transparency and coordinate cooperation between the various stakeholders from administration, politics and civil society.
The working structures provide for the following three organizational units: Coordinator, core team of the administration and the steering group, which is broadly based.
The action program contains detailed measures and specifies the resources required to achieve the objectives and defines responsibilities and implementation periods. Indicators are agreed for subsequent monitoring, i.e. the assessment of target achievement and continuous improvement.