Note: this article was written by Jacqueline Zweers
Recently, Youth4Planet’s Jacqueline Zweers had the honour of interviewing climate consultant Rainer Telaar. Rainer is an experienced best-practices consultant much in demand with municipalities in Luxembourg since 2013.
A big part of Rainer’s work involves conducting qualitative analyses for municipalities, and bench-marking their progress on 60 key measures aligned with the goals of the Climate Pact. These measures allow communities to assess where they stand . . . not just locally . . . but in comparison to municipalities across Europe to identify where there’s room to improve.
One especially crucial measure? Renovating municipality-owned buildings to make them more energy-efficient and climate-friendly. Other important actions?
- Reducing the municipality’s own carbon footprint
- Making Active Mobility more attractive and accessible
- Organising workshops that empower citizens to co-create local Climate Protection strategies
Across Europe, more than 1,700 municipalities . . . home to over 77 million people . . . actively participate in the European Energy Award system. It’s more than a certificate: it’s a hands-on quality management system helping local governments walk the talk on energy transition and climate action. That said, not every climate project gets off the ground. Politicians still need a lot of convincing that positive change is urgently doable.
That’s where consultants like Mr. Telaar come in. He supports municipalities like Bech, Esch-sur-Alzette, Hesperange, and Mertzig. And when a local leader shrugs and says, “That won’t work here,” Telaar smiles and replies, “It already does – just ask your neighbors.” 😊
When public finances were more robust, budget limitations rarely stood in the way of climate-friendly projects. Today, according to consultant Rainer Telaar, the road ahead may be rockier. Time will tell if the economy cools and tax revenues tighten . . . or if the economy heats up and tax revenues expand. Municipalities need to make GOOD choices: climate action is urgently required. In many municipal meetings, climate is still treated as a side issue.
That must change . . . immediately.
The 1.5°C ceiling set by the Paris Agreement isn’t just about numbers. It’s about protecting children, neighborhoods, harvests, health systems, and the places we call home.
If we continue on our current path, scientists project we’ll permanently breach the 1.5°C threshold before 2030. Scientists increasingly concur that we have as little as two years before we exhaust our remaining carbon budget.
The window is closing . . . but not yet closed. To stay within the limit, emissions must fall sharply by 2030. That means bold action NOW . . . at the global level . . . AND in every town hall and city council chamber across the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
What energises Rainer the most about the job? The incredible variety: every day brings a new topic, a new challenge, a new conversation. Just as important: the human side of it all working with people from many different municipalities to make real change happen.
Thinking of stepping into this field yourself? Do it.
His expert insight is clear: these kinds of jobs will only become more important . . . and more in demand in the years to come.
Further information:
i) Download the 59-page Climate Pact PDF: https://pacteclimat.lu/sites/default/files/media-docs/2024-07/Klimapakt%20-%20Umsetzungshilfe%202024_0.pdf
ii) Review the City of Esch-sur-Alzette’s Pacte Climat 🇫🇷 + KlimaPakt🇩🇪 information in French and German:
