Milestones

1975

Successful citizen resistance against the planned Wyhl nuclear power plant

1977

Foundation Ökoinstitut

1979

First solar apartment building in Freiburg

1981

Foundation Fraunhofer- Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE)

1986

Resolution of the municipal council to phase out nuclear energy; Establishment of the Environmental protection department

1991

Resolution on waste management concept;
Introduction of the reusable packaging requirement

1992

Building standard: low-energy construction for municipal buildings;
1st energy self-sufficient solar house;
"Federal Capital for Nature and Environmental Protection" award

1994

Construction „Heliotrop“ as 1st plus energy house in the world

Foundation „Regio- Verkehrsverbund Freiburg“

1995

Construction Rieselfeld;
Western Rieselfeld becomes nature reserve

1996

Signing of Aalborg Charter;
Climate protection concept: Reduction of CO2 emissions by 25% by 2010

1998

Construction start of the "Quartier Vauban"

1999

First German Multifamily Passive House;
Foundation Energieagentur Regio Freiburg

2000

Participation World Expo Hannover;
Premiere "Intersolar" in Freiburg (Today the fair is part of the innovation platform "The Smarter E" in Munich, but is still organized from Freiburg)

2001

Adoption „Freiburger Waldkonvention“

2004

Opening Solar Info Center

2006

Land Use Plan 2020 (Flächennutzungsplan 2020);
Signing of the Aarlborg Commitments

2007

Update of climate protection concept: Reduction of CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030

2008

Foundation Green City Office
within the administration of the City of Freiburg

2009

"Freiburg Efficiency House Standard";
Foundation of "Cluster Green City Freiburg" (FWTM);
Adoption of Freiburg Sustainability Targets;
Finalist European Green Capital Award

2010

Participation World EXPO Shanghai

2010

Start ECOfit-Program;
Start „Environmental Zone Freiburg“ (Umweltzone)

2010

Freiburg is the "Federal capital for climate protection 2010"

2011

Refurbishment worldwide 1st passive high-rise building;
Establishment of sustainability management staff unit (Stabsstelle Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement)

2012

Freiburg honored with the German Sustainability Award as Germany's most sustainable major city

2013

Cycling concept 2020 (Radverkehrskonzept);
Basic decision on adaptation to the consequences of climate change

2014

New climate protection target: 50% less CO2 by 2030, climate neutrality by 2050;
Start of the "Green Industry Park" initiative

2018

DGNB Award „Nachhaltiges Bauen“ for Freiburg City Hall more...
Award "Klimaaktive Kommune" for "Green Industry Park" Initiative

2019

Citizen referendum on the new, climate-neutral District Dietenbach;
Update of climate protection concept: 60% CO2 reduction by 2030, 100% reduction by 2050;
Award for Freiburgs Climate Adaption Concept (Klimaanpassungskonzept) at the Competition „Klimaaktive Kommunen 2019“ (Climate-active Municipalities)

2021

Freiburg's Municipal Council decides on the climate protection campaign, with its 120-million-euro Future Fund;
Tightening of the climate protection goals according to which Freiburg wants to become climate-neutral by 2038.