Hamburg commits to carbon neutrality by 2040 in low-turnout referendum

In a low-turnout referendum held on Sunday, Hamburg voters approved a commitment to achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2040. This timeline is five years earlier than Germany"s national target of 2045.

The decision mandates that all buildings in Hamburg transition to heat pumps or other non-gas or oil heating sources within a few years. Additionally, the city may need to implement restrictions on automobile speeds to under 20 mph and take significant measures to reduce traffic. The existing natural gas network is expected to be decommissioned, and heavy industry will be required to shift from coke and gas to hydrogen and e-fuels, despite the current lack of a market for these alternatives.

Hamburg contributes approximately 0.022% of global CO2 emissions, which raises questions about the impact of these measures on global climate change. The referendum reflects a growing trend in climate policy, similar to recent developments in other regions.

For further context on climate initiatives, see recent developments in global carbon tax proposals.