Esmarschstrasse in Kiel: Greens break with the AfD – a scandal!

Esmarschstrasse in Kiel: Greens break with the AfD – a scandal!

The mood in Kiel is currently tense: the dispute over the renovation of Esmarchstrasse is pushing the political parties to their limits. The city administration sees an immediate need for action as the dilapidated pipes and lines urgently need to be replaced. In order to improve the situation, the Greens have submitted an amendment to redesign Esmarchstrasse. This should also have parking spaces for cars - a point that met with little enthusiasm from the CDU and SPD, who categorically rejected the proposal. But then there was an unexpected turning point: a vote from the AfD gave the Greens' proposal a majority.

This development caused a fierce debate in the town hall. The SPD spoke of a “calculated breach of the firewall” and the co-chair of the SPD Kiel, Bianca Wöller, finds it a thorn in the side that the Greens are consciously working with the AfD. “They have to name this openly and draw conclusions!” she demanded emphatically. Meanwhile, Anke Erdmann, the Green Party's state chairwoman, described the situation as a "serious mistake", and the co-chairman of the SPD Kiel, Enrico Tokar, sharply criticized the Green Party's decision to submit a motion that could only gain a majority with the support of the AfD. This turbulent episode comes before the mayoral election on November 16th, when the Green Party's top candidate, Samet Yilmaz, is already being criticized for allegations of extremism.

Climate and urban challenges

Climate change must not be overlooked in discussions about urban development. An example of this is the ongoing feasibility study on the implementation of climate adaptation measures in Bochum-Weitmar. The project receives financial support from the housing industry and the future initiative “Water in the City of Tomorrow”. This research addresses the use of blue and green infrastructure to help urban areas better adapt to climate change. However, such measures are often classified behind challenges such as the need for affordable housing and densification.

The Nach2Bo project, which develops solutions for a densification district in Bochum in cooperation with the municipality and a housing association, brings a ray of hope to the topic. These initiatives show that the real estate industry can play a significant role as new actors in climate adaptation, while at the same time increasing the energy efficiency of buildings.

The issue of climate change does not only affect northern Germany: in New York, for example, the climatic differences between summer and winter are extreme. While temperatures in the summer months are around 30°C, winters in the city can drop below -20°C. Such extreme weather conditions often lead to traffic chaos and present the city with immense challenges. The holidays in particular attract large numbers of tourists, which shows how important dealing with weather phenomena is for the urban lifestyle.

Given all of these issues, it is clear that the challenges facing cities, not only in terms of infrastructure, but also in terms of climate, must be addressed. Actions and collaborations, such as those in Kiel and Bochum, are essential for sustainable urban development.