The impact of the European guidelines for climate protection on the local level:

1. The impact of the European guidelines for climate protection on the local level: The Rhine County of Neuss Impulse speech of County Governor Dieter Patt within the thematic session „Society“ of the European Economic Congress on April 16th 2009 at Katowice

2. The current situation: • The economic crisis affects all of us, especially the classic economic sectors like „energy“. • Climate change is one of the most challenging topics of our time. • To find global arrangements for climate protection, like the Kyoto Protocol, is a good thing but you also have to offer solutions and build awareness „before your own door“ • This is a massive challenge. • But it also entails big (economic) chances for research, development and innovation in new and more efficient technology. • We must use these chances! Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

3. Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

4. Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

5. The Rhine County of Neuss A strong community with • 8 cities and municipalities • a size of 576,45 km² • 445.000 inhabitants • most successful • economic location in • North Rhine – Westphalia Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

6. The Energy County Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

7. Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

8. Key facts of the energy economy in the Rhine County of Neuss: • About 50.000 jobs in the Rheinish lignite mining area depend on lignite and the energy economy; 6.000 jobs in the city of Grevenbroich • 6.600 MW lignite power station capacity (world‘s largest location) • Construction of most modern, lignite power station (efficiency > 43 %) with a capital expenditure of 2,2 billion € • 4.800 people have been resettled for lignite extraction • Rhenish lignite covers 40 % of the electricity demand in North Rhine-Westphalia • Lignite secures the electricity demand of the local energy intensive industries like aluminium or chemical industry (Norsk Hydro and Bayer) Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

9. The EU-guidelines for climate protection until 2020: • Decrease of greehouse gas emission at 20 % • Increase of the proportion of renewable energy up to 20 % • Increase of energy efficiency at 20 % • Tightening of the regulations for emission trading:Unlike for Poland there will be no special arrangements for the German electricity industry on the auction of certificates Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

10. The already noticeable impact on the Rhine County of Neuss: • Building freeze for new power stations of RWE from 2013 • Disastrous consequences for the aluminium industry: Shutdown of Germany‘s largest aluminium plant with all arising economic and social consequences Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

11. Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

12. We develop projects and solutions for climate protection on the local level. Some examples: • Use of waste heat and carbon dioxide from power plants for horticulture • Rhine County of Neuss is partner of RWE in the Coal Innovation Centre (Increase of power plant efficiency, fumes cleaning, coal dehydration, conversion of carbon dioxide to biomass by algae) Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

13. Energetic use of Miscanthus giganteus (Chinese reed) to heat the Castle of Dyck • New and interdisciplinary concepts for professional education on the energy sector Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

14. The Local Energy Pact Rhine County of Neuss is also working on an international level: • Our widely renown and unique wind • testing company “Windtest Grevenbroich GmbH” • is world leading in testing, measuring and • certifying new types of wind generators. • More than 50 engineers with world wide advisory skills are working for “Windtest”. • The Rhine County of Neuss strongly pleads for forestation projects to be accepted as CDM – projects world wide, for example in the Andes. • The Rhine County of Neuss is admitted as observer organisation at UNFCCC (COP 15 Copenhagen) Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice

15. The level of local self-government is able to face the challenges coming along with climate change. So: Don‘t talk. Do! Thank you very much for your attention! Impulse speech of County GovernorDieter Patt European Economic Congress April 16th 2009 at Katowice