In order to have a positive impact on the climate and the environment, citizens in many cities and municipalities are making various contributions through different projects. From repair cafés to food sharing, there are various measures that have a sustainable impact on climate protection. With the Westenergie Climate Protection Award, the energy service and infrastructure provider honors the commitment in its partner municipalities. This year, first place in Kevelaer goes to the Sankt Franziskus elementary school. Together with their teachers, the children worked intensively on the topic of sustainability during the school year by producing natural products, carrying out a repair workshop with their parents and grandparents and making new items from old clothes, among other things. The school can now look forward to receiving prize money of 1,250 euros.
"The projects submitted show what each and every one of us can do - even schoolchildren - to make a contribution to climate protection," said Mayor Dominik Pichler. This is also demonstrated by the pupils of Kevelaer Comprehensive School, who designed and built an insect nesting aid and thus took second place, which is endowed with 750 euros. The insect nesting aid is 2.50 meters long, consists of 40 hexagonal modules and has been located in a public square near the school center since its construction. This also gives citizens the opportunity to engage with the topic of biodiversity. Third place went to St. Hubertus Catholic Primary School, whose "earth choir kids" music project helps children to engage intensively with the topics of environmental and climate protection during lessons. Collages and prints were created, which were presented to the audience during a concert with songs from the "earth choir kids" stage program.
A jury made up of representatives from the municipality and Westenergie will decide which project will win from all the applications received. After all, strengthening regional environmental and climate protection can only succeed together. "We are pleased to support these projects every year and to show what is possible on a small scale to make a big difference," said Dirk Krämer, Westenergie Municipal Manager.
Since 1995, Westenergie and its partner municipalities in the supply area of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate have been making good ideas and exemplary actions from the local and regional environment visible to the public with the Climate Protection Award. The climate protection prize of the energy service and infrastructure provider thus also encourages imitation and encourages people to become active themselves.
Over 8,000 initiatives, projects and groups have received the award since it was launched.