Preparation of the Hamburg Projection Report
Preparation of the Projection Report on CO2 Emissions Reduction for the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Client
Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg
Duration
June 2026 – August 2027
Background
The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (FHH) pursues an ambitious climate protection policy. With the Climate Protection Reinforcement Act, which was passed in December 2023, the Hamburg Climate Protection Act (HmbKliSchG) was amended and significantly strengthened. The amendment called for reducing Hamburg’s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂ emissions) by 70% by 2030 and by 95% by 2045 compared to 1990 levels (based on the emissions inventory). The remaining residual emissions were originally intended to be offset by carbon sinks by 2045 in order to achieve CO₂ neutrality. With the further amendment to the HmbKliSchG, which took effect on November 8, 2025, the target for CO₂ neutrality was brought forward by five years to 2040 as a result of a referendum. For the period from 2026 to 2040, binding annual emission caps (JEM) have also been established; exceeding these caps will require additional reduction efforts in subsequent years. At the same time, the law stipulates that the achievement of these targets must be carried out in a socially responsible manner.
The Hamburg Climate Plan was established to implement the HmbKliSchG. In parallel with the amendment in December 2023, the second update of the Hamburg Climate Plan was adopted. Since then, the Climate Plan has defined specific reduction targets and concrete measures for the sectors of private households, commerce, trade, and services, as well as industry and transportation. In addition, there are reduction targets stemming from the energy transition and cross-sectoral initiatives, such as education and information campaigns.
The HmbKliSchG provides for regular updates to the Climate Plan, in which the measures for achieving the targets are specified in greater detail. The Senate must adopt the third update by November 2027 at the latest. Against this backdrop, the existing portfolio of measures is being further developed to meet the more stringent target path. This is based on a systematic assessment of the measures in terms of their suitability, necessity, and appropriateness, with emission effectiveness playing a central role.
