Climate change has reached the Upper Rhine Graben with great intensity
RegioTrirhena calls for cross-border measures based on the Basel model
Freiburg, 28 March 2025; Climate change is not heading our way, it has already been here for a long time, was the message from the President of RegioTrirhena Bernd Dallmann as he welcomed the packed event hall in the Greiffeneggschlössle in Freiburg.
At 2.9 degrees, global warming in the Upper Rhine Graben is twice as high as the average global warming of 1.5 degrees, was the alarming message from Professor Andreas Matzarakis; daytime temperatures of over 40 degrees and night-time temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees will occur much more frequently in the future than in the past. This was Joerg Kachelmann's message to the numerous guests at the trinational event, which he was unable to attend due to illness.
Prof Matzarakis introduced the topic of global climate change, with more frequent extreme weather events being the main characteristic, whereby the increasing heat will be the main acute impact for our region
The effects of climate change do not stop at borders, according to the long-standing tri-national climate researcher Patrice Paul from the University of Strasbourg. The particular challenge at the border is to coordinate measures against the progression of global warming across borders and to jointly organise activities to deal with the consequences.
President Dallmann welcomes the participants to the climate conference, which was fully booked to the last seat.
Photo Members Podium: left to right: Andreas Matzarakis, Patrice Paul, Mélissa Muller, Till Berger
Melissa Muller, City of Saint-Louis, reported on the city's measures to combat the effects of climate change, such as the greening of the town hall square and restrictions on urban car traffic, as well as waste generation and disposal. Urban planning, transport planning and architecture are also fields of action. The most comprehensive and restrictive action plan was presented by Till Berger, Head of the Climate Office of the Canton of Basel-Stadt and also the person responsible for this topic at the Upper Rhine Conference.
The canton of Basel-Stadt is planning a comprehensive catalog of measures by 2037 with its Net Zero 2037 climate protection strategy. The action plan for the climate protection strategy, which was already adopted in 2022, includes Climate-neutral administration, sustainable nutrition, climate justice, education and sustainability. Berger spoke of the resolute will of Basel's politicians to implement the measures promptly in order to put a stop to climate change.
After intensive audience participation, Bernd Dallmann thanked the tri-national panel guests and called on the regional authorities to follow Basel's example. It is the best thing that exists in the region. Freiburg had already followed the city of Basel once before when it introduced the RegioKarte, without which local public transport would be inconceivable today.