Local multipliers are to strengthen understanding and acceptance of the energy transition. The project by C3L and the city of Oldenburg is funded by the Metropolitan Region Northwest.
The expansion of wind energy, new infrastructure for green hydrogen and the transformation of mobility and heat supply - the north-west is particularly affected by the energy transition. The "Energy Transition Guides for the Northwest Metropolitan Region" project aims to promote the dissemination of well-founded information and discussions about the upcoming transformation through the participation of citizens in the region.
Many people are unfamiliar with, uncertain about or opposed to the changes brought about by the energy transition. "Energy transition pilots" are being trained in the project, which is being funded by the metropolitan region with 80,000 euros, to provide information, initiate communication processes and promote citizen participation in the municipalities. The aim is to increase understanding and acceptance of the energy transition and support local authorities with their respective concerns. The guides are active in information and educational events, dialogue formats and public relations work.
"We want to train citizens to become energy transition ambassadors by providing them with a professionally sound qualification and thus strengthen fact-based communication at eye level within the population," explains Prof. Dr Heinke Röbken, Director of the C3L - Center for Lifelong Learning at the University of Oldenburg. "By networking administration and civil society, long-term structures are to be established to support local authorities in initiating communication and participation processes."
"The transformation process stands and falls with the acceptance and understanding of local citizens," emphasises Oldenburg's Lord Mayor Jürgen Krogmann. "With this peer-to-peer approach, we hope to pick up people with their questions about the energy transition and show them concrete added value in order to advance the energy transition in the north-west metropolitan region."
Contact persons:
City of Oldenburg
Ina Lehnert-Jenisch
Tel.: 0441/2352105
Email: ina.lehnert-jenisch@stadt-oldenburg.de
University of Oldenburg
C3L - Centre for Lifelong Learning
Can Eroglu
Tel.: 0441/7982276
Email: can.eroglu@uni-oldenburg.de