‘If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together`'

Day one of the workshop focused on presenting the programmes of action. All the climate partnerships had prepared posters for a joint exhibition showcasing the most important topics and work results. Each individual partnership then had the opportunity to present concrete project ideas which they plan to implement in the short-to-medium term.

The topic of waste management – ranging from awareness-raising campaigns to the construction of composting plants and recycling centres – played a key role in all seven partnerships. Renewable energy use is also an important and necessary starting point for most partnerships. Further topics included in the programmes of action are the conservation of natural resources and protection of biodiversity, well-functioning water supply and wastewater management, sustainable urban planning, adaptation to extreme weather events and environmental education.

In the course of the meeting, smaller workshops and breakout groups were held within the partnerships. Here, participants discussed of many of the above topics in greater detail, with a view to the next steps of project implementation. Coordinators from previous project phases reported on their experiences, and were able to provide the current partnerships with fresh ideas and peer-to-peer advice.

The agenda was rounded off with an excursion to the Enzauenpark rewilding project, a visit to a photo exhibition on the Great Barrier Reef, and an informational presentation on the funding and support services offered by the Service Agency Communities in One World. At the end, everyone agreed that the sharing of ideas and the face-to-face meetings had given them a huge motivational boost for the next stage of project implementation.