Conversation with timber construction pioneer Erwin Thoma
Published
Broadcast: 11.12.2016
Talk: KenFM
Running time: 1 h 37 min 31 s
Table of contents:
00:10:25 The secret of trees: the perfect cycle
00:27:13 Lunar wood: How the moon influences growth
00:37:52 Real energy transition
00:41:16 Energy self-sufficient houses and: Why wood does not burn
00:50:06 Common good, big corporations and tax avoidance
01:02:55 Modern Thermodynamics: The Red Forest Ant Model
01:14:27 Diversity, role model, forest: the perfect cooperation network
01:20:57 The notion of sustainability in action
01:32:34 Man: part of nature or its master
With a very large majority, the municipal council decided on 22.07.2021 to initiate the urban development measure (SEM) "Nördlich Hafner". The development statute provides the project with a binding legal framework for the city of Constance and the remaining property owners in the area. The decision is also the conclusion of the preparatory studies (VU) that have been running for about four years, in which not only various subject-related studies and the urban development framework plan were developed, but also a comprehensive timetable and a detailed cost and financing overview were drawn up. In total, the development of the approx. 106 ha large area (of which around 60 ha settlement area) including all technical and social infrastructures (e.g. day-care centres, primary school). In the end, income from the allocation of land will result in a largely balanced overall balance.
"With the results of the preparatory studies, valuable foundations have been laid for a speedy development of the area and thus for the creation of affordable housing and commercial space. Even though major tasks still await us in the coming years: Now the development of the Hafner can really take off. I am looking forward to the further joint process of developing the new district for and with the people of Constance," says Construction Mayor Karl Langensteiner-Schönborn.
The development of the first construction phase could begin from the end of 2025, and the completion of all development measures in the third and final construction phase is planned for 2038. Until then, there are still many planning steps to be taken: Further owner discussions and negotiations (with the aim of acquiring the plots or a binding participation of the owners), the further development of the framework plan, in-depth expert opinions, the preparation of development plans as well as the development of an allocation concept for plots are only some of the tasks. For all those involved and interested, there will also be many opportunities in the coming years to inform themselves about the further process and to participate.
In 2016, the municipal council decided that preparatory studies for an urban development measure should be carried out for the Hafner area. After these were completed in May 2021, the project now reaches an important milestone with the consultations on the resolution of a development statute in July 2021.
Over the past four years, the city administration, together with external experts, has investigated the prerequisites for implementing an urban development measure in the area: from a planning, temporal, economic and property rights perspective. The preparatory studies have come to the conclusion that the urban development framework plan for the area, which was adopted by the municipal council at the end of 2019, can be implemented. "The important foundation for a rapid development of affordable housing and commercial space in the Hafner area - over 3,000 residential units and 15 ha of commercial space - has thus been laid," says Mayor Karl Langensteiner-Schönborn.
In contrast to traditional models of building area development, the instrument of urban development measures offers the possibility to prevent land speculation, to involve the owners in the development and to handle and finance the social infrastructure needs in the area through the measure. The instrument distributes obligations and rights fairly between the owners and the common good: investment costs are not socialised and development profits are not privatised, but reinvested for development.
The resolution of a development statute now sets the corresponding legal framework for the development. It is also the starting signal for the next steps in the development process. At the end of 2021, the decision to draw up the development plan for the first construction phase is to follow, and from 2024, the allocation of plots to WOBAK, housing cooperatives, building associations and other developers is to begin via concept procedures. Development of the first construction phase is expected to begin at the end of 2025.
Germanwatch now urgently expects political signals following the conclusion of the interim technical negotiations / Special challenge on the issue of damage and loss recognised, now it is a matter of concrete financing proposals
Bonn (16 June 2022). The results of the ten-day interim negotiations that ended today in preparation for the World Climate Conference in November do not do justice to the urgency of the climate crisis, criticises the environment and development organisation Germanwatch. "The interim negotiations were a technical process of small steps. This does not fit the crisis situation the world is in. It is now up to political decision-makers to translate the preliminary work into big steps," says David Ryfisch, Team Leader for International Climate Policy. "Trust is the foundation of a successful negotiation process. However, this has eroded due to past implementation and financing promises that have been broken. If the new negotiation processes are to be successful, there now needs to be a clear vision from the Egyptian Presidency of the upcoming climate summit on where the journey should go," Ryfisch continues.
Insufficient progress on climate protection endangers 1.5 degree limit
The new climate change work programme is intended to help close the gap in implementing the 1.5 degree limit in this crucial decade. Considerable resistance to clearer steps came from China, Saudi Arabia, India and Brazil. "The major emitters among the emerging economies are resisting being forced to act on climate protection. This is also a reaction to the fact that many of the rich countries of the Global North have not kept their climate protection and financing promises for years," says Ryfisch. In the US, for example, the government is failing to back up its internationally pledged targets with legislation and budgetary resources. The EU, on the other hand, has today issued a declaration on the promotion of fossil gas with Egypt and Israel, after Chancellor Scholz has already been to Africa with the same goal.
"The ambiguity in the European response to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine makes international partners question the seriousness of the energy transition. The EU and the German government must not sow any doubts globally - this also means not driving African states into a dependence on fossil energy sources whose expiry date is known. This would be a breach of promises made at the last climate summit in Glasgow and at the G7," Ryfisch explains.
Funding to support the most vulnerable
Financial support for the poorest and most vulnerable to deal with damage and loss from climate change has been blocked for years. "There is small progress here. For the first time, all negotiating parties have accepted without ifs and buts that the need for support is real," says Ryfisch. However, due to the lengthiness of the process and past experience, this does little to change the great frustration on the part of the developing countries.
"With the ministerial declarations of the past weeks, the German G7 Presidency has contributed to the fact that industrialised countries are now finally willing to talk about financing for damage and losses. But talking is not enough, concrete pledges of support are now needed. It is up to Chancellor Scholz to put money for a global umbrella for the most vulnerable on the table at the G7 summit at the end of June and then to form a coalition of the willing at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in July to finally get concrete aid underway," Ryfisch demands.
On the costs of modernisation measures for tenants
In November 2016, the Working Group on Tenancy Law in the RAV published the brochure "Price Driver Modernization" was published. It describes in detail the problematic effects of modernisation measures on tenants. In addition, the authors criticise the legal situation and call for fundamental new regulations under tenancy law.
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