Advice from Environmental Authority: Achieving Climate Neutrality by 2040 Causes Significant Social Suffering

North German Housing Companies Association - Commissioned by Hamburg's Environmental Authority in project 62/2025...

, and ASMedia

2025 September 18 . 7:57 PM

2 min read

Prediction Ahead for Society: Rigorous Climate Neutrality Goal by 2040 Brings Significant Social... — Prediction Ahead for Society: Rigorous Climate Neutrality Goal by 2040 Brings Significant Social Struggle, According to Environmental Scientists

The Association of North German Housing Companies (VNW) has expressed concerns about the potential impact of accelerating Hamburg's climate neutrality target to 2040. Andreas Breitner, the Director of VNW, has commented on a recent study, stating that the faster pace could harm social cohesion in the city.

The study, commissioned by the Hamburg Environmental Authority and conducted by a consortium of experts, concluded that accelerating climate neutrality would involve significant social hardships. One of the key challenges identified is the demand for specialized personnel to handle the increased rate of energy renovations in the existing housing stock. The coverage of this demand in the accelerated timeline is currently not foreseeable.

Breitner and VNW support the view that accelerating climate neutrality will come at a high cost to Hamburg residents. They argue that imposing unattainable goals on residents could lead to resentment and resistance, which would be a disservice to the energy transition. Breitner has urged voters to consider the whole city, not just wealthy people, and to vote 'No' in the climate referendum on October 12.

The VNW manages 775,000 apartments, housing around two million people. They have invested hundreds of millions of euros in the energy-efficient renovation of their residential buildings, demonstrating that climate protection and affordable housing can go hand in hand if approached pragmatically and with caution.

However, premature renovations, necessary due to accelerated climate change, would make energy renovations more expensive. Many still functional and well-functioning components would have to be replaced, increasing costs. The proportion of modernization costs that can be passed on to tenants is higher in the case of premature renovations.

The study also suggests that Hamburg's climate neutrality might not be achievable without additional action from the federal government and the EU. Breitner has further criticised the initiators of the referendum for promising that climate neutrality by 2040 will have no financial impact on residents, which he believes is misleading.

For further information, contact Oliver Schirg, Communications Department of the Association of North German Housing Companies (VNW), at +49 40 52011 226, +49 151 6450 2897, or [email protected]. The VNW is the association of landlords with values, and their average net cold rent per square meter is 6.74 euros.