On Sunday, around 600,000 Hamburg residents voted in two referendums. The initiative for stronger climate protection gained a majority with over 300,000 yes votes, while the proposal for unconditional basic income failed. The city must now achieve climate neutrality by 2040.
The referendums in Hamburg represent a milestone in climate protection. The 'Hamburger Zukunftsentscheid' initiative, backed by Fridays for Future and over 160 organizations including BUND, Greenpeace, Nabu, Ver.di, and FC St. Pauli, demanded stricter climate protection laws. With more than 300,000 yes votes against 267,000 no votes, the red-green Senate and the Bürgerschaft must advance climate neutrality by five years – to 2040.
The draft law includes annual interim targets, regular monitoring, and CO₂ caps. Immediate programs are required if targets are missed. Sectoral goals for transport, households, commerce, and industry derive from the updated climate plan. Social compatibility is emphasized: Renovation costs can only be partially passed on to tenants, with landlords receiving subsidies. A report by the Hamburg and Öko Institutes recommends replacing gas and oil boilers, accelerating building renovations, installing heat pumps, introducing Tempo 30 in city traffic, and fully electrifying mobility by 2040.
The Senate and Bürgerschaft opposed the initiative – except for the Left. The Greens voted against it as a parliamentary group but supported the draft as a party. Business representatives also rejected it.
The referendum on unconditional basic income failed. The initiative aimed to provide 2,000 people with 1,346 euros monthly plus health insurance for three years, deducting personal income. Costs: around 50 million euros starting in 2027. All factions except the Left opposed it; SPD and Greens criticized the high costs and lack of scientific value.
Background: The Senate plans for 2040 include Olympic Games, a Science City, U5 subway line, new state opera, and Köhlbrandbrücke – projects that challenge climate goals.