Hamburg is preparing: referendum on climate neutrality on October 12th!

Hamburg is preparing: referendum on climate neutrality on October 12th!

Things are currently simmering in Hamburg: crucial referendums are coming up on October 12, 2025, which could set the course for the future of the Hanseatic city. There are two important topics on the table that affect both climate and social policy. The first voting notifications are already being sent out so that citizens can go to the polls well prepared to cast their vote.

The first item on the agenda is the so-called Hamburg Future Decision, also known as the climate referendum. The initiators of this movement include Fridays for Future Hamburg, NABU Hamburg, the tenants' association in Hamburg and the ver.di union. They have set themselves an ambitious goal: early climate neutrality by 2040 should become a reality in Hamburg. This includes annual reduction targets and a commitment to the social compatibility of all measures. The signature collection, which started on January 3, 2024, brought together over 106,000 supporters - a clear sign that climate protection is important to the people of Hamburg, as the required quorum of 65,835 votes was more than exceeded.

Voting handling and preparations

The voting documents for postal voting are already included in advance, so that citizens don't have to worry about anything else. The voting letter must arrive at the district voting office by voting day, October 12, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Around 5,600 volunteers will ensure that everything runs smoothly. The voting centers in Hamburg are open on election day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The results of the people's democratic procedures are determined in clear steps: First, there is a vote on Hamburg's future decision, followed by the vote on the "Hamburg tests basic income". The bill will be adopted if there are more yes votes than no votes and at least 262,609 yes votes.

Climate goals in focus

The changes to the Hamburg Climate Protection Act called for by the initiative include, among other things, a reduction in CO2 emissions by at least 70% by 2030 and by 98% by 2040. Particular attention is paid to the socially acceptable implementation of these measures. The demands find support across the broad spectrum of Hamburg society, with organizations such as FC St. Pauli and the Deutsches Schauspielhaus providing their support.

Politically, there are different assessments of these goals. Dominik Lorenzen from the Greens is optimistic and sees the demands as feasible, improved by broad political support. At the same time, Dirk Kienscherf from the SPD expresses concerns, but at the same time criticizes the Greens' proposal as being in the dark. This shows that the path to the climate goal must not only lead through big words, but also through concrete proposals.

The final voting result will be known on November 4, 2025. The tension is rising and it remains to be seen whether the citizens will have the courage to vote for a climate-friendly future for the Hanseatic city. If you think about the green roof strategy, which pursues many positive approaches to rainwater storage in Hamburg, this could be a further indication of the public's growing awareness and commitment to comprehensive environmental protection measures.

Further information about the referendums is available on the state election office website. Things will remain exciting until the vote on October 12th, both in terms of citizen participation and in the political debate about the future of our city.