Climate and Environment in Siegen: A City in Transition – March 2026

Climate and Environmental Policy in Siegen: March 2026 in Review

The university city of Siegen has further developed as an active player in the field of environmental and climate policy in March 2026. Numerous decisions, investment plans, and discussions demonstrated how seriously the city is taking the challenges of climate change while simultaneously ensuring sustainable infrastructure.

Wastewater Management and Regional Cooperation

A central project was the transfer of the Weidenau wastewater treatment plant to the Siegen plant. Since then, the city of Netphen has been using part of the sewer infrastructure and paying a share of the costs. This agreement is part of a long-term strategy to use resources more efficiently and reduce the ecological footprint. At the same time, discussions were initiated about Netphen's lack of motivation to reduce foreign water. Ecologists emphasized that the reduction of rainwater entering the sewers is crucial for reducing pollutant loads.

Climate Protection Planning and Heat Supply

March 2026 marked a milestone in climate protection planning: the draft of the Climate Change Adaptation Concept was published, and citizen dialogues were planned for April 2026. In addition, municipal heat planning was in focus. Siegen is one of five pilot municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia and is working closely with NRW.Energy4Climate. The city plans to present the draft publicly by April 2026 and involve it in the discussion.

Photovoltaics have grown significantly in Siegen: the installed PV capacity has almost doubled. At 378 Wp per inhabitant, the city ranks 27th out of 71 major cities. This shows that the energy transition is advancing – although there is still room for improvement.

Pigeon Management: A Balance Between Animal and City Protection

The pigeon population at Siegen station has more than tripled since 2011. In contrast to traditional feeding and culling, new methods such as sterilization and OviStop feed were introduced. The city also funds voluntary work, such as the Siegen Pigeon Help e.V., which has already carried out over 1,000 egg exchanges. At the same time, a feeding ban is being more strictly enforced through signs and fines.

Green Spaces, Trees, and Nature Conservation

The maintenance of municipal trees and green spaces remained a central issue. Numerous trees had to be felled due to fungal infestation and structural safety problems. However, the city plans replacement plantings and evaluates habitat values when felling trees. Investments in green spaces and playground renovations are planned for 2026 – with a focus on sustainability and recreational functions.

Another project is the renaturation of water bodies such as the Bürbach. With support from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (up to 80% funding), the natural structure is to be restored. The aim is to improve water quality and biodiversity. Investments in this area will continue until 2028.

Climate Protection Funding Program and Citizen Participation

The 2025 Climate Protection Funding Program is now outdated, as the municipal guidelines can only be revised after the adoption of the Building Modernization Act. Nevertheless, the city is investing in facade and roof greening, which have been included in the funding program.

Citizen participation remains a central aspect: Through hybrid dialogue events and status reports, the city aims to create transparent decision-making processes. In addition, the Energy Association Siegen-Wittgenstein e.V. organizes events on topics such as "Climate Adaptation in Companies" and "Efficient Living Forms".

Outlook: What's Coming in the Next Months?

The coming months will be decisive for the implementation of the climate protection strategy. With the presentation of the municipal heat plan in April 2026 and the renaturation of further water bodies, environmental and climate policy in Siegen will become concrete. At the same time, the balance between city protection, animal welfare, and infrastructure remains a challenge – especially in dealing with issues such as pigeons or tree care.

With these measures, Siegen is proving that climate protection and sustainable urban development are not only possible, but also necessary – and that they can succeed with citizen participation, investments, and wise decisions.