Firstly, Bonn has been my home for the past two decades. Home is more than a place. It is about people, family, community, about neighborhood – and about being involved. 

Secondly, I have wholeheartedly driven policy-making at the national level, in particular by chairing the Committee for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. 

Nevertheless, the urgent issues at stake do call for a strong commitment at the local level. Most importantly, we need to curb the number of COVID-19 infections. At the same time, we are dealing with climate change and its consequences – climate change does not take a break during the pandemic. Moreover, we are integrating a large number of refugees. And we need to make our cities smart and future-proof while leaving no one behind. Most of these necessary shifts in our societies must happen and be advanced at the local level. I felt that my own city might be the best place for me to steer this change. The confidence that Bonn’s people have placed in me encourages me on this path. 

My first working day started with a team meeting, a meeting with our Staff Council and a tour of the City Hall. Among the next items on my agenda was one of the regular meetings of our city’s crisis management team to make sure that we succeed in containing the incidence of Corona infections here in our city.  

I praise Bonn for its spirit, its open-mindedness and internationality. Here in Bonn, we have the unique situation of not only hosting part of the federal government, but also UN Bonn with over twenty organizations. We have become the hub for sustainability within the UN. Moreover, we host an incredible number of international organizations and research institutes, as well as the headquarters of several global businesses. I am highly looking forward to collaborating with all these interesting partners on site and to helping advance Bonn as an international location. 

Also, I love that Bonn is a green city – and that our biodiversity management goes far beyond traditional nature and landscape conservation. Moreover, Bonn is a young city with many children and a very lively civil society that is willing to get involved. Both is a gift. One that I will cherish and develop further.

Overcoming the pandemic is the priority these days. But it must also be linked to a rethinking in politics, in our economy and our society towards sustainability to ensure a green recovery. In a nutshell: I will place a strong focus on climate protection and a turnaround in our traffic, in particular by strengthening cycling and other eco-friendly means of transportation. Fostering inclusion and consolidating citizens’ participation will also rank on top of my agenda.  

Agenda 2030 to achieve a sustainable, socially just and inclusive society will therefore be a priority for my term of office. This includes implementing Bonn’s comprehensive Sustainability Strategy with a particular focus on smart climate ideas, opportunities for small and medium enterprises and the fast and lasting traffic turnaround I have just mentioned. 

In line with the principle of ‘Leaving No One Behind’, I will place a strong focus on inclusive action in Bonn. Affordable housing as well as fighting kids’ poverty will be part of this. 

Moreover, I will be pleased to continue and advance the work and advocacy in city networks and our international project partnerships, and with relevant stakeholders on site. For example, I have applied to serve as a member of the Global Executive Committee of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability with a portfolio for “Climate Action and Low Emission Development” for the term of 2021-2024. Also, I will chair the foundation ‘Bonner Klimabotschafter’ and support the awareness-raising campaigns it is running with our primary school children, allowing them to become licensed ‘Climate Ambassadors’.

By the way, the first decision of our new City Council was to take in refugees from Moria. I hope that we will demonstrate kindness and a welcoming attitude towards the people in need who come to us – now and in the future. That is what I am determined to ensure.