Climate mobility plan: Model municipality Stuttgart

The overall objective of the climate mobility plan is the aforementioned reduction of CO2 emissions in the transport sector by 40% by 2030 - compared to 2010, when greenhouse gas emissions from transport amounted to around 730,000 tons of CO2 equivalents according to figures from our Environmental Protection Agency. There are also other targets that were particularly important to the municipal council:

Quantitative sub-targets for the three Vs:

• Traffic avoidance: total traffic volume is reduced by 5% through fewer and shorter journeys
• Modal shift: 50% of transportation is provided by eco-mobility (baseline 2017: 42% ), of which 42-50% is provided by public transport, 6-9% by cycling and 3% by walking The term "transport performance" takes into account the number of kilometers traveled. Therefore, the share of walking, for example, is significantly lower here than it is in terms of the number of trips (29%).
• Sustainable transportation: At least 15% of motor vehicle traffic is climate-neutral.

Additional quantitative targets:

• Increase the route-related cycling mode share in source, destination and internal traffic to 25%
• Reduction of motorized individual traffic in the city ring/decision competition B14 by 50%
• Reduction of conventionally powered motorized private transport in the valley basin by 20% (traffic development concept)

Additional qualitative targets:

• Efficient, city-friendly and resource-saving accessibility is ensured in Stuttgart.
• All social groups have (affordable) access to transportation systems.
• The design of the infrastructure and respectful coexistence enable safe transportation.
• The public space is characterized by a high quality of stay.

In order to achieve these goals, the administration and Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB) have developed 71 individual measures, which are divided into 5 thematic areas.

The measures are divided into the following areas

• Infrastructure, which includes the expansion of traffic routes for pedestrians and cyclists, the expansion of the public transport network, the creation of connection points (mobility stations, park & ride, etc.) and a redistribution of traffic areas (e.g. in the "Liveable city center" project).
• Mobility services, including public transport and sharing services, but also, for example, the job ticket of the state capital Stuttgart.
• Urban development with the basic idea that a stronger local supply can lead to fewer trips. The focus here is on district centers and low-emission urban districts.
• Urban sustainability, which includes more sustainable handling of delivery and commercial traffic as well as more efficient use of existing parking space.
• Regulation and control, which includes reducing emissions through improved traffic management and improved traffic control as well as alternative drive types.

The individual measures are described in detail in the climate mobility plan. They are also coordinated with other urban plans such as the  "Sustainable and innovative mobility action plan in Stuttgart", (opens in a new tab) the  local transport plan (opens in a new tab)and the  post-transport development plan (opens in a new tab).

According to scientific calculations based on a traffic model, the 71 measures in Stuttgart's climate mobility plan will lead to a significant increase in the share of public transport and an almost doubling of the share of cycling in traffic performance.

A 14.8 % reduction in motor vehicle traffic was calculated (from 2010 to 2030) and an overall achievable CO2 reduction of 45.7 % in the same period. The composition of the forecast mileage in motor vehicle traffic is worth mentioning: a decrease in daily vehicle kilometers of 15.8 % is forecast for cars, but at the same time an increase of 8.6 % for trucks. In total, this results in the significant decrease shown.

The basis for the assumptions is a deficit and potential analysis by the commissioned consulting institutes ifok GmbH and PTV Transport Consult GmbH, on the basis of which the impact of the planned measures was calculated.

The calculations of all municipal climate mobility plans adopted to date show that the necessary reduction in transport-related CO2 emissions by 2030 can only be achieved if the number of climate-neutral cars and commercial vehicles increases significantly by then. In the Stuttgart Climate Mobility Plan, for example, a reduction in CO2 emissions of 45.7% by 2030 (compared to 2010) will only be achieved if the number of battery-electric cars increases from around 18,000 today (May 2025) to around 68,000 and the number of plug-in hybrid cars increases from around 16,000 today to around 28,000 by 2030.

The ramp-up of electromobility depends on many factors on the supply and demand side, only some of which can be influenced by the state capital Stuttgart itself. For example, experts consider it particularly important that the market prices for the purchase and operation of electric cars are attractive. Framework conditions at a higher political level are also particularly important. Examples of this include the integration of the transport sector into the system of emission allowances decided at European level or the incentives for the purchase of electric cars formulated in the coalition agreement as part of the formation of a new German government.

The City of Stuttgart considers measures at EU, federal and state level that promote climate-neutral mobility to be sensible. In the city's view, these include, for example, creating financial incentives for the purchase and operation of electric cars, reducing emissions from cars with combustion engines and promoting the purchase of climate-neutral buses for local public transport.

The City of Stuttgart therefore considers the following measures, for example, to be suitable for strengthening climate-neutral mobility:

• Purchase incentives for e-cars and cheap charging electricity;
• Incentives to convert commercial fleets to e-cars;
• Clear legal framework conditions for climate-neutral fuels;
• Expansion of public and private charging infrastructure for cars and commercial vehicles; and
• Clarification of construction and immission control issues relating to charging infrastructure

This also applies to corresponding initiatives of the German Association of Cities, the federal and state governments and the Urban Mobility Platform.

In addition, the city of Stuttgart will continue to expand its own and so far very successful efforts to expand the charging infrastructure. Stuttgart's leading position among the largest German cities in terms of publicly accessible charging facilities, which was significantly expanded again last year in 2024, is to be further consolidated through the tendering of a further 500 locations with 1,000 charging points.

It must be regularly checked whether the measures are effective and whether the administration is "on track". The monitoring concept must also fit into the overall system of monitoring for the climate roadmap, which, however, has different reference values (1990-2035). There are also numerous overlaps with the  "Sustainable and innovative mobility action plan". (opens in a new tab) For this reason, there will be overarching monitoring for the CMP, the action plan and the climate roadmap.

The monitoring is divided into three levels:

• The overarching goal of Co2 savings is recorded via greenhouse gas balancing of the state capital Stuttgart. The monitoring of the climate mobility plan should therefore always include the city's greenhouse gas balance in the mobility sector. On the basis of the balance drawn up by the Office for Environmental Protection, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be determined annually compared to both 1990 and 2010.
• Relevant target indicators are determined and evaluated for the quantitative and qualitative sub-targets and sub-goals. The most important indicator for this is the "Mobility in Germany" (MiD) survey. The MiD is the largest nationwide survey on everyday mobility. In parallel, the annual KONTIV survey of Stuttgart households commissioned by SSB AG will also provide important data. Further data will be obtained from vehicle registration statistics or other sources.
• A third level comprises measure-specific monitoring. For each of the 71 measures listed, the extent to which they have been implemented is checked and reported.

In a first step, the existing plans and concepts of the city of Stuttgart in the area of mobility and transport were analyzed and evaluated. A target scenario was then developed and finally individual measures and an implementation concept were drawn up. The city received technical support from PTV Transport Consult GmbH in the development of the climate mobility plan.

The requirements for urban climate mobility planning are high. In addition to the focus on climate protection, ensuring the mobility of people and goods as well as concerns from other areas of environmental protection (noise, pollutants) and urban development must also be taken into account. The preparation of the Stuttgart Climate Mobility Plan focuses on compliance with the climate targets.

The following illustration shows the methodology and procedure for drawing up the KMP:

In addition to organizations, associations and initiatives from the mobility and transport sector, randomly selected residents and commuters were also actively involved in the creation of the climate mobility plan as part of a citizen and public participation process. Ongoing participation took place via the "Climate Mobility Plan Forum". As a central, non-public body for citizen and public participation, the forum accompanied and supported the planning process over the course of three meetings. The ifok GmbH office provided support with participation and communication. The methodology report by Die Firma PTV and the results of the public participation prepared by ifok are part of the climate mobility plan.