How nice it would have to be to be a district administrator in Munich one day. While it washes away entire villages and towns elsewhere, one would look at the vastness of the Munich gravel plain, in which even the strongest thunderstorms seep away without damage, and otherwise rely on the flood protection and nature protection in the Isar valley. And when you look over the lush country with its plump communities and fat companies, you would be delighted that the whole boom goes so nicely hand in hand with the environment: minus 85 percent C0₂ emissions for electricity by 2030 and minus 51 percent for electricity Warmth – these are the goals that the circle has set for itself in its energy vision. The traffic turnaround is also making headway: there should be 190 e-charging points alone by the end of the year. Oh, what a good feeling to do something for a better world! First a cup of coffee.
Made from fair trade beans, of course. Nothing else comes into the cup in Christoph Göbel’s office. Because the district is not only a model boy for the energy vision, mobility transition and climate protection, but of course also a Fairtrade country. He has only just been allowed to wear the “Fairtrade Town” label for another two years. “Recertification” recognizes his commitment to fair trade. And the hot drinks served in the district administration’s office, the main ingredient of which is picked by fairly paid Andean residents, play a decisive role in this.
Because the other “essential award criteria” only include the “very active” steering group, information and educational activities by schools, associations and churches as well as regular reports about it in the media, as stated in a press release from the district office this week. Fair trade products, on the other hand, are only available in 45 shops and 23 restaurants. But that’s enough to be able to call itself “Fairtrade Town”. Which says a lot about how much to think about the fact that there are more than 700 such Fairtrade areas in Germany – and more than 2000 worldwide. The fact that these include cities in Great Britain and Sweden as well as cities in Brazil and Lebanon, as the district office lets know, only strengthens trust to a limited extent.
Trust in labels is such a thing anyway. It started in the eighties with the Blue Angel and continued with various organic and eco certificates. They usually say more about good intentions than real deeds. It is the same with all the predicates with which the district adorns itself. A reduction of 54 percent CO₂ per capita – that is an intention. In fact, between 2006 and 2016, emissions increased by 25 percent. 190 e-dispensers? In fact, of the 305,782 vehicles registered here, less than one percent is electric. There is still a wide gap between claims and reality in many areas. We have to talk to the district administrator about that. Preferably in his office with a coffee or a fair fruit juice.