Starting today, Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks will be using the fence surrounding the Berlin Palace-Humboldt Forum building site as a space to promote climate action. The 100 metre long fence has been converted into a colourful eye catcher for the climate action campaign of the Federal Environment Ministry.
A park bench called the "Parkplatz für Klimahelden", meaning parking space for climate heroes, invites passers-by to sit down a while and take selfies. Written in large letters above a bright red poppy field is a note of thanks to all pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. Beside this, to add a touch of greenery, there are rows of jute sacks with lavender, lupin and lady's mantel growing from them. Written next to the plants are the words "Die einzige Klima-Anlage, die wirklich gut fürs Klima ist", which translates as "the only air-conditioning that really is good for the climate".
With this urban gardening-style project Minister Hendricks is drawing attention to her Ministry's campaign for climate action, which has already been visible in the public eye with the slogan #ziek - Zusammen ist es Klimaschutz, meaning "all together, it's climate action". Today, the Minister herself reached for the watering can, commenting: "Whether on our placards or on the balcony, all plants need a lot of water in this summer heat".
The climate action campaign, which was designed by the Tinkerbelle and Fairkehr agencies on behalf of the Federal Environment Ministry, will be at the Berlin Palace until the end of July. Once the campaign is over, the plants and bags will be donated to various institutions around Berlin such as day care centres and urban gardening projects. The placards will also be reused to make bicycle bags and transport bags that will advertise the ministry.