Bringing Countries Together
At CSM, stakeholders across sectors and the public learn from, help and inspire each other. We believe any community, big or small, can be climate-smart today. Learn more about CSM’s topics, opportunities and sectors. Together, we are smarter!
Topics of the Exchange
Important topics for this exchange include:
- Sustainable materials & waste management
- Climate protection
- Climate adaptation
- Renewable energy
- Energy efficiency
- Sustainable transportation
New Opportunities
Taking part in this program gives partners the opportunity to:
- Connect with a group of motivated individuals across Minnesota and Germany's state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- View challenges from different angles and develop creative solutions.
- Collaborate on projects that generate momentum.
Across Sectors
This program brings together stakeholders from the following sectors:
- Government
- Business
- Nonprofits
- Academia
- The public
The Power of the Climate-Smart Community
At the heart of the Climate-Smart Municipalities initiative is the powerful partnership between Minnesota and Germany's state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Through this program, Minnesotans gain access to Germany’s advanced sustainability culture and market-creation expertise. And Germans get exposure to Minnesota’s collaborative approach to sustainability and ability to implement solutions quickly.
Minnesota has come together as a state, bridging ideological differences, to implement a clean energy future for cities, rural communities, businesses, industry and individuals. The German experience has catalyzed this effort.
Mike Reese, Director of Operations and Green Ammonia Research Lead, West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota
Participating Cities
Several Minnesota communities are paired with cities in Germany’s state of North Rhine-Westphalia to exchange ideas, share strategies, and collaborate on sustainability and climate solutions.
Morris
Located in rural western Minnesota, Morris is a small community (approximately 5,000 inhabitants) with a strong commitment to sustainability and local climate action. The city works closely with the University of Minnesota Morris to advance renewable energy, energy efficiency, and community-centered environmental initiatives.
Through Climate-Smart Municipalities, Morris partners with Saerbeck, Germany — a community widely recognized for its holistic approach to clean energy transition and climate leadership. Their collaboration creates opportunities to share ideas, challenges, and solutions across rural communities.
The Morris Model was developed as a group made up of partner organizations working together towards a shared vision on advancing a sustainable community in Morris. The big three goals of the Morris Model are to produce 80% of the energy consumed in Stevens County, reduce energy consumption by 30% by 2030, and eliminate land-filling waste generated within the county by 2025.
Rochester
With a population of 112,000, Rochester is a major urban center in the south of the state and the headquarters of the Mayo Clinic.
The local municipal utilities have a great interest in participating in sustainable urban and spatial planning, as well as the development and expansion of renewable energies.
Additional CSM Cities
- Duluth
- Elk River
- White Bear Lake
- Warren
Saerbeck
The climate-smart municipality “Klimakommune Saerbeck” has a population of approximately 7,200 and is located in the Münsterland region of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2008, the community has pursued ambitious climate protection measures and the energy transition, known in Germany as the Energiewende.
Today, Saerbeck generates four times more electricity from wind, solar, and biomass than the community needs. Its long-term goal is to transform all energy sectors and achieve CO2 neutrality by 2030.
Saerbeck’s bioenergy park, transparent central heating plant, and ongoing sustainability projects attract visitors from around the world. Residents actively support the “Saerbeck Way” through both financial and community participation.
Education initiatives such as the Saerbeck Energy Worlds—Bio-Energy Park Classroom (Saerbecker Energiewelten) transfer ideas and science concepts to a young generation. The park also serves as a research venue for biogas, green hydrogen technologies and other environmental technology innovations.
Münster
The city of Münster is located in the northern part of North Rhine-Westphalia and is considered the cultural center of the Westphalia region.
Muenster is one of the most active cities in Germany regarding climate protection. In 2019, the City of Muenster developed a comprehensive climate protection action program, provided it with funding of around €40 million and immediately went to work on implementing its measures.
That same year, Muenster City Council decided that the city would be climate-neutral by 2030. Achieving climate neutrality is a huge challenge, especially for a rapidly growing city like Münster. It can only be mastered in cooperation with all actors from across the full spectrum of urban society and the adjacent region.
Additional CSM Cities
- Siegen
- Iserlohn
- Lüdenscheid
- Arnsberg
Our Partners
We’re proud to partner with more than a dozen government, nonprofit, business, and academic institutions, including Minnesota's Climate Change Subcabinet.
Learn more about Minnesota's Climate Change Subcabinet
Connecting Students to Climate-Smart Practice
While Climate-Smart Municipalities brings together cities and partners, students engage with this work through IonE’s Germany study abroad program, connecting learning with practice on the ground.
About the Germany Study Abroad Program
This unique study abroad experience for University of Minnesota students immerses participants in the political, social, and technological aspects of shifting to a market-based green economy. Prof. Christof Wetter (FH Münster University) and Dr. Sabine Engel (UMN) coordinate the program.
Students have the opportunity to engage with various stakeholders, including political figures, government officials, private sector representatives, researchers, and civil society members. And they visit cities in North Rhine-Westphalia that showcase Germany’s systems approach to energy and climate transition.
Gaining Practical Experience
Engineering students from FH Münster University of Applied Sciences gain practical experience by supporting cutting-edge sustainability projects in Minnesota. They expand their international perspectives, build lasting connections, and strengthen their technical and cross-cultural skills.
Interns support projects connected to Minnesota’s Climate-Smart Municipalities partners. Past projects have included mapping a new solar installation on campus, researching incentives for combined heat and power and biogas systems in the U.S., modeling energy savings, and assisting city departments with sustainability-related research.
Interested in Joining the CSM Network?
Please fill out the Form for Prospective Partners and email it to [email protected].
Contact Us
Address: International Energy Partnerships Project
Institute on the Environment
University of Minnesota
1954 Buford Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Donate
You can support the Climate-Smart Municipalities project by donating to the U of MN Foundation's IonE International Partnerships Fund.