Now more than ever
On June 1st, Berlin's heart transforms once again into a colorful ecological promenade. The 30th Environmental Festival takes place for the 30th time on the street of June 17th at the Brandenburg Gate. Project manager Susanne Dittmar discusses the background and highlights.
Over the past few weeks, a wave of publications from UN Water, the World Meteorological Organization and the Clean Air Fund have put forth an urgent message:Susanne Dittmar: The Environmental Festival is a free environmental education event and a family-friendly street festival every first Sunday in June in Berlin. Over 200 exhibitors, from small initiatives and associations to authorities and companies, present their ideas, projects, and services related to environmental, nature, and climate protection, energy and water transition, circular economy, organic farming, alternative mobility, or gentle tourism along the street of June 17th.
There is a stage program at the Brandenburg Gate with discussion rounds, award ceremonies, and cultural contributions. Everyone is invited who is interested in getting involved, being informed, and inspired, and to contribute to and encourage small and large improvements.
We have always tried to make the environmental festival as sustainable as possible, with the constant desire to improve and not lose the fun in the process. For example, our waste concept: Caterers are subject to a clear reusable requirement. We borrow reusable tableware, deliver it with cargo bikes, and clean it. Giveaways that are not durable are prohibited.
There are composting toilets and free drinking water at several stations. All the food offered is organic and mostly vegetarian or vegan.
This time, there is a jubilee: 30 years of the environmental festival. What will the main theme be?
The origin of the environmental festival dates back to the Klimaforum '95, a civil society forum that environmental associations organized in 1995 as an alternative to the first UN Climate Conference, COP 1 in Berlin. There was a central international forum, over 200 decentralized events, and a large demonstration "Berlin rides bicycles" with over 100,000 people. The demonstration ended with a large festival at the Brandenburg Gate: the first environmental festival. Since then, the annual bicycle star ride of the ADFC Berlin cycling club ends at the environmental festival.
Unfortunately, the commitment to climate protection has not become any less important in the last 30 years, on the contrary. That is why our motto this time is "30 Years Environmental Festival – Now More Than Ever".
Climate as a focus? No one wants to hear about that anymore.
Certainly, the issue of climate is not being treated with the necessary urgency at the moment. Perhaps some people have also lost interest in it, as they are crisis-fatigued and hear the words "abstinence" and "ban" too often instead of "opportunities" and "possibilities." In the often described scenarios of horror, what we have already achieved is usually overlooked. It is precisely these success stories that we need to stay motivated and continue forward.
That's why we want to look back and make an honest inventory at the environmental festival, roll up our sleeves, and look forward together. We want to draw hope, describe common paths, and resolve conflicts.
What will the highlights be? Can you reveal anything already?
The heart of the environmental festival is the large exhibition mile itself. The variety and creativity of the ideas, the simple tips and tricks for everyday life, the consistency with which many have been committed to environmental, nature, and climate protection with heart for decades – this inspires and gives courage. Because I believe that many people want to take action and perhaps just do not know where and how.
Other highlights include the organic experience farm. On 2,000 square meters, children can dive into the grain bath, bake bread, or harvest potatoes, all while learning a lot about the origin of our food in a playful and sensory way.
We are also pleased that the Local Conference of Youth, the Young Climate Conference, supports us this year in the program and expands participation for young adults. In addition, we are planning a job fair, a workshop area, and much more. There is no shortage of ideas.
Who are the exhibitors?
There is an extraordinary variety here: upcycling handicrafts, animal protection initiatives, organic catering, nature conservation associations, consulting companies – just a few examples. The Federal Ministry of the Environment, a drugstore chain, or the Nature Conservation Foundation Berlin are also participating.
To name just two specific initiatives: the Alliance for Temporary Play Streets, which demands public space for everyone and turns streets into colorful meeting places with simple means. And the Omas for Future, who are committed to climate protection with a lot of strength and experience. I could list many more.
What do you need to do to exhibit at the environmental festival?
Everyone can participate who wants to present their idea for a socio-ecological world, regardless of whether they are a restaurateur, craftsperson, authority, association, party, or company. It is important: Our visitors should have the opportunity to experience something. Through participation activities, counseling, or a quiz, the topics remain memorable, people feel inspired, and often also have the desire to participate.
Clearly, we say no to anti-democratic organizations. We also do not accept any form of discrimination at the festival.
By the way, exhibitors can also apply for the Grand Prize of the Environmental Festival. This prize particularly honors ideas that are practical in everyday life and serve as a role model. A jury consisting of members of the Ministry of Environment, Gasag as sponsor, the Green League Berlin as organizer, and our patroness Domitila Barros selects the winners, who are then immediately awarded on the stage at the Brandenburg Gate.
If I am a small, financially weak exhibitor, are there any discounts?
Everyone should have access to the environmental festival. On the one hand, this means that we do not charge admission for visitors. On the other hand, we have very fair prices for exhibitors – the smaller and more "volunteer", the cheaper. Compared to classic trade fair prices, this is very reasonable.
Furthermore, exhibitors can rent affordable market stalls from us and limit themselves to a minimum size of four square meters. New this year is that we allocate a certain amount of stand space free of charge to youth initiatives.
What problems does the festival face in this difficult time for environmental issues?
As an organizer, we face the same problems as many others. Everything is getting more expensive and we have to meet many regulations. The Green League Berlin, which organizes and hosts the environmental festival, is a non-profit association that is heavily financed through projects. We are a small, very committed and creative team and are used to making every euro count. However, when, as last time with the cost-cutting measures of the Berlin Senate, part of the support is cut, it is very bitter. Nevertheless, we continue and come up with new ideas. It's not the ideas where we lack.
Fortunately, we can also look back on loyal and enriching partnerships without which the environmental festival could not have taken place for a long time.
What kind of sponsors are you looking for?
There are many ways to support us. Financial donations are of course extremely helpful, as we can use them where they are most needed. Simply providing the infrastructure on site, from electricity and water supply to toilets and security measures, is financially challenging.
It is also possible to support us in public relations through media partnerships or to support us with material donations. This way, we can stock the goodie bags for the artists and supply our crew. On the day itself, about 80 employees and volunteers on site make the festival possible. Many of them have been involved for years, for example, they once did a FÖJ with the Green League Berlin. In this sense, the environmental festival is also a big family gathering.
And what can you offer the sponsors?
Some. Very classically, we enable logo appearances – on the stage banner at the Brandenburg Gate, on the internet, or in the special supplements for the environmental festival in the Rabe Ralf environmental newspaper or the Berliner Zeitung.
There is also the option to display a logo at the site of support. For example, if a company helps us provide bicycle parking spaces, it makes sense to highlight that exactly there. Moreover, sponsors can present their topics along the festival mile or on the stage.
There is also an extra lounge for friends and supporters of the environmental festival. Here, invited guests have the opportunity to exchange ideas away from the hustle and bustle. By the way, that's where the guided tours for the federal ministers and senators, whom we host every year, start.
Please complete the following sentence: I should go to the environmental festival on June 1st because...
... it is a wonderfully inspiring, colorful place that brings people together. We want to address the challenges of the climate crisis realistically, but not point fingers, but appeal to the self-efficacy of individuals and the power of solidarity. And we want to have fun. So, in line with our motto: Now more than ever!
This contribution was not created by the editorial staff. It was created in cooperation with the Green League Berlin e.V.