In typically Bergisch weather – with at times heavy rain – the REGIONALE Congress “Everything is a Resource! Resource Landscape in the Bergisches RheinLand” took place on October 28, 2025, at the innovation site :metabolon on the former Leppe landfill in Lindlar. More than 300 participants from the water, energy, agriculture, and forestry sectors, as well as from academia, administration, and politics, experienced a diverse program of expert presentations, guided tours, and themed forums focused on the efficient use of resources in the Bergisches RheinLand. Prominent guests included meteorologist Karsten Schwanke and North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for the Environment, Oliver Krischer, who presented a funding notification for the REGIONALE project :bergische rohstoffschmiede.

At the start of the event, Jochen Hagt, District Administrator of the Oberberg District and Chair of the Bergischer Abfallwirtschaftsverband (BAV), welcomed the guests in the research halls of TH Köln at :metabolon. In his address, he emphasized the importance of the region’s native resources – water, stone, wood, and land – and stressed the need for innovative projects to ensure their sustainable and future-oriented use.

One of these innovative projects is the very venue of the congress itself: as a flagship project, :metabolon demonstrates how a regional circular economy can develop. With the ongoing REGIONALE project :bergische rohstoffschmiede, the :metabolon research and learning site is being further expanded – including the construction of a multifunctional building and a research hall equipped with technology focusing on plastics and construction materials.

Funding Approval for :bergische rohstoffschmiede

For the further development of the :bergische rohstoffschmiede, Oliver Krischer, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia, presented a funding notification to the project managers from BAV and TH Köln. In his address, Krischer highlighted the great innovation potential of the Bergisches RheinLand:

“The Bergisches RheinLand is taking new paths toward sustainable and future-oriented regional development,” said Krischer. “Through strong partnerships and tangible projects, the region shows how environmental protection, economic progress, and social development can go hand in hand. This is a model for all of North Rhine-Westphalia.”

At the same time, Krischer stressed that humanity has overstepped the planet’s limits and that the necessary transition from a linear to a circular economy still requires significant effort. Implementation must happen locally, he said. For him, the Bergisches RheinLand embodies the central question of our time – a call for cultural change and new thinking: waste must be regarded as a valuable raw material to be reused and recycled. The REGIONALE, with its projects, initiates this transformation and shows how life within planetary boundaries can succeed. Alongside :bergische rohstoffschmiede, the Minister also cited the REGIONALE projects Bergische WasserkompetenzRegion :aqualon 2.0 and the Green Mobility Hub in Bergisch Gladbach as examples.

A Call for Smart Resource Management and a New Reservoir

The keynote speech was delivered by meteorologist Karsten Schwanke under the title “Climate Change – and the Challenges for Resources in the Bergisches RheinLand.” He vividly illustrated how climate change is accelerating faster than expected and that extreme weather events will occur more frequently in the future. According to Schwanke, the Bergisches RheinLand possesses key location advantages thanks to its abundant natural resources – particularly rainfall and forests – and its varied topography. However, the effects of climate change are increasingly noticeable and measurable even in the eastern Cologne/Bonn region: summer temperatures are now on average around five degrees higher than in the 1960s, and spring sunshine duration has increased by almost one third. Overall, springs and summers are becoming sunnier and drier, while winters are milder and wetter.

Compared to the Rhine corridor, temperatures in the Bergisches RheinLand are often one to two degrees cooler. Its hilly topography allows for the creation of both small and large water reservoirs – important for retaining water during heavy rainfall and for securing public and industrial water supplies. Schwanke praised the historical spirit of innovation in the Bergisches RheinLand and called for smart resource management and improved flood protection. In his view, building new reservoirs will become unavoidable in the future.

Never Underestimate the Power of Citizens

In the subsequent panel discussion, experts explored the importance of the Bergisches RheinLand’s diverse resource landscape for local people and businesses. Dr. Reimar Molitor, Managing Director of the REGIONALE 2025 Agency, and Prof. Michael Narodoslawsky, member of the REGIONALE Advisory Board, discussed water-related challenges with Dr. Uwe Moshage (Aggerverband), Ingo Noppen (Wupperverband), and Thorsten Reuter (Loopeperle e.V.). Moshage and Noppen emphasized that longer dry periods and increased algae growth make drinking water treatment increasingly important, while Reuter advocated for more private groundwater storage, such as cisterns and rain barrels in gardens.

On the topic of agriculture and forestry, Frank Herhaus, Head of Department at the Oberberg District, pointed out the lack of processing facilities, particularly in the meat sector, which hampers projects like the REGIONALE Food Hub. Dr. Franz Staubinger of the Hatzfeld-Wildenburg Administration criticized the overexploitation of forests and called for more cooperation and less regulation. In the future, mixed forests and revitalization of tree populations – including species resilient to extreme climate conditions – will be essential.

In the energy discussion, Christoph Schmidt, CEO of StadtWerke Rösrath AG, stressed the importance of citizen-driven ideas for advancing the energy transition. The energy transition, he noted, must be implemented locally and should welcome unconventional approaches. Bernd Rosenbauer of the Lieberhausen Energy Cooperative confirmed the inventive spirit of the Bergisches people: “We must not underestimate the power of citizens to make change happen.” It’s about inspiring people and showing possibilities.
In a subsequent discussion with Dr. Reimar Molitor, Elke Reichert, President of the State Office for Nature, Environment and Climate of North Rhine-Westphalia, called for greater public awareness regarding self-protection and local responsibility. She emphasized the role of districts and municipalities in joint action and noted that renewable energy still holds enormous potential for expansion. The morning concluded with a panel from :bergische rohstoffschmiede, which explored how circular economy principles can be transferred from research into practice.

Expert Forums and Future Workshops in Spring 2026

During the lunch break, participants joined guided tours of the :metabolon site. The following expert forums, led by renowned specialists on water, land, and energy, offered participants opportunities to delve deeper into key resource topics, exchange ideas, and develop new innovative project concepts.

Musical accompaniment for the congress was provided by Julian and Roman Wasserfuhr, internationally acclaimed jazz musicians from Hückeswagen, who performed together with cellist Jörg Brinkmann. They presented pieces from their album “Echoes_Sound of Home,” produced especially for the REGIONALE.

The congress was organized by the REGIONALE 2025 Agency in cooperation with its shareholders – the Oberberg District, the Rheinisch-Berg District, the Rhein-Sieg District, and Region Köln/Bonn e.V. – together with BAV and TH Köln as partners.

Beyond the congress, three Future Workshops focusing on the key topics will be held in 2026. Participation is free of charge. Registration is available at: www.regionale2025.de/zukunftswerkstaetten/