What Klimaneustart Berlin does

Klimaneustart Berlin is a volunteer-run civil society climate advocacy initiative based in Berlin, Germany, originally founded in 2019 as "Klimanotstand Berlin" and rebranded in 2020. The organization operates as a grassroots movement dedicated to advancing climate policy through democratic mechanisms rather than commercial products, leveraging Volksinitiativen (citizen initiatives), ballot referendums, and structured citizen deliberation. Its campaign portfolio includes the 2019 Klimanotlage initiative (which made Berlin the first German state to declare a climate emergency), the 2021–2022 Klima-Bürger*innenrat (Germany's first official Climate Citizens' Council with 100 randomly selected participants), the 2022–2023 Berlin 2030 Klimaneutral referendum campaign (260,000+ signatures collected, 442,210 yes votes, 51% approval but missed the quorum), the 2024 Bauwende für Berlin Volksinitiative addressing building-sector emissions (34,985 signatures submitted October 2024), and the street-level citizen dialogue program "Sag doch mal, Berlin."

The organization's operating model is structurally a non-commercial civic coalition rather than a product company. It has no proprietary technology, no paid staff, and no formal incorporation type disclosed. Activities are executed by volunteers organized through seven neighborhood teams (Kiezteams), a general Telegram group, weekly Monday plenary meetings, and a coalition of more than 50 supporting organizations spanning environmental NGOs (BUND Berlin), climate movements (FridaysForFuture, Extinction Rebellion), housing rights groups (Berliner Mieterverein, Deutsche Wohnen & Co Enteignen), professional associations (BDA Berlin, Architects4Future), and business networks (Leaders for Climate Action, Wirtschaft für Wandel). Marketing and distribution rely on grassroots street outreach, public demonstrations (e.g., Brandenburg Gate rally), cultural/artistic collaborations, earned media, and a Telegram/website/newsletter funnel.

Revenue is generated exclusively through donations and crowdfunding (including mitwirken-crowd.de for the Berlin 2030 campaign). All labor is honorary; funds cover campaign materials and infrastructure only. The entity serves Berlin's general population (approximately 3.6 million inhabitants) as its addressable civic base, with primary engagement concentrated on climate-concerned citizens, housing rights advocates, and activist networks across all 12 Berlin districts.

Name

Klimaneustart Berlin

Legal name

Klimaneustart Berlin

Website

https://klimaneustart.berlin

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Klimaneustart Berlin is a volunteer-run civil society climate advocacy initiative based in Berlin that drives climate and housing policy through Volksinitiativen, referendums, citizen councils, and street-level public engagement, serving Berlin's 3.6 million residents via a coalition of more than 50 supporting organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Advocacy and Civic Engagement

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

Keywords

• Climate advocacy campaigns
• Civic engagement initiatives
• Citizen climate council
• Volunteer climate movement
• Ballot initiative campaigns

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization relies on donations from supporters to fund campaign materials and infrastructure. While all work is done voluntarily, they acknowledge that campaigns require some financial resources.
2. Crowdfunding: The Berlin 2030 campaign specifically used crowdfunding platforms (mitwirken-crowd.de) to raise funds for campaign materials and infrastructure.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Klimaneustart Berlin is a volunteer-run civil society movement that organizes Volksinitiativen (citizen initiatives), Volksentscheide (referendums), and citizen dialogue programs to push Berlin toward climate neutrality. Its offerings include the Klimanotlage campaign, the Klima-Bürger*innenrat, the Berlin 2030 Klimaneutral referendum campaign, the Bauwende construction transition initiative, and the Sag doch mal, Berlin street conversation program. The organization coordinates volunteer action through seven neighborhood teams (Kiezteams), weekly plenary meetings, Telegram groups, and large public demonstrations.

Product overview

Klimaneustart Berlin operates as a civil society movement conducting multiple advocacy campaigns and participatory democracy initiatives rather than a commercial product company. The organization's offerings consist of campaign programs: the Klimanotlage campaign (climate emergency recognition), the Klima-Bürger*innenrat (citizens' climate council), the Berlin 2030 Klimaneutral Volksentscheid (ballot initiative), the Bauwende construction transition initiative, and the Sag doch mal Berlin citizen dialogue program. These are advocacy and civic engagement programs, not software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Klimanotlage Kampagne Volksinitiative that successfully pressured the Berlin Senate to declare a climate emergency (Klimanotlage) in December 2019, with over 43,000 collected signatures. Berlin became the first German state to recognize the Klimanotlage following this campaign.
• Klima-Bürger*innenrat Citizen council initiative resulting from a 2020 Volksinitiative, where 100 randomly selected Berliners aged 17-80 developed climate policy recommendations over eight weeks. The Berlin Senate agreed to fully adopt 31 of 47 recommendations and partially adopt 12 into the Berlin Energy and Climate Protection Program (BEK 2030). This was the first official Klima-Bürger*innenrat in Germany.
• Berlin 2030 Klimaneutral (Volksentscheid) Volksentscheid (popular vote) campaign advocating for Berlin to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 instead of 2045. The coalition collected over 260,000 signatures in 2022. The March 26, 2023 referendum received 51% approval (442,210 votes) but failed to meet the 25% quorum requirement for a binding vote.
• Bauwende für Berlin – ökologisch und sozial Volksinitiative launched in summer 2024 addressing emissions in the building and construction sector, advocating for sustainable building practices and prioritizing renovation of existing buildings over new construction. 34,985 signatures were collected and submitted to the Berlin House of Representatives on October 30, 2024.
• Sag doch mal, Berlin Street outreach campaign creating spaces for Berliners to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas about climate and urban life through 5-15 minute conversations. Teams operate on Berlin streets, squares, and festivals across all 12 districts, with conversation outcomes fed back to Berlin politicians, media, and public discourse.

Quantifiable outcome

• 51% approval for Berlin 2030 climate neutrality in referendum (442,210 votes)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ADFC Berlin (Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the broad coalition supporting the Volksinitiative for a Klima-Bürger*innenrat. ADFC Berlin advocates for cycling infrastructure as part of sustainable urban mobility.
• BUND Berlin (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental NGO member of the coalition for climate citizen participation and Berlin 2030 referendum.
• FridaysForFuture BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth climate strike organization as key coalition partner for Berlin climate referendum and demonstrations.
• Extinction Rebellion BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate activist group as coalition partner in climate emergency declaration and policy advocacy.
• GermanZerominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational climate policy organization supporting Berlin's path to climate neutrality with local implementation expertise.
• Deutsche Wohnen & Co EnteignenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial housing advocacy coalition partnering on joint events and campaigns linking housing rights with climate action.
• Berliner Mieterverein e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Berlin tenants' rights organization supporting the open letter on climate protection fund and housing-climate linkage campaigns.
• Berlin autofreiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCar-free Berlin advocacy group supporting open letter demanding transparency in climate fund spending.
• 100% Tempelhofer FeldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy group protecting Tempelhof Field from development, supporting climate protection fund transparency.
• Scientists for Future Berlin-BrandenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience advocacy group providing research backing for climate policy demands.
• Architects4FutureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture professionals supporting the 'Bauwende' (construction transition) campaign with building sector expertise.
• Bundes Deutscher Architekten Berlin (BDA Berlin)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional architects' association supporting sustainable building practices in Berlin's housing sector.
• Bauhaus Erde (Thinktank)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank contributing building sector climate expertise to the Bauwende initiative.
• Triodos BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable bank providing financing perspective for the Bauwende initiative, highlighting economic viability of renovation vs. new construction.
• KiezconnectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban planning organization contributing neighborhood-scale development concepts to the Bauwende initiative.
• HouseEuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy group promoting renovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings as alternative to demolition.
• Leaders For Climate Action (LFCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of entrepreneurs mobilizing business support for the Berlin 2030 referendum.
• Wirtschaft für WandelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness coalition advocating for climate-conscious economic policies, supporting Berlin 2030 referendum.
• Berlin-Brandenburg Energy NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional energy sector network providing industry expertise and support for Berlin's climate neutrality goals.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@klimaneustartberlin
• Facebookfacebook.com/klimaneustart.berlin
• Instagraminstagram.com/klimaneustart.berlin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/klimaneustart-berlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Klimaneustart Berlin