Volt Hannover 2026 election programme Hannover; free school lunches

Volt Hannover 2026 election programme Hannover; free school lunches

Volt Hannover short election programme 2026 │ Page 1

Volt Hannover short election programme 2026 │ Page 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HANNOVER EUROPEAN & SOLUTION-FOCUSED…………………………………………………. 3 HANNOVER FAIR & SOCIAL …………………………………………………………………………….. 4 HANNOVER SAFE & HEALTHY …………………………………………………………………………. 5 HANNOVER CLIMATE-FRIENDLY & IMPACT-ADAPTED ………………………………………… 6 HANNOVER MOBILE & CONNECTED …………………………………………………………………. 7 HANNOVER DIGITAL & MODERN ……………………………………………………………………… 8 HANNOVER CULTURAL & DIVERSE …………………………………………………………………… 9 HANNOVER DEMOCRATIC & COMMUNALLY…………………………………………………….. 10

Volt Hannover short election programme 2026 │ Page 3 HANNOVER EUROPEAN & SOLUTION-FOCUSED

European cooperation offers opportunities for economic development, cultural ex- change, and joint solutions. Cities and regions benefit from networks, funding pro- grams, and the exchange of best practices. Volt’s vision is a European Hannover that, as part of the European community, works closely with other cities. As an open, diverse, and innovative region, Hannover capital- izes on the benefits of European cooperation while actively contributing its own expe- riences and strengths to European networks.

➔ Implementation of Best Practices: By implementing best practices (exemplary models) from other European cities and countries, we bring European solutions to the Hannover region. In this way, our region becomes a living example of the benefits of Europe. That is why we repeatedly cite best practices as examples in this program as well. They demonstrate that solutions already exist elsewhere. The goal is not to reinvent the wheel, but to use these effective solutions as beacons and implement them as effectively as possible in our region. ➔ Highlighting Diversity: People from many different countries and cultures come together in Hannover. This leads to shared learning, working, and living. We want to highlight this diversity in our urban community wherever possible. We want Hannover to be a region that both preserves its own identity and remains open to new ideas, cultures, and perspectives. ➔ Promote Student Exchanges: Europe and the world are places to be experi- enced firsthand. To that end, the City and Region of Hannover will provide schools with greater support in the future to organize and maintain exchange programs such as ERASMUS. Students, regardless of their social background, should have the opportunity to participate in these programs and gain interna- tional experience.

Volt Hannover short election programme 2026 │ Page 4 HANNOVER FAIR & SOCIAL

Volt’s vision is a Hannover in which everyone can participate. A city and region where opportunities do not depend on one’s family background and where people are free to shape their own lives. Work, family, and leisure are well balanced. Children and young people have access to attractive places to spend their time and engaging recreational activities. Housing remains affordable so that everyone has a safe home.

➔ Creating Affordable Housing: We promote cooperative and munic- ipal housing. We also support initiatives that consistently convert vacant properties into new housing units. ➔ Consistently Implementing Accessibility: We are resolutely advanc- ing accessibility by phasing out barrier-creating architecture in public spaces. At the same time, we are planning mobility in our region to be consistently ac- cessible from the very beginning. ➔ Strengthening Children’s and Youth Programs: We support children’s and youth programs through increased financial funding and relieve the burden on educa- tional professionals by providing additional administrative staff. In addition, we foster lasting partnerships between sports clubs and children’s and youth or- ganizations. ➔ Ensuring the Well-being of Young People: We are improving the well-being of children and adolescents by providing free school lunches. To this end, we are expanding educational social work in schools and connecting students with tar- geted support services for mental health issues. ➔ Improving Quality of Life in Old Age: We improve the quality of life for older adults by ensuring the reliable continued operation of community-based nursing homes. In addition, we strengthen the bonds between young and old and establish outpatient care as a long-term standard. ➔ Systematically Utilizing Food Sharing: We systematically donate surplus food from cafeterias to food-sharing initiatives, social service organizations, and “food rescue kitchens.”

Volt Hannover short election programme 2026 │ Page 5 HANNOVER SAFE & HEALTHY

Volt’s vision are a safe city and region of Hannover where everyone feels at home—a place where everyone takes responsibility and is an integral part of society, and where safety is fostered through a combination of clear order, effective prevention, social sta- bility, and civic engagement.

➔ Strengthening Public Order Services: We are expanding the city’s public order services to noticeably reduce the police’s workload. ➔ Fighting Crime: We actively combat crime through strong social services, dedicated street outreach, and reliable youth services. ➔ Increase Safety for FLINTA* People: We improve communication about exist- ing shelters and create more spaces in women’s shelters. In addition, we will establish a central coordination office for violence in intimate relationships. ➔ Radically Improving Traffic Safety: We are enhancing traffic safety by creating more car-free zones and physically separating different modes of transportation. In addition, we are implementing a 30 km/h speed limit on streets other than main roads. ➔ Enhancing the Sense of Safety at Night: We are implementing brighter, needs- based lighting on streets, sidewalks, and public squares. Therefore, we are pro- moting the flexible “on-the-go” exit on Üstra buses during nighttime hours. ➔ Taking a Holistic Approach to Drugs, Poverty, and Homelessness: We don’t just treat the symptoms of social distress; we address the root causes through targeted support services and active addiction prevention. In doing so, we consistently rely on innovative ap- proaches such as “Housing First.” ➔ Noticeably Improve Cleanliness: We are improving cleanliness by upgrading central trash collection areas and installing more trash cans. ➔ Relieving the Burden on Primary Care Physicians: We are improving primary care by offering video consultations and supporting medical care centers. ➔ Modernizing Hospital Care: We are making healthcare in hospitals modern and safe by actively pursuing our medical strategy. To this end, we are creating standardized digital interfaces for communication among all stakeholders.

• “FLINTA*” stands for women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, transgender, and agender people. It thus refers to the groups that suffer particularly severely under patriarchal structures. This term broadens the definition of “women,” but does not replace it.

Volt Hannover short election programme 2026 │ Page 6 HANNOVER CLIMATE-FRIENDLY & IMPACT-ADAPTED

Volt’s vision for Hannover are a city and region worth living in, with clean air, healthy soil, and climate-resilient infrastructure. This involves expanding renewable energy, strengthening biodiversity, and making life possible in both cold and hot weather.

➔ Transitioning to a Climate-neutral Energy Supply: We fully decarbonize the en- ergy supply by expanding renewable electricity generation and establishing a climate-neutral heating and cooling system. ➔ Transportation Transition Now: We are continuing to expand public transporta- tion and bicycle infrastructure, and we are taking targeted steps to make car- sharing and Park & Ride options more attractive. ➔ Preserving Allotment Gardens: We are preserving allotment gardens as local recreational areas, valuable biodiversity-habitats and natural climate protection. ➔ Natural CO2 Sinks: We are restoring wetlands, creating more urban green spaces, and making forests climate-resilient ➔ Sponge City: We are removing impervious surfaces and imple- menting targeted water retention measures to prepare for heavy rainfall and droughts. ➔ Sustainable Construction: We promote sustainable construction through the use of durable structures and sustainable, recyclable materials. ➔ Supporting Community Gardens: We actively maintain and promote community gardens throughout the city. ➔ Expanding Heat-related Health Protection: We are establishing cool “climate comfort zones” and installing more drinking fountains in public spaces. ➔ Connecting Biodiversity Regionally: We are strengthening biodiversity by estab- lishing one network of habitats linking the city and the surrounding region. ➔ Making Neighbourhoods More Peaceful Through Superblocks: We’re reducing through traffic in selected neighbourhoods. In doing so, we’re transforming streets into liveable, green retreats. ➔ Creating Tiny Forests: We are creating more Tiny Forests to help lower temperatures and increase biodiversity in our communities. ➔ Promoting Green Roofs and Green Facades: We actively promote green roofs and green facades, especially in the city centre.

Volt Hannover short election programme 2026 │ Page 7 HANNOVER MOBILE & CONNECTED

Volts’ vision are a city and region of Hannover where everyone can get from point A to point B quickly, affordably, and flexibly. The goal is a reliable, integrated system that connects both the city and the region while taking into account the diverse realities of people’s lives.

➔ Expand the Rail Network to Make it Future-proof: We’re making the light rail network future-proof through new cross-connections and strategic route exten- sions at terminal stations. At the same time, we’re exploring the automation of rail operations. If plans move forward, we’ll implement a new line through the Südstadt as a tunnel solution with autonomous rail operations. ➔ Preparing the S-Bahn Network for Autonomous Driving: We are preparing the S-Bahn network for rising passenger numbers by requiring DB to implement the necessary measures for autonomous driving by 2031. At the same time, we are exploring a loop line to relieve congestion at the main station. ➔ Expand: We are continuing to develop bus service in the Hannover region by increasing network density, introducing a modern, electric bus fleet, and expanding the use of autonomous Sprinti shuttles. ➔ Affordable Public Transit Fares: We ensure social inclusion by keeping local transit fares affordable. Since this is difficult for municipalities to manage on their own, we are actively advocating at the federal level for better and more reliable funding of municipal public transit through federal funds. ➔ Introduce Free Public Transit: We provide free public transit for people over 75 who no longer hold a driver’s license, as well as for all school-age children. In addition, we will introduce free public transit on Saturdays. ➔ Promoting Walking: We design sidewalks to be accessible, create more spaces for strolling and seating, as well as physically separated bike lanes, and keep e- scooters off the sidewalks. ➔ Consistently Expand the Bicycle Network: We are improving cy- cling by rapidly expanding bike routes along the city limits and cre- ating new cross-connections to form a seamless bicycle network. ➔ Optimizing Driving Smartly: We’re improving the driving experience by actively promoting resid