Tackling the climate crisis locally - with citizen participation that works

"Politicians must have the courage to make unpopular decisions." Even with a microphone, the woman has to speak loudly to battle the noise of the rain hammering against the glass wall of the Lintgen festival hall. Nevertheless, many of the 80 or so residents of the Alzette Valley communities taking part in a citizens' forum nod their heads. The topic: climate change – dangers and answers. "We're talking about band-aid solutions, but we should actually be talking about the heart of the matter: carbon emissions, " says another. "Why isn't agroforestry being promoted more, " asks a third? Lintgen's mayor, Louis Pinto, and the leader of the opposition, Charel Margue, are keeping a wary eye on the proceedings.

The event is probably also well attended for reasons of topicality: it is the second day of continuous rain on which residents living along the Alzette are worried about whether their cellars will be spared from flooding this time or whether they will have to pump them out – again. For some, it would be the third time this year. The consequences of climate change, which still often sound like a distant eventuality, are already very real for many people here.