Boris Palmer is the three-term Mayor of Tübingen, Germany, first elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2014 and 2022. Over nearly two decades of public service, he has gained national recognition for his pragmatic and innovative approach to climate policy, urban sustainability, and public administration.

From the beginning of his tenure, Palmer has made climate protection a core pillar of his governance. In 2008, he launched the citywide initiative "Tübingen goes blue", a climate campaign aimed at drastically reducing emissions and promoting environmentally responsible living. Under his leadership, Tübingen implemented policies to expand renewable energy, encourage low-carbon mobility, and reduce municipal energy use.

In 2019, the Tübingen City Council passed an ambitious resolution strongly supported by Palmer for the city to become climate neutral by 2030 in terms of energy-related CO2 emissions. This commitment is seen as one of the most progressive climate targets among mid-sized cities in Europe.

Palmer has consistently advocated for "blue growth" prosperity and quality of life without exhausting natural resources or harming the climate. His climate leadership has gained attention across Germany and Europe, often positioning him as a leading voice in local-level climate action.

In addition to his work in office, Boris Palmer is also an author and public intellectual. He has written several books on climate, policy, and society, including:

"A City Turns Blue The Tübingen Climate Protection Model" (2009), which outlines the strategies and successes of Tübingen’s sustainability programs;

"We Can’t Help Everyone" (2017), a controversial but widely discussed book on migration, integration, and public policy; and

"First the Facts, Then the Morals" (2019), which argues that realistic, evidence-based policymaking must precede moral or ideological commitments.

His work has been featured in national media, and he is a regular guest in political talk shows and policy forums. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Palmer also gained attention for promoting the so-called “Tübingen Way”, a balanced approach focused on protecting vulnerable populations while preserving social and economic life.

Though formerly a prominent member of the Alliance 90/The Greens, Palmer left the party in 2023 and now serves as an independent mayor, continuing his commitment to climate action, sustainable urban development, and practical governance.