Freiburg is known as an "eco-city". In recent years it has attracted solar industries and research; the Greens have a stronghold here (the strongest in any major German city; up to 25% of the votes city-wide, in some neighbourhoods they reached 40% or more; figures from the 2002 national elections). The newly built neighbourhoods of Vauban and Rieselfeld were developed and built accordingly to the idea of sustainability. The citizens of Freiburg are known in Germany for their love of cycling and recycling.

In June 1992, the Freiburg city council adopted a resolution to the effect that it would only permit construction of "low energy buildings" on municipal land. All new housing must comply with the low energy guidelines. Low energy housing uses solar power passively as well as actively. In addition to solar panels and collectors on the roof, providing electricity and hot water, many passive features use the sun’s energy to regulate the temperature of the rooms.

The Mayor Dr. Dieter Salomon, pictured, (elected in 2002) is the only member of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen who holds this office in a city with more than 100,000 inhabitants.

The following is a list of all mayors ("Oberbürgermeister" or "Lord Mayor") of Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, since 1806.

• 1806–1824: Johann Josef Adrians
• 1826–1827: Fidel Andre
• 1828–1832: Raimund Bannwarth
• 1833–1839: Joseph von Rotteck
• 1839–1840: Friedrich Wagner
• 1848–1849: Joseph von Rotteck
• 1850–1852: Johann Baptist Rieder
• 1852–1859: Friedrich Wagner
• 1859–1871: Eduard Fauler
• 1871–1888: Karl Schuster
• 1888–1913: Otto Winterer
• 1913–1922: Emil Thoma
• 1922–1933: Karl Bender
• 1933–1945: Franz Kerber
• 1945–1946: Max Keller
• 1946–1956: Wolfgang Hoffmann
• 1956–1962: Josef Brandel
• 1962–1982: Eugen Keidel
• 1982–2002: Rolf Böhme
• since 2002: Dieter Salomon