New Podcast with Prof. Radermacher: Global Energy Solutions for the Climate

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In a new episode of Think & Do – the podcast magazine of the Stifterverband – Prof. Franz Josef Radermacher shares his insights on several fundamental issues, including basic rights and the pandemic, climate protection and power, and affordable energy prosperity.

Over the past two years, the pandemic has dominated public discourse. According to Prof. Radermacher, there have been both winners and losers of the crisis, depending largely on an individual’s stage of life and financial situation. “What I missed most throughout the process was freedom,” he summarizes his criticism. He also reflects on the role of science during the pandemic and how public communication was influenced by what people wanted to hear.

Another major topic discussed is the German federal election on September 26, 2021, in which climate protection has played an unprecedented role. Yet, Prof. Radermacher takes a critical view: to truly understand sustainability and climate issues, one must look back to the 1972 World Environmental Conference in Stockholm. That was when an unresolvable tension between wealthy and developing nations first became evident – raising the key question: “Is there a way for people in poorer countries to achieve a decent level of prosperity while we still preserve biodiversity, protect the environment, and maintain a stable climate?”

Later in the podcast, Prof. Radermacher examines Germany’s climate and energy policy, emphasizing the need for international cooperation rather than insisting on producing domestically what could be achieved more efficiently and affordably abroad.

The podcast is divided into 13 thematic segments, which can be listened to individually or as a complete episode. You can access the full podcast and transcript here.

Image source: Free-Photos (Pixabay)

Book Recommendation: “Fact Check Sustainability” by Thomas Unnerstall

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“Ecological Crises and Resource Consumption Under the Microscope” – this is the subtitle of Thomas Unnerstall’s book, and it precisely describes what he delivers in his richly illustrated work containing over 70 figures. He examines individual indicators such as biodiversity, species extinction, deforestation, and plastic waste in the oceans, weighing them against each other. His goal is neither to downplay nor to dramatize the current situation, but rather to present a comprehensive picture. From the perspective of FAW/n, this holistic view is essential in order to achieve the overarching goal of an eco-social market economy.

Dr. Thomas Unnerstall is an international consultant and author. After earning his PhD in physics, he spent several years working at the Ministry of the Environment in Baden-Württemberg before holding senior positions in the energy sector for more than two decades.

Readers interested in sustainability will find plenty of thought-provoking insights in this book. More detailed information can be found here.

Image source: Dariusz Sankowski (Pixapay), Springer Verlag

Federal Development Minister Müller to Become New Director General of UNIDO

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Starting in January 2022, the current Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Gerd Müller, will assume the position of Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). This marks the first time that a candidate from an industrialized country has taken on this role. The position had previously been held by Li Yong of China since 2013.

UNIDO promotes industrial development as a means of combating poverty, while also supporting globalization and environmental sustainability. It serves as an important partner for Germany in advancing global development and creating new jobs in developing countries.

Upon his nomination, Müller stated: “UNIDO can and should become the leading UN agency for implementing the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on Gender Equality. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals show us the path we must take. We all face enormous challenges – especially the developing countries. But we also have the opportunity to grow stronger together. We must act now, united for a better future!”

Dr. Gerd Müller is highly experienced in international development cooperation and economic development. Since 2013, he has served as Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. Through his participation in parliamentary assemblies of African, Caribbean, and Pacific states, he has gained extensive international experience. During his eight years as Parliamentary State Secretary, he was particularly committed to issues such as global food security and international agricultural development projects.

Among his most significant initiatives are the Green Button (Grüner Knopf), the Alliance for Development and Climate, and the Marshall Plan with Africa. FAW/n played a key role in the conceptualization and implementation of the latter two initiatives.

Further information:

Website of the Federal Ministry

Image source: © Michael Gottschalk/photothek.net

Soroptimists Take a Stand for Sustainable Development

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To mark the 100th anniversary of Soroptimist International, the service organization of professional women is placing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the center of its activities. The anniversary campaign, “Plant Trees”, which aims to plant trees and promote global tree sponsorships, ties back to the organization’s very first project. In 1921, the founders worked to protect centuries-old redwood trees.

Today, Soroptimist International has around 70,000 members in more than 100 countries. The organization’s core areas of focus include human rights, gender equality, peaceful coexistence, and environmental protection. Reflecting these values, Dr. Renate Tewaag, President of Soroptimist International Germany, emphasized during a press conference: “The pandemic and the climate crisis are a wake-up call to persistently and collectively preserve livable prospects for future generations.”

To actively contribute to international climate protection, several SI clubs are already supporting the Alliance for Development and Climate. Prof. Herlyn, senior researcher at FAW/n and member of the SI Club Meerbusch, has long advocated for this step within the organization. In the previous year, the Meerbusch club became the first SI club in Germany to achieve climate neutrality through development-promoting climate projects in Myanmar. In a recently published issue of the Soroptimist International Germany bulletin, Prof. Herlyn authored an article highlighting Soroptimist International’s commitment to sustainability and its fight against climate change.

You can find the complete bulletin here.

Image source: SI-Club Braunschweig

Job Opening at FAW/n

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FAW/n is currently seeking to fill a full-time position in the Executive Secretariat. All information can be found below.

Note: The full-time project staff position (m/f/d) has already been filled.

To support the Executive Secretariat of FAW/n, we are looking to fill the following position starting October 1, 2021, initially limited to one year:

Administrative Assistant (m/f/d)
Full-time (40 hours per week)

Your responsibilities:

  • Handling all general secretarial tasks
  • Managing correspondence independently and by dictation
  • Editing and formatting documents
  • Organizing and coordinating meetings and travel
  • Providing vacation replacement

Our expectations:

  • Successfully completed vocational training as a secretary, office, or administrative clerk
  • Independent, well-structured, and responsible way of working
  • Strong communication and teamwork skills
  • Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Good command of English
  • Professional experience in executive assistance is an advantage
  • Commitment and flexibility

We offer:

  • A varied position in a research-oriented environment
  • Insight into diverse future-oriented topics of our society
  • Appropriate remuneration
  • Option to work from home by arrangement
  • Work in a motivated and dedicated team

Have we sparked your interest? Then we look forward to receiving your detailed online application, including your earliest possible starting date, to the attention of Ms. Simon at: radermacher@faw-neu-ulm.de

For any questions by phone, please contact Ms. Regina Simon at +49 731 8507 1284

The application deadline is September 15, 2021.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Image source: FAW/n

Prof. Herlyn: “The World Needs Many More Companies Like ALDI SÜD”

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Recently, the media reported that four companies, including ALDI SÜD, had allegedly used the term “climate neutrality” in a misleading way. These reports are based on a complaint filed by the German Centre for Protection against Unfair Competition (Wettbewerbszentrale).

Prof. Dr. Estelle Herlyn addresses this issue in her article in UmweltDialog and clarifies what climate neutrality actually means: “CO₂ emissions that are generated can be offset or compensated by taking or enabling activities that, for example, remove CO₂ from the atmosphere through reforestation (negative emissions) or avoid CO₂ emissions by promoting renewable energy.”

She considers it incomprehensible that the Competition Center portrays achieving climate neutrality through CO₂ compensation as misleading. ALDI SÜD supports numerous international projects with positive climate impact and recognizes that this is the only way to make global sustainable development achievable. The company is also one of over 1,000 supporters of the Alliance for Development and Climate, whose projects demonstrably contribute to international climate protection

Den gesamten Beitrag von Prof. Herlyn finden Sie hier auf deutsch und auf englisch. You can find the full article by Prof. Herlyn here in German and English.

Image source: Alexas_Fotos (Pixabay)

New Podcast: Climate Protection with Nature-Based Solutions

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Prof. Dr. Estelle Herlyn discusses in a new podcast with Eva van der Want from South Pole the concept of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), their role in climate protection, and the potential they hold.

Nature-Based Solutions use the fact that nature is a natural carbon sink. An important component is reforestation, which helps capture CO₂, as well as the preservation of existing rainforests. Currently, however, the trend is unfortunately the opposite: forests are being cleared, which emits more CO₂ than they absorb. Immediate action is needed. Nature-Based Solutions are not only valuable for the climate – they also generate jobs, infrastructure, and food security, contributing to positive economic development.

In addition to Nature-Based Solutions, there are also so-called insetting projects. These involve companies examining their own supply chains to identify opportunities to reduce CO₂ emissions and advance climate protection. Companies in the food industry often turn to Nature-Based Solutions because they work closely with agriculture and can leverage these partnerships.

The potential of Nature-Based Solutions for carbon sequestration is estimated by various sources, as well as by Prof. Radermacher in his book “Der Milliarden Joker”, at around 10 billion tons of CO₂ per year – approximately one-fifth of global annual emissions.

The full podcast, covering additional topics such as financing Nature-Based Solutions, can be found here. Den kompletten Podcast zu weiteren Themen wie der Finanzierung der Nature-based Solutions finden Sie hier.

Image source: Pexels (Pixabay)

Commentary on the Federal Constitutional Court Ruling on the Federal Climate Protection Act

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The current debate surrounding climate issues has now reached the Federal Constitutional Court. The focus of the ruling, handed down on April 29, is on questions of intergenerational justice: To what extent could the previous approach to climate protection lead to future restrictions on freedoms and rights for the younger generation, simply because the older generation today is unwilling to contribute sufficiently to climate protection?

The Federal Constitutional Court declared the Federal Government’s Climate Protection Act partially unconstitutional, primarily because it lacks intermediate targets for the period after 2030. The climate protection targets set for 2030, however, were deemed unproblematic. The law is now to be revised by the end of 2022.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. Radermacher offers a critical commentary on the ruling: According to him, the Court’s position is not convincing from a logical or scientific standpoint, as it ignores important aspects of the climate debate. This includes the fact that achieving an average temperature rise of only 1.5°C is not solely within the power of German policy but is a global goal that requires global action. Moreover, it is questionable whether Germany’s existing climate protection measures are even correct. The professor cites examples of how CO₂ emissions are managed in China and Nigeria, arguing that a purely national approach to the budget cannot be effective.

The ruling has been “stylized as an epochal event” in the media, which, according to him, it is not. In fact, the judges’ demands of policymakers are relatively modest. What the ruling does imply in terms of consequences, what challenges lie ahead beyond climate issues, and what climate measures would be effective, can be read here.

Image source: Udo Pohlmann (Pixabay)

Harmonizing Market Economy with Sustainability Goals

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In an interview with RATIO kompakt, a magazine by RKW Baden-Württemberg, Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. Radermacher advocates for implementing rules for sustainability on a global scale.

A worldwide eco-social market economy is a goal that Prof. Radermacher and FAW/n have long supported. In the interview, the professor explains exactly what he means by this and why there does not have to be a conflict between the market and sustainability. He emphasizes that only a global approach can lead to the desired results. The established system must be “overcome” so that capitalism does not operate at the expense of the environment, nature, and poorer countries. To achieve this, “one must understand the world as a community,” says Radermacher. Professor Radermacher also outlines both the failures and successes of recent years, highlighting the crucial role played by the private sector.

The full interview on these topics, as well as on overcoming the COVID-19 crisis as a gateway to sustainable growth, can be found here.

Image source: geralt (pixabay)

Childaid Network gewinnt den Covid-19 Relief Preis!

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Childaid Network, a charitable organization that Prof. Radermacher has been actively supporting for years, has won the Covid-19 Relief Prize from the UBS Optimus Foundation. The prize, endowed with USD 50,000, was awarded to organizations that demonstrated exceptional efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and successfully supported disadvantaged populations

Childaid Network’s mission is to address gaps in education. While school closures worldwide affect all students, the poorest children are hit the hardest. Without education, they lack the foundation to build a secure future. Moreover, millions of parents have lost their jobs, which has worsened hunger and child labor in many regions.

Childaid Network has already provided food to over 40,000 children to help address these challenges. Last year, the organization also supported 50,000 children in South Asia, ensuring their access to education despite the pandemic. Local volunteers are trained to deliver flexible and creative small-group teaching, among other methods. The prize money will be invested in vocational training for youth, giving them a foundation for an independent future.

During the three-week voting period, Childaid Network, together with FAW/n, successfully mobilized hundreds of partners and supporting organizations, corporate and action partners, as well as thousands of friends and supporters around the world. With this enormous backing, the organization ultimately prevailed over CARE International, a large global humanitarian organization, and Luminos, a small, dynamic U.S.-based charity.

Further Information:

Childaid Network Website

UBS Optimus Foundation Website

Image source: Childaid.net