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

Productivity Growth through Digital Progress?

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The article by Prof. Radermacher, published in Inclusive Productivity, deals with the core of progress. As the title “We need progress in the physical world – not more storage space in the data realm” already suggests, Prof. Radermacher addresses the differences between productivity in the physical and the digital sense

Major leaps in productivity have been achieved through groundbreaking inventions in the fields of electric supply, the automobile industry, and aviation. A great deal has also changed and developed in the IT sector in recent years. Nevertheless, this has not led to the same significant increases in productivity as the aforementioned inventions once did.

In his article, the professor explains that the likely reason for this lies in the redistribution that comes with new technologies. When new inventions cause one company’s business to be taken over by another, this does not increase overall productivity – the same or similar work is simply carried out by someone else.

Another consequence of digitalization is the increase in bureaucratic, transparency, and documentation requirements. Many people do not even read the documents they are asked to sign – either because the content is too complex or because it would take too much time. According to Prof. Radermacher, this additional bureaucracy is “often not value-creating, but rather value-destroying.”

Further on, the professor emphasizes that we must use resources more wisely. Humanity must also not underestimate the “problems of a full world.” Finally, Prof. Radermacher outlines which kinds of progress in the physical world would be necessary to achieve productivity gains comparable to those of the past.

You can find the full article here.

Image source: Simedblack (pixabay)

Prof. Radermacher Elected Honorary President of the Senate of Economy

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After eleven years serving as President of the Senate of Economy, Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. Radermacher did not stand for re-election to this position and was elected Honorary President with a large majority during a digital members’ assembly on February 19, 2021. In addition, Prof. Radermacher continues to serve as Vice President on the Executive Board of the Senate e.V.

The Senate of Economy Germany e.V. and the Senate of Economy Foundation currently include more than 900 leading figures from various sectors of society – among them representatives from business, science, and culture as well as politics, diplomacy, and public life. The Senate is entirely oriented toward the common good and does not represent the individual interests of companies or industries.

The goal of the Senate is to develop solutions for the major challenges of our time. These include promoting an eco-social market economy on both national and international levels, with a focus on ecological sustainability, as well as supporting Germany as a business location. Over the past years, many of the Senate’s initiatives have been taken up by parliaments and governments and translated into real policy.

During his presidency, Prof. Radermacher played a decisive role in shaping the goals of the Senate. Through discussions and events with government officials, leading politicians, and scientists, he represented the interests of both the Senate and the FAW/n. In appreciation of his work, a video clip was created highlighting some of the most memorable moments from his presidency

The Senate of Economy Foundation for Common Good–Oriented Policy is one of the founding donors of the FAW/n. Through this generous support, the institute’s research work is made possible

Further information:

Website of the Senate of Economy

Image source: © Thomas Klink / T. Klink – Fotografie, Senat der Wirtschaft

Prof. Herlyn in the SDG Sustainability Breakfast Podcast

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New Podcast: At the end of January 2021, Prof. Dr. Estelle Herlyn met with IUFE Managing Director Florian Leregger (Austria) for the SDG Sustainability Breakfast.

Their conversation focused on the 2030 Agenda as a “magical polygon of sustainability” and touched on topics such as climate protection, development, technology, and digitalization. Estelle Herlyn also explained her personal motivation for engaging in sustainability efforts and discussed the Alliance for Development and Climate.

Prof. Dr. Estelle Herlyn has been working as a freelance researcher for the Research Institute for Applied Knowledge Processing (FAW/n) since 2012. In this role, she is particularly responsible for research projects conducted in cooperation with politics and business.

You can listen to the podcast here:

Image source: © Prof. Dr. Estelle Herlyn

Book Recommendations: “Mit kühlem Kopf” by Bernward Gesang and “Der Delphi Code” by Thomas Pyczak

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Professor Bernward Gesang has published an interesting book with Hanser Verlag titled Keeping a Cool Head – On the Usefulness of Philosophy for the Climate Debate, which delves deeply into the philosophical questions surrounding the climate discussion. In many places, Prof. Gesang presents lines of argument that FAW/n has long supported. This includes, in particular, the advocacy for smart international compensation, attention to cost-benefit aspects, and the potential of the world’s solar deserts.

Interested readers will gain many important insights and can find more detailed information about the book here.

The Delphi Code is another book that will especially appeal to readers interested in the future of artificial intelligence. This novel by Thomas Pyczak focuses primarily on questions of emotion and feeling.

Further information about this book can be found here.

Bernward Gesang - Mit kühlem Kopf c) Hanser Verlag

Image source: Dariusz Sankowski (Pixapay), Hanser Literaturverlag, amazon.de