New Video Clip from the Alliance for Development and Climate

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A key focus of the FAW/n at present is the Alliance for Development and Climate initiated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which the FAW/n accompanies scientifically. With the goal of promoting development and climate protection simultaneously, the Alliance recognizes, connects, and promotes non-governmental engagement, particularly from the private sector.

The Alliance builds on the potential of voluntary commitment and the leverage effect of high-quality CO₂ compensation projects in developing and emerging countries. All activities of its supporters are voluntary, go beyond existing legal CO₂ reduction obligations, and involve participation in high-quality development and climate protection projects in these countries. In the long term, the projects supported within the framework of the Alliance – along with avoidance and reduction measures – contribute to achieving climate neutrality or even climate positivity.

A new video clip by the BMZ presents this idea in a concise and engaging way.

Image source: © GIZ/Aschoffotografie

New Policy Paper from the Eco-Social Forum: A Guide for the Climate Change Generation

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On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Eco-Social Market Economy, the Eco-Social Forum, together with a scientific advisory board, initiated a further development of the concept and outlined the major challenges of our time. The result is the “Guide for the Climate Change Generation”. Building on this foundation, concrete solutions and measures are to be developed that integrate ecological, economic, and social imperatives.

This Guide for the Climate Change Generation describes what the core principles of an Eco-Social Market Economy mean for addressing today’s challenges. It explores fundamental issues and key decisions that are crucial for the quality of life and sustainability of our society. Specifically, it examines topics such as internationality, growth, demography, work, distribution, resources, energy, spatial planning, nutrition and agriculture, science, education, digitalization, and governance. In doing so, it discusses the economic, social, and environmental areas of action that will shape the opportunities of the climate change generation. The paper clearly demonstrates the high relevance and contemporary importance of the Eco-Social Market Economy as a guiding model for the societal transformation toward sustainability.

Download and view the policy paper – 30 Years of the Eco-Social Market Economy

Image source© Shutterstock/3D-creation

Interviews with Prof. Radermacher in SENATE Magazine and the Südwest Presse

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“Electromobility alone cannot be the solution – Reconciling climate neutrality and a prosperous society”

This is the headline of an interview conducted by Ernst Timur Diehn with Prof. Radermacher in SENATE magazine. The full interview (4 pages) can be found at the following link.

In another interview with David Nau for the Südwest Presse, Prof. Radermacher discusses the importance of new technologies and the role of individual restraint.

You can download the full interview here.

Greta Thunberg: “How dare you?”

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Commentary by Prof. Franz Josef Radermacher

Greta Thunberg’s phrase “How dare you?” resonated with many and particularly angered politicians who have long advocated for stronger climate action – from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, through the Kyoto Protocol, to the Paris Agreement, and Germany’s Renewable Energy Act. From my perspective, the statement was a deliberate and well-calculated provocation. Substantively, it missed the mark, but that was intentional. Taken literally, it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the legal powers of the state representatives gathered in New York. Within their mandates, they have very limited authority to make decisions of real significance. Any bold action would still require ratification – for example, through parliamentary majorities – before it could become legally binding. If politicians were to step beyond these boundaries, they would be taking immense personal and political risks. They could be removed from office or even face legal consequences – including figures such as Chancellor Merkel. In that scenario, one could legitimately ask, “How dare you?” In practice, however, politicians take very few such risks. They operate within their legal powers and political mandates – and in this sense, they are acting responsibly.

Full comment (english)

Image source: Markus Spiske (Unsplash)

Second Meeting of the Supporters’ Circle of the Alliance for Development and Climate

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On September 17, the Supporters’ Circle of the Alliance for Development and Climate convened in Bonn. Around 200 supporters and interested participants discussed the potential of additional voluntary engagement by non-state actors in climate protection and development with Federal Minister Dr. Gerd Müller and other high-ranking guests. [Link to photo gallery and article].

At the sidelines of the meeting, Federal Minister Müller presented the Alliance’s initiatives and recommendations for international climate policy. The [YouTube video] shows the press conference, which also featured contributions from Prof. Radermacher.

Photos © GIZ/Aschoffotografie

Festive Colloquium for the Presentation of the Germany-Austria Prize

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On September 19, 2019, the Germany-Austria Prize was presented at the Austrian Consulate General in Munich. Together with the Universitäts.club / Science Association Carinthia of the Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt, FAW/n received the Recognition Award from the Austrian-German Society. We are very pleased with this honor, which recognizes longstanding, sustainable, cross-border, unconventional, widely impactful, and lively engagement with science, culture, and contemporary issues.

Image source: pixabay/Fachdozent

Why a CO₂ Tax Won’t Solve Our Problems

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CO₂ Tax vs. Emissions Trading: Which Is More Effective?

What is the most successful strategy in the fight against CO₂ emissions: a tax on carbon dioxide output, or offsetting CO₂ through emissions trading? Or do we need an entirely different approach?

  • Currently, a national CO₂ tax is under discussion
  • What we really need, however, are globally applicable new technologies
  • The methanol economy and emissions trading are key components of the solution

Den vollständigen Artikel lesen Sie bitte unter diesem Link auf den Webseiten von Xing. Read the full article on Xing here.

Cover image: tr.pngtree.com

Two Awards for FAW/n / Professor Radermacher

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Austria-Germany Award

On March 21, 2019, FAW/n was informed that, together with the Universitäts.club / Carinthian Society for Science at the Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt, it would receive this year’s Recognition Award from the Austrian-German Society. The award is presented annually on varying themes. This year, it highlights a scientific partnership between an Austrian and a German partner that has engaged over a long period with relevant research topics. The 2019 Recognition Award for science is shared equally between the Research Institute for Applied Knowledge Processing (FAW/n) in Ulm and the Universitäts.club / Science Association Carinthia at the Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt. The awardees meet a range of criteria: longstanding, sustainable, cross-border, unconventional, broad-reaching, and dynamic engagement with science, culture, and contemporary issues. The location of both institutes outside major metropolitan areas was also deliberately viewed as a positive factor. The award carries a prize of €10,000. The festive colloquium will take place on September 19, 2019, at the Austrian Consulate General in Munich.

Abt Jerusalem Prize

On February 1, 2019, it was announced that Prof. F.J. Radermacher would receive this year’s Abt Jerusalem Prize. The prize is awarded by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brunswick, the Technical University of Braunschweig, the Braunschweig Scientific Society, and the Braunschweig Cultural Heritage Foundation for outstanding scientific contributions to the dialogue between the humanities, natural sciences, and engineering. The Abbot Jerusalem Prize includes a monetary award of €5,000 as well as the presentation of the Abbot Jerusalem bust by Fürstenberg. The festive colloquium for the award ceremony is scheduled for November 26, 2019, at the Monastery Church in Riddagshausen, Braunschweig.

Image source: Flickr/Patrick Lordan

Philosophical Conversations in Hagen

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Interviews Following the Hagen Anniversary “Future” Event

On February 13, 2019, the Hagen City Hall hosted the 20th anniversary of the Hagen Future Events, initiated by philosopher Klaudius Gansczyk. Among the participants were Prof. Hartmut Graßl, Prof. Franz Josef Radermacher, and Prof. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, each attending their third official visit to Hagen in the context of these Future Events. On this occasion, the Mayor of Hagen honored the climate researchers by including them in the Golden Book of the City.

In a conversation with Klaudius Gansczyk, following the anniversary event, Prof. Radermacher discussed his works – “Balance or Destruction,” “World with a Future,” and “Der Milliarden-Joker (The Billionaire-Joker)” – and explored themes such as planetary consciousness, intercultural humanism, world ethics, global governance, worldwide eco-social market economy, and the Alliance for Development and Climate (AEK). He also reflected on values including global justice, peaceful conflict resolution, and sustainability. The interview is available on YouTube:

In the second interview, Klaudius Gansczyk spoke with Prof. Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, Honorary President of the Club of Rome, also in the aftermath of the anniversary event, about the Club’s anniversary volume “Wir sind dran”. The interview addresses a new, sustainability-oriented enlightenment in light of planetary threats in the Anthropocene, taking into account the diversity of worldviews, ways of thinking, and logic systems worldwide, and is captured on video.

Image source: pixabay/wikiImages

IHK Commitment: Active for Climate Protection

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The Nuremberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Middle Franconia (IHK Nürnberg für Mittelfranken) has joined the “Alliance for Development and Climate”, which was founded in autumn 2018 by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The Alliance now includes around 350 companies, associations, public authorities, project developers, compensation providers, and private individuals.

You can read the full article from IHK Nuremberg here.

Image source: akspic