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Resources and Environment

Resources and Environment

Responsibility for a Sustainable Future for Nature, the Economy and Society

News

We need a fresh start that is less focused on objective,s but more so on the determination of our actions.

Angela Merkel, Former German Chancellor

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Climate change, digitalisation and the Corona pandemic as key challenges of our time have confronted us with very basic questions once again: what do we build our future on? How must we live now in order for life on earth to remain worth living for future generations, and so that they can continue to shape it in the exercise of their fundamental rights?

 

Sustainability Means Taking Responsibility for the Future

The concept of sustainability is on everyone’s lips: in political debates, in science and research as with in demands from civil society, at national and international level. Sustainability always seems to be something worth striving for that is not yet sufficiently present. It is understood as a systemic balance between ecological, economic and social development, which interact in a complex way. Sustainability is a cross-cutting issue. Ultimately, it is about responsibility for the future.

Science needs to use transdisciplinary research to explore and explain connections, such as with regard to how human actions impact nature. Innovations – be it technologies, processes or behavioural changes – could be the key to a more careful use of the natural foundations of life.

 

Resilience Arises from Preservation and Renewal

Future viability and resilience are also leitmotifs in the competition of political ideas on various levels – at federal, state and local levels, in the European house and in the global village. What decisions must be made today to preserve that which has been achieved, and to initiate desired developments and work towards resilience of nature, the economy and society against disruptions? Options for action need to be weighed up, priorities set and conflicting goals taken into account. For the most part, there is no lack of (scientific) knowledge, but rather it is about overcoming implementation deficits and building trust in the fact that the democratic constitutional state will master the fundamental change.

The necessary decarbonisation and targeted climate neutrality of the economy and society undoubtedly entail challenges. However, these challenges can be met through the expansion of renewable energies, the promotion of climate-neutral technologies, diversification of energy imports, measures for higher energy efficiency as well as through closed product cycles and recycling. In agriculture, the production of food needs to be considered in the context of species and climate protection. Mobility needs to reconceptualised in many respects, taking the concerns of urban and rural spaces equally into account, and linking them via innovative and sustainable approaches.

Russia’s war in Ukraine is increasing tasks and reinforcing conflicting goals: on the one hand, how can the security of energy supply be ensured, for which we are still dependent on fossil fuels, such as from Russia, due to insufficient coverage of demand through renewable energies, without further endangering the achievement of climate protection goals on the other, while the impact of climate change is manifested worldwide it all its urgency?

 

With a Wide Range of Offers for More Sustainability in Germany and Abroad

These questions are also of utmost importance for the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s work in Germany and abroad. With events, studies, and analyses, we accompany the political and social discussion on current issues and provide platforms for interdisciplinary exchange of experiences in Germany, Europe and in the countries of the Global South.

Hence, for us, this topic presents not only a regulatory challenge, but is also a key concern as regards preserving creation and protecting human rights throughout the world. In our view, sustainable development is a prerequisite for prosperity and a principle of the social market economy.

For us, it is important that the shift to greater sustainability is economically viable and oriented towards people’s everyday lives; only this way can it be accepted by them. In conjunction with the ecological, economic, and social dimension, sustainability also has a political component. After all, sustainability thrives on the active participation of citizens who are to help she the future viability of the country. That is why democracies, in particular, are predestined to drive the radical changes. Besides social acceptance, political will to implement sustainability is important for creating the necessary framework conditions.

We would therefore like to provide political decision-makers in Germany and abroad with the impetus for addressing challenges surrounding the environment, resources and other sustainability issues. We therefore advocate alliances between states that strive for high sustainability standards.


International Offices and Programmes

Strictly speaking, issues such as sustainability, energy policy, environmental and climate protection know no national boundaries. Our actions have a global impact in many respects, such that, for sustainable success with these issues, holistic approaches involving as many states as possible need to be pursued and joint solutions found. With our energy security and climate change programmes, we attempt to contribute to this by promoting dialogue on these issues in several regions around the world.

International Energy Security and Climate Change Programmes

Windräder am Deich in Ostfriesland | Foto: Allie Caulfield / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Allie Caulfield / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 / Stefan Stahlberg

 

The curtailment of man-made global warming and associated shift away from fossil fuels envisaged by the Paris Climate Agreement, presents humanity with just as great a challenge as the consequences of climate change. With the four regional programmes on energy security and climate change in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific as well as in the Middle East and North Africa, since 2015 the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has been helping to strengthen cross-regional dialogue on the topics of energy, climate and environmental policy in the respective regions. Here, special emphasis is placed on accompanying currents debates, developing solutions as well as promoting specific projects of sustainable action in politics, business and society.

 

Learn more about the energy security and climate change programmes


 

Publication Series and Publication Projects

The development towards a sustainable way of living is one of the most important goals for politics, the economy and society. How can we succeed in striking a balance between human way of life and the global ecosystem Earth without having to abstain from everything across the board? Our publication projects provide impetus for thought and grant insights into innovations that could help this development process.

Sustainability Monitor

Blick in den Wald Oliver Henze / flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0 / creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

 

With the Sustainability Monitor series, we address, mostly on an occasion-related basis, current sustainability issues from the perspective of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung so as to make them accessible to an interest public in politics, science and civil society; at the same time, we also contribute towards the foundation’s positioning on this important cross-cutting issue of the future.

 

Learn more about the Sustainability Monitor series

Sustainability Navigator – Transformation Through Innovation

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„Sustainability Navigator – Transformation Through Innovation“

(only in German)

YouTube, Onlinekas

Our project “Sustainability Navigator. Transformation Through Innovation” provides an overview of specific innovations for more sustainability. Here, we not only look at the ecological, but also the social and economic dimension.

 

Learn more about “Sustainability Navigator” project


 

Networks and Cooperation

To promote sustainable urban development as well as market- and innovation-oriented strategies for climate neutrality, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has launched the “Strong cities 2030” initiative, and entered into a cooperation with the German think tank EPICO Klimainnovation.

Strong Cities 2030 Network

Strong-Cities-2030 / Stadtpanorama imran shahabuddin / flickr / CC BY 2.0

 

Urbanisation is one of the mega trends of the 21st century. In 2050, three-quarters of the world’s population are likely to live in cities. This harbours major challenges, while also affording opportunities. The Sustainable Development Goal 11 of the Agenda 2030 aims to make cities and settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Strong Cities is an initiative of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung with the goal of fostering urban development towards more sustainability, resilience and inclusion. It does so through global exchange between political office holders and experts from science and practice.

 

Learn more about the “Strong Cities 2030” network

Cooperation with EPICO KlimaInnovation

EPICO KlimaInnovation Logo

 

Since 2021, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has been cooperating with EPICO KlimaInnovation. The think tank has set itself the goal of developing sustainable, market- and innovation-oriented strategies for climate neutrality from the centre of society, and contributing towards their implementation. The beating heart of the cooperation between KAS and EPICO is the Policy Accelerator for Climate Innovation.

In this project, within the framework of an agile design thinking process, clear recommendations for action on key topics of energy policy and target visions for achieving climate neutrality were developed, which will also be accompanied in the future and whose implementation is to be promoted via a strong network in politics, business, science and society.

 

Learn more about the cooperation with EPICO KlimaInnovation


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Contact

Gisela Elsner

Gisela Elsner kas

Global Sustainability Policy Officer and KAS Advice and Complaints Officer

gisela.elsner@kas.de +49 30 26996-3759
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iStock by Getty Images / photovs
February 17, 2022
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istock / pixelfusion3d
October 26, 2021
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Event Reports
April 13, 2023
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Publications to the topic

Persepectives

Towards inclusive and transparent environmental governance for critical minerals & metals in Africa

Overview of Critical Raw Minerals and Metals in Sub- Saharan Africa

Policy PPI 2

Policy Paper PPI N°2: Manejo de Bienes Comunes y participación juvenil

en la Central de comunidades Chiquitanas Turubó (CCHIT) en el municipio de San José de Chiquitos del departamento de Santa Cruz - Bolivia.

Policy PPI 1

Policy Paper PPI N°1: MUJERES INDÍGENAS, ENTRE LA RESISTENCIA Y LA RESILIENCIA

Propuestas y soluciones locales de adaptación al cambio climático lideradas por mujeres indígenas en Latinoamérica

Kas.de

Advancing Global Health: Insights from the 154th WHO Executive Board Meeting

Map of the Month 02/2024

Titelbild_Refereznstudie_Erneubare

Referenzstudie: Potenziale der erneuerbaren Energien in der Mongolei

Studien, Erhebungen und Großprojekte seit 1990

Pic

State Competition for Regional Energy Hub Status in the Mediterranean

Identifying the Criteria for the Establishment of an Efficient Regional Energy Hub

cover eng summary ukrainian energy security dialogue 2023

The conference of the Ukrainian Energy Security Dialogue 2023: Resilience and Recovery

Summary

Luftaufnahme auf das von einer Flutkatastrophe betroffene Beledweyne in Zentralsomalia IMAGO / Xinhua

East Africa: When it rains, it pours

What influence do current floods have on the socio-political development of the region?

Überschwemmter Fußgängerweg Adobe Stock / lensw0rld

German-Austrian Collaboration: Climate Change Solutions for the EU

Outcome paper of the Vienna Dialogue 2023

Publication TUDA-Lanna Beyond PM2.5

Beyond PM2.5

Environmental Justice and Insight Urban Solution for the Next Generation

shah-abdur-rahman-DRz_rYxJePA-unsplash

Pakistan Floods

Underlining the Need for Regional Cooperation for Disaster Risk Management in South Asia

Presentación libro Generación de Diálogo (1)

Grupo Generación de Diálogo Chile-Perú presentó nuevo libro de jóvenes investigadores

La publicación, editada por Paz Milet y Fabián Novak, es parte de la beca Buena Vecindad, con la que jóvenes de Chile y Perú realizan una pasantía en la nación vecina.

COP28 Cover-Bild Adobe Stock / Ricochet64

COP28: Too Big to Fail?

The World Climate Conference: A Litmus Test for the Paris Climate Agreement and a Guiderail for Future Climate Policy.

FS - C1 - news

[Fact sheet] CASE 1: Electric Public Transport

Bogota (Colombia)

Repair and Reuse Final_Seite_01 (1)

Repair and Reuse (R&R): Exploring the feasibility of R&R business model in Hong Kong

Palais des Nations Geneva II

Geneva Barometer

Developments among Geneva-based international organisations from October to December 2023

Kas.de

The Decarbonisation Agenda in Türkiye, the European Union and the Eastern Mediterranean

Kas.de

Countries endorsing Declaration on climate and health at COP28

Map of the Month 12/2023

cover promoting renewable energy consumption

Promoting Renewable Energy Consumption

The Cases of Kitakyushu and Seoul

cover Hydrogen Energy Solutions in Cities ICLEI RECAP (2)

Pioneering Hydrogen Energy Solutions in Cities

The Cases of Tokyo and Seoul

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Events on the topic

Mar

2024

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Apr

2024

Vom Grundsätzlichen zum Praktischen
Online-Reihe zum Grundsatzprogramm der CDU

Mar

2024

fully booked
Energiepolitik in Thüringen
Besuch des Pumpspeicherwerks Hohenwarte

Mar

2024

fully booked
Großkotzenburg
„Global Fashion“
Ein Planspiel zu der Modepolitik und den Institutionen der Europäischen Union

Apr

2024

Erneuerbare Energien kommunal bestmöglich nutzen – Kommunale Erfolgsgeheimnisse eines Landrats
Vortagsimpuls und Diskussion

Event Reports on the topic

Event Reports on the topic

13.03.2024 Neanderland im Gespräch

„Weg vom Wegwerfen – Die Kreislaufwirtschaft“

Neanderland im Gespräch unter der Schirmherrschaft von Dr. Christian Untrieser MdL

Kas.de

Von Visionen und Veränderungen

Bertram Flecks neue Wege für den ländlichen Aufschwung

Kas.de

„Der doppelstöckige Acker wurde noch nicht erfunden“

Hermann Onko Aeikens stellt neues Buch zur Landwirtschaft vor

Nachhaltige Entwicklung als Menschheitsaufgabe

Wie wollen wir leben und anderen zu leben erlauben?

Nachhaltigkeit & Innovation: Herausforderungen und Perspektiven aus naturwissenschaftlicher Sicht

Grevenbroicher Schlossgespräch unter der Schirmherrschaft von Hermann Gröhe MdB

Wie werden wir zukünftig wohnen?

3. Münsteraner Gespräche zum Thema Sicherheit

Tag der KAS 2023 - Abendveranstaltung Blick in den Saal KAS

The coexistence of generations is the foundation of our democracy

KAS Day 2023

Walsmann

Der Green Deal als Blaupause für Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit?

Veranstaltungsbericht: Seminar zum Thema "European Green Deal" in der Villa La Collina, Cadenabbia

6f23d592-2434-4102-abee-4a861d7cacb7

Klimawandel, Gartenwandel, Interessenwandel - Umgang mit Gartenanlagen

Gespräche über die Zukunft unserer Gartenkultur und Gartendenkmäler

Der „German-Arab Gulf Dialogue“ erstmalig in der KAS.

Old partners, new alliances?

The "German-Arab Gulf Dialogue" for the first time at the KAS

20220716_AntjeBoetiusPortrait_RagnarAxelsson_002.jpg Alfred-Wegener-Institut / Ragnar Axelsson, Ilulissat Grönland Juli 2022

Meeresschutz ist Küstenschutz - Der Lebensraum Meer und seine Bedeutung für unser Leben

Mittagstalk mit der Meeresforscherin Antje Boetius

EU Gespräch.png

Europagespräch der Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung Erfurt

Wie sichern wir die Arzneimittelversorgung in geopolitisch angespannten Zeiten?

Diskussion (2)

Grün Sta(d)tt Grau - Mehrwert und Gefahren

Baumsterben

"Bäume im Stress - Verluste und neue Chancen"

Gespräche über die Zukunft unserer Gartenkultur und Gartendenkmäler

Marion Sendker im Gespräch mit Gabriele Baumann kas.de

Ratspräsidentschaft, NATO-Beitritt, Seltene Erden, Weltraumbf: Schweden im Zentrum d. Aufmerksamkeit

Eine Bilanz des 40. #HessenKAS Facebook-Live vom 28.03.2023

Franz-Meyers-Forum 31.03.2023

Die Energiekrise – Wendepunkt für eine gerechte und nachhaltige Energieversorgung

Franz-Meyers-Forum

The Power of Crisis KAS / Juliane Liebers

Energiekonferenz: Der Ruf nach mehr Freiraum für Innovation

The Power of Crisis: Energie der Zukunft

neue Altstadt Deutsches Institut für Stadtbaukunst

Wie Kommunen nachhaltiger werden: Umbau vor Neubau, mehr Grün und Blau, weniger versiegelte Flächen

KommunalAkademie und Deutsches Institut für Stadtbaukunst initiieren
neues kommunalpolitisches Netzwerk Nachwuchskräfte Städtebau

Vorstellung der neuen KAS-Fellow Prof. Dr. Ante Boetius KAS / Juliane Liebers

Natur und Wohlstand – noch zu retten?

Vorstellung der neuen KAS-Fellow Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius

Kas.de

Grüne Gentechnik in der Landwirtschaft: Wundermittel oder Mogelpackung?

Publications

Media library

Nachhaltige Mobilität & Künstliche Intelligenz
Erststimme #88: Hildegard Müller
In der aktuellen Folge sprechen wir mit Hildegard Müller, der Präsidentin des Verbandes der Automobilindustrie, über spannende anstehende Themen.
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New episode "Auslandsinfo Spotlight"
Gold wealth in the Sahel region: curse or blessing?
In conversation with Ulf Laessing, head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Sahel regional program in Mali.
Media Dialogue Forum 6 Year 4
WATCH AGAIN: Facebook-live Recording "COP28 and the Way Forward"
Listen to a debrief on the issues discussed and agreements reached at COP28 in Dubai and their implication for Thailand going forward.
Media Dialogue Forum 5 Year 4
WATCH AGAIN: Facebook-live Recording "Thorny Issues ahead of COP28"
Hear from the experts and look ahead to the key issues facing the negotiation rounds at the COP28 in Dubai this year.
Media Dialogue Forum 4 Year 4
WATCH AGAIN: Facebook-live Recording "The Lessons Learned from PM2.5 and Rights to Clean Air"
Whether Thailand has learned this hard lesson and managed to address the true causes in order to come up with proportionate measures and policies.
Media Dialogue Forum 3 Year 4
WATCH AGAIN: Facebook-live Recording "Dam or No Dam? in the Country’s Natural World Heritage Sites"
The discussion and input from stakeholders on large water management development projects in Thailand's World Heritage sites and a serious challenge for the preservation.
Media Dialogue Forum 2 Year 4 by Bangkok Tribune News Agency
WATCH AGAIN: Facebook-live Recording on El Niño - From Global Warming to Global Boiling
Experts and stakeholders discussed on how Thailand should prepare to cope with the escalation and effects of the climate change in both short and long terms.
Mitschnitt unserer Veranstaltung am 11. Juli 2023 in Dessau-R...
Verantwortung für die Zukunft: Klimaschutz als Gemeinschaftsaufgabe
Opinion and public participation in Latin America
First Forum on Inclusive Climate Governance
International specialists presented the topics of citizen participation, intergenerational environmental justice, public policies and climate governance.
Neue Ausgabe unseres Podcasts
Die umworbene Braut: Wie positioniert sich Argentinien im neuen globalen Machtgefüge?
In dieser Ausgabe von Auslandsinfo Spotlight klären wir mit unserer Expertin Susanne Käss, wie sich Argentinien im neuen globalen Machtgefüge positioniert.

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