Inspiring a sustainable future

Öko-Institut turns 30: Anniversary conference and ceremony

What sort of sustainability policy is needed to meet the challenges to society over the next 30 years? What role will the Öko-Institut play in shaping it? Our anniversary conference will address these issues, and many more besides, as well as celebrating the past 30 years. The Institute in Freiburg will play host to the conference on Friday 22 June 2007. A multitude of speakers from the worlds of politics, science and industry will join Europe’s leading environmental research agency to cast a critical eye over the challenges facing sustainability now and in years to come. The keynote speech will be given by Klaus Töpfer, former Executive Director of UNEP. In the evening, a celebration featuring live music will provide a light-hearted look back at the day’s agenda. The venue is the Historisches Kaufhaus, Freiburg. To register, or for further information, see www.oeko.de/30-years or call +49 (0)761 452 9524. cr

Reading resource

Climate history for everyone

What is the difference between weather and climate? How does the ozone layer protect the Earth? And what's the truth behind the Biblical story of the Flood? You can find answers to these and other fascinating questions in Karl-Heinz Ludwig's book Eine kurze Geschichte des Klimas (A short history of climate). Anyone who is interested in delving into the topic of climate, weather etc. shouldn't hesitate – this is the book for them.

Drawing on the most recent research, the author provides a concise and readable overview and explanations of climate history "from its origins to the present day". In the last of 14 chapters, entitled “When, how and why the Earth System will end”, Ludwig pulls no punches. In a frankly gloomy discussion of global warming, he tries to jolt his readers awake, showing that action is needed now if climate change is to be avoided.

Ludwig's particular strength is his ability to present complex issues in an accessible way. Not that he abandons the climatologist's specialist terminology altogether – but he uses it so cleverly that even non-experts can understand. This book is as readable as a novel. Given the urgency of climate change, Ludwig's book is well worth reading: whether you are already a climate expert or merely aspiring to be one, this is a very useful reference work on all climate-relevant issues.cs

Karl-Heinz Ludwig: Eine kurze Geschichte des Klimas – Von der Entstehung der Erde bis heute (A short history of climate – From the Earth's origins to the present day), Verlag C.H. Beck, Munich 2006, 216 pages, € 12.90. ISBN-13: 978-3-406-54746-1.

Environmental Law & Governance

This is the new name of the long-standing research division at the Öko-Institut which integrates input from lawyers, social scientists, economists and natural scientists. “For some time now, we have been concerned not only with classic environmental law, but also with other forms of societal regulation and governance” says coordinator Regine Barth. The core purpose is to identify which instruments – including classic regulatory law, economic instruments, voluntary agreements, corporate social responsibility (CSR) or participatory processes – are particularly effective to attain environmental policy goals. The range of issues is broad, taking in waste management and emission control, transport and planning law, and management systems in the spheres of biological diversity, farming and fisheries.

News

Dr Joachim Lohse, Öko-Institut Director, has been appointed to the jury of Novartis AG which selects the winners of the Novartis Energy Excellence Awards each year. The pharmaceutical company uses this award scheme to reward staff worldwide whose projects have boosted renewable or alternative energy technologies or whose behaviour has been an exemplar of energy efficiency.

Christiane Rathmann, head of public relations and communication at the Öko-Institut, has been elected deputy board member of the Legacy for the Future Foundation. She replaces Ilka Raven-Buchmann, who has stepped down for personal reasons.