It is to the credit of the green movement within and outside parliaments that ecology has become one of the main arenas of politics. There is hardly another subject which, within the last 30 years, has been thus transformed from the concern of a few scientists, activists (often thought of as "nutters") into a topic of world conferences.
On the other hand the 1997 UN summit Rio+ 5 produced a sobering account of the state of sustainable policy: Almost universally the agenda of ecological change has been displaced by the agenda of globalisation. This trend is noticable in Germany, too, where unemployment and the controversy concerning investor-friendly policy have superseded ecology as main issues of political debate.
At present the Heinrich Böll Foundation puts the main emphasis on the areas global energy and climate policy, i.e. discussions about the opportunities of renewable energy and the problems of nuclear power.
- This study provides an overview of bauxite mining – the chief material used in the production of aluminum – in three key locations in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and takes a deeper look at China’s role in this context. The study also examines the regional linkages behind bauxite mining decision-making in the three Mekong countries and unpacks the degree to which environmental and social considerations have been taken into account in the decision-making process. more»
The Greenhouse Development Rights Framework – - The Greenhouse Development Rights Framework provides an interesting approach towards combining sustainability goals and development equity. Revised second edition, November 2008, with new analysis based on updated data! more»
From Money to Metals – - Despite the current financial "crisis" investors are pouring money into mining companies and projects, with potentially negative consequences for thousands of communities around the world. Launched in 2008, and now available as a regularly-updated data base, "From Money to Metals" is a vital resource to discover who is funding what, and where, in one of the most potentially destructive of all global industries. By Nostromo Research, 2009. more»
Log, Stock and Barrel - Financial Institutions in the Resource Sector – Financial institutions play a major role in the exploitation and trade of natural resources. Over the years activists and organisations worldwide have used a variety of strategies to address these issues. The objective of the dossier Log, Stock and Barrel - Financial Institutions in the Resource Sector is to collect information on financial institutions, their role in the resource sector, and put together mechanisms, tools and strategies to address policy issues.
- To the surprise of many opinion pollsters and political commentators it became clear late in the evening of 7 June 2009 that the real winners in the European elections were the Greens. They were the only political group in the European Parliament that had managed to increase their number of seats. Few would have forecast this even a few days before. The European Union office of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung has invited eleven new Green Members of the European Parliament from five different countries to write about their ambitions for Europe. What are the goals of the new Greens and how do they want to achieve them? more»
Bali, Poznan, Copenhagen - Triple Jump Towards a New Quality of Climate Policy? – - Following the Bali conference, the climate negotiations are going into marathon mode. Never before have such complex negotiations had to be coped with in such a short time. But the challenge is urgent: we must succeed in stopping the rapid grow of greenhouse gas emissions within the next 10 years and then begin a rapid decrease. more»
Toward a Transatlantic Green New Deal: Tackling the Climate and Economic Crisis – - The grave financial and economic crisis that broke into full view in the fall of 2008 has dominated headlines and politics. The imagery of a Green New Deal is important in that it suggests an ambitious approach predicated on the need for strong government action and a decisive break with old policies. more»
Green Solutions to the Auto Crisis - From Auto Makers to Mobility Service Providers – - The current automotive crisis is not merely the result of an economic downturn, but has revealed structural flaws within the industry itself. This strategy paper analyzes the current crisis and outlines a vision of the “mobility products of the future”. more»
Climate and Trade - Why Climate Change Calls for Fundamental Reforms in World Trade Policies – - For too long the international climate and trade policies have pursued conflicting objectives. It is high time to confront both policies, so Tilman Santarius, in his study, published by the German NGO Forum on Environment and Development in Bonn and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. more»
Green New Deal – The monstrous sums governments spend to boost the economy must be used to create a sustainable economy and society. This appeal is not just directed at governments and parliaments. We need a great social awakening in order to reform capitalism and improve the world. more»
The conference European Energy Policy - Energy Security, Climate Protection, Innovation (Tuesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 17, Berlin) is a place for experts from politics, science, and society. It offers an exceptional forum on the best and fastest way to achieve a sustainable energy future for Europe. more»
Scholarships: Blogging from international climate economy conference in Berlin – - Are you interested in blogging from a high-profile international conference “The Great Transformation – Greening the Economy”, from 28-29 May 2010 on climate change and the economy, and take a look behind the scenes? For this event we are offering three blogger scholarships! more»
Where’s the Money? The Status of Climate Finance Post-Copenhagen – - When the dust settled after the near failure of the UNFCCC climate talks in Copenhagen, the issue of climate finance seemed strangely to have been one of the few areas, where despite all procedural and political misgivings, real progress was made. more»
Failure or Opportunity? – - From a sheer climate protection perspective, various experts claim that the outcome of the Copenhagen climate conference has been a failure. Two months after the Copenhagen climate summit, this paper sheds some light on the different regional and national evaluations of the conference and analyzes how perceptions on the outcome of the conference vary between key countries and regions. more»
Global Climate Politics in the Congo Basin - Opportunity or High-risk Gamble? – - The destruction of tropical forests contributes between percent of the greenhouse gases generated by human activity. Donor governments consider Congo Basin countries to be prime candidates for REDD (UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries), and national governments in the region are eager to seize the opportunity. more»
Green Solutions to the Auto Crisis - From Auto Makers to Mobility Service Providers – - The current automotive crisis is not merely the result of an economic downturn, but has revealed structural flaws within the industry itself. This strategy paper analyzes the current crisis and outlines a vision of the “mobility products of the future”. more»
Eni´s Investment in Tar Sands and Palm Oil in the Congo Basin – - Eni, formerly the Italian state oil company, is undertaking a new multi-billion dollar investment in Congo in developing tar sands, oil palm for food and bio-diesel and gas-fuelled electricity. Such investments have been heavily criticized for causing social and environmental damage, both locally and globally. The actual study gives background information about the plans. mehr»
Climate and Trade - Why Climate Change Calls for Fundamental Reforms in World Trade Policies – - For too long the international climate and trade policies have pursued conflicting objectives. It is high time to confront both policies, so Tilman Santarius, in his study, published by the German NGO Forum on Environment and Development in Bonn and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. more»
On the Road to Copenhagen – From December 7 to 18, 2009 the next climate summit will take place. With this dossier the Heinrich Böll Foundation presents its latest international publications and events, and provides background information on other stakeholders and fora. more»
- To the surprise of many opinion pollsters and political commentators it became clear late in the evening of 7 June 2009 that the real winners in the European elections were the Greens. They were the only political group in the European Parliament that had managed to increase their number of seats. Few would have forecast this even a few days before. The European Union office of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung has invited eleven new Green Members of the European Parliament from five different countries to write about their ambitions for Europe. What are the goals of the new Greens and how do they want to achieve them? more»
Climate Change and the Right to Food – - This study highlights how the climate change regime and the human rights regime addressing the right to food have failed to coordinate their agendas and to collaborate to each other’s mutual benefit. It proposes concrete methods by which institutions can address climate change problems and realize the right to food symbiotically, in compliance with the principles of systemic integration under international law. more»
Climate Change Violates Human Rights – - It is mainly the inhabitants of the global South who suffer from the effects of climate change. This publication uses case examples to illustrate the dangers faced by indigenous peoples in particular, as well as the tools the UN human rights system gives them to support their struggle for just climate policies. more»
Böll.Thema Number 2/2009 - Climate Change and Justice – - Copenhagen must lead to a breakthrough. The industrial countries bear double responsibility: not only do they need to take reducing their own CO2 emissions seriously, they are also called upon for the substantial financial and technological transfers needed to put developing and newly industrialized countries onto low-carbon development paths. more»
Water Policies in Turkey – The 5th World Water Forum took place in Istanbul from 16-22 March, 2009. The legitimacy of the World Water Forum is being seriously questioned by a number of non-governmental organisations. This dossier takes up the question of water and justice. more»
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