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Climate Change, Energy and Environment

Combining Social and Ecological Responsibility

Climate change is real – and its effects can already be felt all around the world. In order to counteract the destruction of our planet, we need to live more sustainably and stop wasting resources. This will require enormous changes, such as moving away from fossil fuels like coal and towards low-emission power sources like wind or solar energy. This structural change has great potential – if it is shaped justly.

All over the world, we are advocates for a socio-ecological transition, which will be an answer to both the ecological and the social question. Our vision: Low-emission, resource-conserving and socially inclusive economic systems in which everybody has a chance for a decent life that is based on human rights principles. In order to facilitate this goal, we are building stable, broad and progressive coalitions between the ecological movement, politics and trade unions that pave the way towards a more sustainable future.

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News About Climate Change, Energy and Environment

Eine Reinigungskraft kurz vor Beginn der COP29 Weltklimakonferenz am offiziellen Schriftzug vorbei.

Many countries in the Global South are bitterly disappointed

In an interview with the ipg-journal, FES climate expert Yvonne Blos discusses the hardened positions at COP29 and the conflict over climate finance...


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COP29-Veranstaltung „Implementing the COP28 Energy Package: African Perspectives and Opportunities for SDG7“, 19. November 2024 im Deutschen Pavillon in Baku, Aserbaidschan

Renewable Energy for Africa: Implementing the COP28 Energy Package

The key to tackling the climate crisis is to end global reliance on energy generated from fossil fuels—the main cause of climate change, writes...


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picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Joshua A. Bickel | Ein Teilnehmer reagiert während der abschließenden Plenarsitzung des UN-Klimagipfels COP29, Sonntag, 24. November 2024, in Baku, Aserbaidschan.

The Outcome of COP29 – A Summit of Losers

The climate financing target is well short of what is needed. Other results of the COP29 summit are likewise disappointing, characterized by a growing...


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Ein Mitglied der Indigenous People Association hält ein Transparent mit der Aufschrift „Wir sind die Antwort“ während eines Protestes, um Maßnahmen gegen den Klimawandel zu fordern, und hält dabei große Kopffiguren von Staatsoberhäuptern der USA, Präsident Joe Biden, Chinas Präsident Xi Jinping, EU-Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen, Indiens Premierminister Narendra Modi, Russlands Präsident Wladimir Putin und Japans Premierminister Shigeru Ishiba auf dem Wasser der Botafogo-Bucht im Vorfeld des G20-Gipfels in Rio de Janeiro, Brasilien, 16. November 2024. REUTERS/Tuane Fernandes

The G20 give a lifeline to COP29

G20 strengthens COP29: billions to trillions? New climate finance should promote global justice and advance negotiations in Baku


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Drei Mädchen im Austausch über Klimaprojekte bei YNET Vietnam

Open Letter from the Youth of Vietnam on the “Just” Energy Transition

Young people in Vietnam are committed to a just energy transition and are demanding financial support, access to resources, and recognition as...


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Competence Center for Climate and Social Justice

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Six Messages on International Climate & Energy Policy by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung more

Publikation

Climate Manual: Climate action. Socially. Just.

In our new manual, we present numerous arguments showing that social progress and ambitious climate action must go hand in hand. Enjoy reading! more


Publications

Climate security in South Sudan

Findings from the 2024 public perceptions of peace survey
Juba, 2024

Download publication (780 KB, PDF-File)


Hilles, Ahmed H.

Reconstruction and environment

Palestinian perspectives on the reconstruction of Gaza
Bonn, 2024

Download publication (250 KB, PDF-File)


Saelim, Supawam

Energy transition in the Thai industrial sector

December 2023
Bangkok, 2024

Download publication (460 KB, PDF-File)


Enhancing a just transition finance system for carbon-intensive industries

Shanghai, 2024

Download publication (1,2 MB PDF-File)


Kisbi, Dina; Dukhgan , Jawad

Urban succession

Navigating the past, present and future of sustainable cities and new urban centers
Amman, 2024

Download publication (90 MB, PDF-File)



Climate Change and Progressive Politics

Climate change is real – and its effects can already be felt all around the world. In order to counteract the destruction of our planet, we need to live more sustainably and stop wasting resources. This will require enormous changes, such as moving away from fossil fuels like coal and towards low-emission power sources like wind or solar energy. This structural change has great potential – if it is shaped justly.

With the Paris Agreement, the international community has acknowledged that we need a more sustainable economic system even to just slow global warming down. But a shift to more sustainability means much more than that: The socio-ecological transformation we are advocating for will make it possible to

  • reduce poverty and inequality;
  • boost economic growth through sustainable progress;
  • shape low-emission, resource-saving and socially inclusive economic systems;
  • treat human labor with care, respect and sustainability and
  • give everybody the chance for a decent life that is based on human rights standards.

Sustainability and Social Justice: Two Sides of the Same Coin

In the 21st century, the progressive concept of development combines social, economical and ecological responsibility. The ecological and the social question must be linked and answered together: Environmental protection and sustainability are issues that the ecological movement, but also trade unions and workers deal with. The Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation builds bridges between their often clashing positions – for stable, broad and progressive coalitions that pave the way towards a more sustainable future.

Social and Ecological Issues are One

When addressing, for instance, the abolishment of coal mining, our intent is not to pit “ecological interests” against “worker's interests”. Many people are justifiably afraid of losing their work and security as a result of such a structural change. It needs to be ensured that they have a future perspective that is not dependent on further environmental destruction. The road towards this goal is a rocky one, and this is exactly why we are developing our concepts and ideas: For a Just Transition that makes a more sustainable economic system and better prospects in life for everyone possible.

Climate Justice Worldwide

We want to shape climate justice in a socially just and compensatory way so that everyone profits from it in the end. Climate justice means that each and every person has the same right of use for the atmosphere, regardless of nationality, age, gender or religion. Climate justice requires that both the Global South and Global North, both younger generation's interests and the older generation's interests carry the same amount of weight. And climate justice also means that opportunities and burdens are fairly distributed around the world.

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