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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FES@COP28

FES@COP28

Climate Justice and Just Transition at the 2023 World Climate Conference in Dubai: Reports and Assessments more


News About Climate Change, Energy and Environment

Truong Thi Phi Yen, eine informelle Müllarbeiterin, bei der täglichen Arbeit in einer Gasse beim Mülltrennen

The gender dimension of informality in waste collection in Vietnam

Health and safety in the workplace is not a matter of course for self-employed waste pickers in Vietnam. Yet these workers - the majority of whom are...


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Delegation of the Marshall Islands hugging each other, taken during the final session in the plenary of COP28 in Dubai, 13 December 2023.

The Outcome of COP28: More False Hopes for the Future

The phase-out has now proven to be an illusion. Packed with mostly toothless resolutions, the COP caravan keeps chugging along, says Thomas Hirsch.


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Panel Side Event on Just Transition at the COP28

City Of Dreams

The urbanization of our world needs a concept. Cities are excellent actors in climate adaptation. Unveiling pathways forward at COP28.


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Scissors left behind after the floods

Hospital under mudslides

Cyclone Freddy devastated hospitals and transport routes in Malawi. This puts pregnant women in particular at risk, writes Chimwemwe Padatha.


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Wind energy projects in La Guajira, Colombia.

Latin America's energy transition: Complex and Uncertain

Tripling renewable energies worldwide: Maria Monsalve writes about the potential and socio-ecological conflicts in Latin America.


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More articles are available here.

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

Renewable energy to responsible energy

A call to action
PasigCity, 2024

Download publication (10 MB, PDF-File)


Adaawen, Stephen

Climate change and human mobility in Africa

Contribution to discussions at the GFMD summit 2024
AddisAbaba, 2024

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Goïta, Mamadou

Climate change & human mobility in Africa: Global political implications

Contribution to discussions at the GFMD summit 2024
AddisAbaba, 2024

Download publication (3,6 MB PDF-File)


Akintola, Lukmon

Rethinking local actors' engagement in global climate mobility agenda

Contribution to discussions at the GFMD summit 2024
AddisAbaba, 2024

Download publication (420 KB, PDF-File)


Security sector reform and sustainable development goal 16

Philippine case study
PasigCity, 2024

Download publication (5 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.