German Sustainability Science Summit 2021

Host
Dr. Jorge Saturno, YESS community | Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany
Dr. Faten Bahar, YESS community | University of Carthage, Tunisia Polytechnic School, La Marsa, Tunisia
Panelists
Prof. Dr. Alexander Fekete, Institute of Rescue Engineering and Civil Protection, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences, Cologne, Germany
Prof. Dr. Birgit Blättel-Mink, Department of Social Sciences, Institute for Sociology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Antje Brock, German ECS Netzwerk | Institut Futur, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Normativity in Sustainability Research

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Imme Scholz, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Bonn, Germany
Prof. Dr. Konrad Ott, Department of Philosophy, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), Kiel, Germany
Prof. Dr. Martin Quaas, Biodiversity Economics, Department of Economics, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany | German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
Panelists
Prof. Dr. Melissa Leach, Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
Dr. Jana Zscheischler, Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e. V., Müncheberg, Germany
Prof. Dr. Raphael Ziegler, HEC Montreal, Montreal, Canada

Sustainability means the future how it ought to be (“the future we want”, according to WCED 1987). Consequently, there are norms and values all the way down in Sustainability Research. Normativity in Sustainability Research can be based on environmental ethics, theories of justice, or future ethics. This can be done in interdisciplinary collaboration that includes philosophers, or based on the adaptation of ethical concepts, as in other normatively shaped areas of research (e.g., gender studies, restoration ecology, political ecology, economics, and applied ethics). The purpose of the session is to discuss the meaning, the function and the difficulties of normativity in sustainability research, from the perspective of different disciplines, research problems, objectives and research practices.

Extreme events: collapse or resilience? - the role of health, well-being and social cohesion for reaching the sustainable development goals

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Michael Bollig, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Board Member of the Global South Studies Center (GSSC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Prof. Dr. Markus Reichstein, Department Biogeochemical Integration, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
Panelists
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Fekete, Institute of Rescue Engineering and Civil Protection, TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences, Cologne, Germany
Prof. Dr. Terry Hartig, Uppsala University, Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Department of Psychology, Uppsala, Sweden
Dr. Michael Miess, Complexity science hub, Vienna, Austria
Dr. Kira Vinke, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany

Reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires dynamic processes of socio-ecological transition. Extreme events and shocks can render social-ecological systems more vulnerable and brittle, or spur transitions to a better adapted, more just and sustainable future state. This is shaped by the interaction of extreme events, societal resilience, individual health/well-being and social cohesion (i.e., the relatedness, social relations and orientation towards a public good). We hypothesize that social cohesion is an essential condition to provide resilience, in terms of being able to continue on a targeted path towards the SDGs after an extreme event. Resilience is deeply rooted in the material infrastructure and the socio-cultural framing of socio-ecological systems. The interlinkages, synergies and tradeoffs between extreme events, societal resilience, individual health and well-being and social cohesion for designing pathways towards the SDGs should be elucidated. The session is designed to open up a broad discussion on this.

Diet, Biodiversity and Health - the role of sustainable diets for healthy people and healthy ecosystems

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Aletta Bonn, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany | Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany | German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
Prof Dr. Ute Nöthlings, Institute for Nutritional and Food Sciences, Nutritional Epidemiology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Panelists
Prof. Dr. Jan Börner, Institute for Food and Resource Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Prof. Dr. Ina Danquah, Universität Heidelberg, Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Heidelberg, Germany
Prof. Dr. Britta Renner, Universität Konstanz, Department of Psychology, Konstanz, Germany
Prof. Nynke Schulp, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, IVM Institute for Environmental Studies, Environmental Geography, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. Dr. Teja Tscharntke, Agroecology, Department of Crop Sciences, Center of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

Food provision is a fundamental contribution of nature for human health and wellbeing. At the same time food production is a key driver for deterioration of biodiversity in terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems, and subsequently affecting human health. Food production, human nutrition and biodiversity management are intricately linked across different local and global scales, and the recent Covid crisis highlights the serious effects of biodiversity exploitation on human health and remote responsibilities. However, the linkages of biodiversity, diet and health are little understood and management for biodiversity conservation and food production often seem decoupled. Too often, recommendations for a sustainable diet are related to single issues, such as an agricultural production system (for example organic farming versus conventional farming) or to a specific type of food. Food systems that are spatially defined across the globe, regionally or locally, cannot easily be combined with current diet recommendations. Reaching sustainability in global and local food systems and resulting diets therefore needs discussions across different scales, disciplines and sectors. It is evident that the global food system, including food production and its impact on biodiversity, water and soils, and consumption is in a crisis and transformation to sustainability is urgently needed to maintain both human health and “healthy” ecosystems. The session is designed to open up a broad discussion on this.

Scale challenges in climate change, risk and adaptation research in the context of sustainable development

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Jörn Birkmann, Institute of Spatial and Regional Planning, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Prof. Dr. Daniela Jacob, Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
Panelists
Prof. Dr. Emily Boyd, Centre for Sustainability Studies (Lucsus), Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Prof. Dr. Helena Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Prof. Dr. Jörg Knieling, Hafen City Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Christian Günner, Hamburg Wasser, Hamburg, Germany

Spatial, temporal and functional scales have been a prominent topic in ecological and socio-ecological resilience research. However, less attention has been given to these issues as a cross-cutting topic in climate change mitigation, adaptation and sustainable development. There is evidence regarding the fact that present levels of greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to human security and that increasing global warming increases climate-related risks to unique and threatened systems or to food security, health and biodiversity. But less information exists about shifts in risk, vulnerability and exposure patterns linked to different spatial and temporal scales. There is still a knowledge gap regarding the speed of potential changes at different spatial and temporal scales. Strategies to reduce risk and vulnerability as well as structures that support enabling conditions require a deeper understanding on how climate phenomena, resource challenges and development processes – including issues of human vulnerability - interact across spatial scales. More precisely, new strategies for cooperation across scales need to be developed, e.g., between cities and their hinterland in terms of water management, transport, energy and housing. The session will focus on research gaps and challenges.

How to distribute scarce international funding? The example of climate change adaptation finance

Host
Prof. Christian Baatz, Sustainability and Global Justice at the Department of Philosophy, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), Kiel, Germany
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Carola Klöck, Center for international Studies (CERI), Sciences Po, Paris, France
Dr. Alexander Schulan, Philosophisches Seminar, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), Kiel, Germany


There is broad agreement that scarce funding for adaptation to climate change should go to “particularly vulnerable” countries; coupled with the long-standing worry that these countries do not receive the lion’s share of that money. However, a state or government act as a trustee of their citizens and is obliged to use recourses in their interests. Thus, simply providing funding to countries who score badly on vulnerability indices is not enough. But then, how should funding be distributed and where is it actually going to? This session aims at a combined discussion of these empirical and normative questions. It will shed light on current distribution patterns in adaptation finance and on the reasons for and against distributive principles implicit in these patterns. The normative analysis will focus on an important but controversial distributive consideration: that better governed countries receive more funding. While the talks address adaptation finance, the discussion will broaden the perspective by including participants experiences, opinions and ideas from or related to other arenas of funding allocation, such as nature/biodiversity conservation or development cooperation.

Phylogenetic and genetic diversity: linking past and contemporary evolution to sustainability

Host
Prof Dr Luc De Meester, Scientific Director of IGB (Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries), Berlin, Germany | Full Professor at Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany and KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium | Co-chair of EvolvES (formerly bioGENESIS)
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Rees Kassen, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
Dr. Mauricio Bellon, Research Professor at Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems, Arizona State University | fellow at National Commission for the Use and Knowledge of Biodiversity (CONABIO), Mexico City, Mexico | affiliate of the Gund Institute for the Environment at the University of Vermont, Burlington, USA
Dr. Licia Colli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy


Evolution is the fundamental biological process that is the underlying driver of biodiversity. Past evolution has led to the tree of life with millions of species, each with their own unique characteristics and adaptations to specific environmental conditions. This phylogenetic diversity fosters resilience of ecosystems to environmental change and provides insurance and options for the future. Genetic diversity is key to the potential of populations and species to evolve and adapt to novel conditions. In the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that evolutionary dynamics can strongly impact the response trajectories of populations to global change. Yet, at the same time, global change impacts the distribution and amount of genetic diversity that fosters evolutionary potential. Both phylogenetic diversity and contemporaneous evolution (genetic diversity and eco-evolutionary dynamics) are key to the resilience of ecosystems in the face of global change. Concepts and tools rooted in evolutionary biology can be used to enhance sustainability of food production and inform health decisions. In this session, we will discuss how past and contemporary evolution, evolutionary applications in agriculture and health, and the evolutionary toolbox can contribute to the sustainable developmental goals. We aim to increase awareness of the value of evolutionary insights in fostering the transition to enhanced sustainability and stimulate discussion.

Critical reflection on power relations and the transformative role of participation in sustainability science and governance

Hosts / Speakers
Dr. Stephanie Domptail, Senior researcher, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
Prof. Dr. Martin Petrick, Professor for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
Dr. Torsten Grothmann, Senior scientist and project manager, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
Prof. Dr. Tobias Krueger, Geography Department & IRI THESys, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany

Reflecting upon calls for sustainability science to be transformational and for governmental strategies to mobilise sustainable action via participatory approaches, this workshop discusses ethical aspects of participation in sustainability science and governance. Is it sufficient when participatory approaches lead to sustainability transformations or do they also need to be legitimate, fair, transparent and/or enlightening?
During the workshop participants will ethically reflect on how research and governance practically include participation. Especially, we want to focus on how power relations shape participatory processes and how the process and its legitimacy are connected to (fair) outputs of participatory processes. Power relations can be expressed for instance through the extent to which the different knowledges of participants contribute to the design and implementation of solutions. Power relations can also occur in the outputs of projects, when responsibility for action may be shifted to less powerful participants. The workshop aims to identify strategies reducing unwanted impacts of imbalanced power relations in participatory processes.
The workshop will start with one introductory and 2-3 short input pitches presenting cases of participatory research or governance in which power relations were critical. The workshop will then dedicate half of the time to a discussion aiming to reveal means of managing power relations in participatory processes for fairer outcomes.

Water Security and Climate Change Adaptation: understanding the complexity of a global challenge

Hosts / Speakers
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Stamm, Speaker of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Director of the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Technical Hydromechanics and Chair of Hydraulic Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Prof. Holger Schüttrumpf, Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, RWTH Aachen University (RWTH), Aachen, Germany
Moderator
Ms. Hasmik Barseghyan, President of the European Youth Parliament for Water | UNFCCC COP16 Coordinator for Armenia | World Water Quality Alliance, member of the core team | CIPSEM Alumni of the “42 nd UNEP/UNESCO/BMU International Postgraduate Course on Environmental Management” at TU Dresden, 2019, Dresden, Germany
Speakers
Prof. S.A. Sannasiraj, Department of Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Madras, India
Prof. Mukand Babel, Water Engineering and Management, Chair of Climate Change Asia at AIT, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Prof. Edeltraud Günther, Director, United Nations University, Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), Germany


Global climate change is a well-known fact with a multitude of observable impacts on our environment, society and economy and universities in particular have a special significance and responsibility. The German Federal Government is tackling the problem together with partners on a global level. The Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG-6) is intended to ensure "availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all". Progress on SDG-6 will improve health and reduce the risk of water-borne diseases (SDG-3). Furthermore, the achievement of other SDGs such as SDG-13 (Climate Action) or SDG-14 (Life below water) and 15 (Life on land) are also essential to accomplish SDG-6. Thus, this session strives to consider these interlinkages to better understand the social, economic and environmental dimensions.
Technische Universität Dresden and RWTH Aachen with partners from the Indian Instituteof Technology Madras (Chennai, India), the Asian Institute of Technology (Bangkok, Thailand) and the Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources at the United Nations University in Dresden will set up a “Global Water and Climate Adaptation Center”. This ABCD Center (after the first letters of the 4 participating locations in 3 countries on 2 continents) will deal with climate adaptation measures in the Global South, especially in the water sector. A sustainable, adaptive and integrated water resources management to ensure water security for human well-being requires the consideration of a multitude of threats. Hence, research on climate adaptation and water security is a major scientific and societal challenge.

Sustainability from an Integrated Earth System Research View

Hosts / Speakers
Prof. Dr. Jochen Schanze, Leibniz Research Network „Integrated Earth System Research“
Prof. Dr. Dieter Gerten, Leibniz Research Network „Integrated Earth System Research“
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Bathmann, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Rostock, Germany
Prof. Dr. Andreas Mulch, Deputy Director General, Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research (SGN), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Claas Schneiderheinze, PhD candidate, Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Kiel, Germany


There are accelerating impacts of human activities on the Earth system despite international environmental policies such as the Paris Agreement. The effects are increasingly observable as indications of the ‘Anthropocene’. This poses new scientific questions with relevance for the future of civilization. The session takes the view of the recently proposed ‘Integrated Earth System Research’ (iESR) which combines the following views: First, the iESR analyses alterations in the Earth system triggered by human activities as well as emergent system features such as tipping points to determine planetary boundaries and a safe operating space for humanity. Second, it assesses the multiple societal risks from the changing Earth system for livelihoods and well-being depending on vulnerability and adaptive capacity also considering indirect consequences for peace, security and global stability. Third, stakeholders of the Earth system are addressed with their individual perception, capacity and behavior as well as their interaction and institutional context. Fourth, findings on the interrelations between the Earth system and the world are used to explore transformation pathways. Fifth, specific conceptual and methodological interfaces are elaborated to foster cross-scale interdisciplinary research between the natural, economic and social sciences, as well as transdisciplinary cooperation with stakeholders. The session covers an introduction of the iESR, invited thematic pitches and a moderated dialogue involving all session participants.

"Fragmented Ways" – Debating Facets of Mobility Justice in Sustainable Transition Research

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Antonia Graf, Junior Professor for Global Environmental Governance Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Institute for Political Science, Muenster, Germany
Berenike Feldhoff, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Muenster, Germany
Julia Hansel, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Muenster, Germany
Nils Stockmann, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Muenster, Germany
Speakers
Heather Allen, Independent expert on sustainable transport, gender and climate change, Brussels, Belgium
Anne Kantel, PhD. Researcher on injustices in a global south dimension, American University, alumna, USA
Katja Leyendecker, PhD. Consultant and project manager for gender and mobility, alma mater, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
Prof. Dr. Karen Lucas, Professor of human geography, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester, UK
Lena Osswald, Freelance consultant, speaker and activist for a radically inclusive mobility transition, Berlin, Germany
Tanu Priya Uteng, PhD. Senior research planner, Institute of Transport Economics, Oslo, Norway


The proposed inter- and transdisciplinary Discussion Table "Fragmented Ways" – Debating Facets of Mobility Justice in Sustainable Transition Research aims to intersectionally reflect the justice dimension in sustainable mobility transitions with the help of ‘fragmented ways’. Fragmented ways are unprojectable, discontinuous and constitute different, potentially more extensive requirements for mobility services and (infra)structures. We are interested in discussing heterogeneous movement profiles depending on for example age, health, income, class, ethnicity, and gender. While the debate on tomorrows’ sustainable and inclusive mobility system is mainly articulated in technical tokens and widely lacks an environmental justice perspective, we would like to strengthen the socio-cultural perspective on mobility transitions. The aim of our Discussion Table is to outline a socio-culturally grounded research agenda suitable to tackle the complex dynamics concerning justice in sustainable mobility transitions. We seek to shed light on how fragmentation and the (non-)ability to realize ways correspond with distributional and processual justice resources, as well as questions of recognition.

Sustainability and Freedom

Host
Kira Meyer, M.A., research associate and PhD student at the Department of Philosophy, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), Kiel, Germany
Speaker
Dr. Mike Hannis, Senior Lecturer in Ethics, Politics and Environment, School of Humanities, Bath Spa University, Bath, UK


In public debate it is often claimed that sustainability is a threat to individual freedom: Prohibitions and restrictions which are being installed to secure sustainability minimize the scope of individual freedom. On the other hand, some voices assert that rather the realization of freedom endangers sustainability, especially because so far, the pursuit of individual preferences and life forms seems to be one major reason of the current environmental crisis. Therefore, the question arises: What is the relation between sustainability and freedom? The aim of the session is to understand this relation better. To this end it will be analyzed which of the two claims – or whether neither of them – is justified and on what understanding of freedomthey are based. The session will start with a talk by Dr. Mike Hannis (Bath Spa University), author of “Freedom and Environment. Autonomy, Human Flourishing and the Political Philosophy of Sustainability” (2016). The title of his talk is: "Sustainability, freedom and 'environmental rights’: reflections on /Milieudefensie et. al v Royal Dutch Shell/." His talk will be followed by a comment by the session host and then give the opportunity for an open discussion. All in all, the session will highlight perspectives of prospective research on sustainability in the field of normativity.

MA Sustainability Research: Analyse! Valuate! Shape! Educating the next generation in Passau

Hosts
Prof. Martina Padmanabhan, Chair of Comparative Development and Cultural Studies, Universität Passau, Passau, Germany
Prof. Anna Henkel, Chair of Sociology of Technology and Sustainable Development, Universität Passau, Passau, Germany
Prof. Suleika Bort, Chair of International Management and Social Entrepreneurship, Universität Passau, Passau, Germany
Discussants
Dr. Anna Antonova, Director of Environmental Humanities Development, Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Munich, Germany
Dr. Hanna Straß-Senol, Director of Environmental Humanities Development, Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society Coordinator IDK "Rethinking Environment", Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München, Munich, Germany

Combining economic and social sciences perspectives with action relevant knowledge in teaching, we outline the learning journey of the next generation of future scientists and professionals in sustainability sciences. To tackle the complexity of sustainability we must analyse, valuate and shape sustainability knowledge claims by fostering competencies for reflexivity, contextualising and agency. We demonstrate the research-teaching nexus at the case of research for sustainability (VW), bioeconomy (BMBF) and business ethics. We enter into a conversation between the future MA Sustainability research (UP) and the upcoming MA Environmental Humanities (LMU).
Anna Henkel analyses sustainable knowledge for reflexive competencies. The dilemmas of sustainability are complex as a scientific and social discourse as well as a social-ecological phenomenon. This calls for reflexive competence to actively shape sustainable practices.
Martina Padmanabhan valuates sustainable structures to contextualise. She investigates the institutions framing organic agriculture in Indonesia as a societal transition towards bioeconomy and reflects on criteria, values and trade-offs.
Suleika Bort shapes sustainable imaginaries for action. Voluntary simplicity rests on asceticism, consumer culture and its implications for climate change. Management ethics ask for alternative concepts.

True Food Pricing

Host
Prof. Dr. Susanne Stoll-Kleemann, Geographer and Political Scientist, Chair of Sustainability Science and Applied Geography, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Gemany
Speakers
Dr. Stefan Ewert, Political Scientist and Landscape Ecologist, Research Associate, Interdisciplinary Centre for Baltic Sea Region Research (IFZO) and Greifswald Mire Centre (GMC), University of Greifswald, Germany
Amelie Michalke, M.Sc., Business Engineer, Research Associate, Chair of Sustainability Science and Applied Geography, University of Greifswald, Germany
Henriette Rau, M.Sc., Health Care Manager, Research Associate, Chair of Sustainability Science and Applied Geography, University of Greifswald, Germany
Susanne Nicolai, M.Sc., Psychologist, Research Associate, Chair of Sustainability Science and Applied Geography, University of Greifswald, Germany
Lennart Stein, B.Sc., Sustainable Geographer, Research Assistant, Chair of Sustainability Science and Applied Geography, University of Greifswald, Germany
Rosalie Fichtner, B.Sc., Sustainable Geographer, Research Assistant, Chair of Sustainability Science and Applied Geography, University of Greifswald, Germany


Supermarkets’ food pricing often conceals what food production really costs incl. environmental costs. Thus, true cost accounting (TCA) is needed. This session shows which aspects in TCA calculation need to be considered, and how TCA, interventions and emotions can influence consumers’ choices.
• Milk and dairy products cause high external costs, e.g. due to emissions from used soils, e.g. drained peatlands, for feed production. Dr. Ewert first spotlights the necessary differentiation in TCA with regard to soils.
• To quantify and economically evaluate environmental and social impacts currently not reflected in market prices (unpriced effects, or external costs), A. Michalke introduces a framework for TCA of different foods, as this session’s main focus.
• Based on this framework, an awareness campaign consisting of TCA-adapted price labels and an information point was implemented in a Berlin supermarket. L. Stein and R. Fichtner highlight the outcomes evaluating customers’ cognizance of measures taken as second spotlight.
• Since diet is one major CO2-source of German individuals, H. Rau presents evidence-based success factors and, barriers of interventions aiming at eating behavior as third spotlight.
• Especially, moral emotions (e.g. guilt, shame) are important in eating behavior. S. Nicolai’s talk spotlights the links between justice sensitivity, moral emotions and meat behavior.

Expected Outcome
The aim of this comprehensive session is to raise awareness and foster understanding regarding the complex field and associated aspects of true cost accounting to gain information about true food pricing. Food is elemental to life and, thus, true food pricing and its potential consequences have direct influence on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Science as a transformative lever for sustainable development – science policy as a game changer

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Germany | German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) | German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Bonn, Germany
Dr. Sabrina Schulz, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Germany
Panelists
Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Germany | German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) | German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Bonn, Germany
Prof. Dr. Jacquie McGlade, Professor of Natural Prosperity, Sustainable Development and Knowledge Systems, Institute for Global Prosperity, London, UK
R. Andreas Kraemer, Founder & Director Emeritus Ecologic Institute, non-executive Director of the Fundação Oceano Azul, Lisbon, Portugal
Discussant
Dr. Steffi Ober, initiator and head of the project „Forschungswende“, an online portal to bring the views and expertise of civil society into science policy-making, Berlin, Germany


Science and technology are widely seen as a critical lever for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was prominently high-lighted by the Global Sustainable Development Report 2019 and taken up by the 2021 edition of the German Sustainable Development Strategy. Mobilising research and fostering innovation is also a key pillar of the European Green Deal. Yet, there is still a lot of uncertainty what this means for science and science policy. This uncertainty relates to the ways in which sustainability concerns are reflected and taken up across all disciplines, inter- and transdisciplinary research needs to be designed, funded, and related to policy-making, and global knowledge production for solving global problems can be fostered in a way that includes knowledge from all parts of the world on an equal footing. German science policy for sustainable development as outlined in the German Sustainable Development Strategy so far follows a rather narrow approach that mainly focuses on sustainability science in the form of FONA. There are only limited links to the German High-tech Strategy 2025 with its only recently introduced concept of missions. In its 2021 report, the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI) calls for a new mission orientation and agility in R&I Policy geared towards the SDGs in a market-oriented way and develops proposals for the next legislative period. The session aims at reviewing recent proposals from politics, academia, and civil society on how to strengthen the transformative potential of science for the SDGs and at developing key recommendations for German science policy and international cooperation in science for the years 2021-2025.

Knowledge Production around the SDGs: Rewards and Recognition in a Global Context

Host
Dr. Max Voegler, VP Global Strategic Networks DACH, Elsevier, Germany
Speakers
Rachel Martin, Information Industry Relations and Communications, Elsevier, Germany
Dr. Graham Harrison, Senior Science and Technology Consultant, World Bank,
Prof. Dr. Klaus Kümmerer, Sustainable Chemistry and Material Resources, Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany
Christian Schwaegerl investigative and science journalist | co-founder of RiffReporter


In 2015, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set an ambitious 2030 target to achieve a sustainable and equitable future for our planet. Over the last five years, SDG-related publications have reached a staggering 4.1 million articles. While research and innovation are critical elements in achieving the SDGs, the question remains whether the global scientific community is doing the “right” science, leading to the question of whether we have the “right” incentives in place in our broader reward and recognition culture? We propose to bring together a panel of senior stakeholders to discuss the use of rewards and recognition in incentivizing researchers and institutions to incorporate the SDGs in their thinking and strategic planning.

After a condensed presentation of the report’s finding, the panel will discuss a range of issues, including:
• How can we better understand the synergies between all the SDGs?
• How can an SDG-based analysis of scientific output support the dialog between science and society, science and politics?
• Where are current weaknesses in the rewards and recognition system in encouraging interdisciplinary research? How can we facilitate collaboration between the global south and global north?

The Lack of Rationality in the Debates on Climate Policies: An Attempt to Shed Light on this Puzzle

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Andreas Freytag, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany | University of Stellenbosch and STIAS, Stellenbosch, South Africa
JProf. Dr. Matthias Menter, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
Speakers
Thomas Chen, Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, Morris Hill, USA
Dr. Fritz Reusswig, Urban Transformations, Research Domain 2 (Climate Resilience), Potsdam Institute for Climate IMpact Research (PIK) e.V., Potsdam, Germany
Prof. Dr. Uwe Schneidewind, Mayor of Wuppertal and Club of Rom, Wuppertal, Germany
Prof. Dr. Joachim Weimann, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg Germany



The debate about climate change in Western democracies, e.g. in Germany, takes place on several levels, of which at least three can easily be distinguished: (1) science, (2) policy, and (3) public.
These levels are interrelated and feedback mechanisms are at play. The scientific level is characterized by a high degree of rationality and sobriety. The political level, where vested interests enter the stage and demand a “balanced” perspective and the consideration of adverse consequences of climate policy, is characterized by compromise.and (political) rationality that may, however, not be in line with the social optimum. Both the scientific debates and the political “games” are reflected on the third, public, level of the climate debates. Most political parties in democracies have placed climate policy prominently on their policy agenda. Interestingly, almost none is advocating
policy instruments that allow to meet climate objectives (a) effectively as well as (b) to the lowest general costs, and at the same time (c) foster green innovations.

Both theoretical reasoning and empirical evidence suggest that climate change cannot be prevented against the enormous innovative potential of – a socially well-balanced – capitalist system; in socialist regimes, environmental policies were and are almost non-existing. The session asks the question of why this opposition to effective and efficient policy strategies is so persistent. We want to understand the causes of this opposition and learn how it might be overcome so that both the climate and an open democratic market economy can be safeguarded.

“Biodiversity Mainstreaming” and its relevance for a more sustainable conservation and utilization of nature

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Volker Mosbrugger, Spokesman of the BMBF Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity (FEdA), Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
Dr. Julian Taffner, Head of the Central Coordination of the BMBF Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity (FEdA), Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
Dr. Philipp Sprenger, Research Assistant at the Central Coordination of the BMBF Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity (FEdA), Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
Discussants
Agnes Becker, Ecological Democratic Party (ÖPD), Regional Association Bavaria, Passau, Germany
Ralf Schulte, Department of Nature Conservation and Environmental Policy, NABU e.V, Berlin, Germany
Dr. Sonja Geiger, Chair for Consumer Research, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
Prof. Dr. Aletta Bonn, Department Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany | Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany |German Centre for Integrative Bioidiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany


Together with climate change, the dramatic loss of biodiversity is one of the greatest challenges facing humankind. But so far it has played only a subordinate role in the political and societal debate about how sustainability can be achieved. In a moderated discussion, we would like to explore which role biodiversity mainstreaming can have on our way to a sustainable conservation and use of natural capital. More specifically, we aim to identify communication strategies about biodiversity and sustainability research that can contribute to biodiversity mainstreaming and thus facilitate the transition towards a sustainable society.

The discussion will focus on the following questions:
1) How important and successful is the mainstreaming approach in democratic processes? What are best practice examples?
2) What characterizes fair, science-based mainstreaming as opposed to “populist manipulation”? How effective are positive, solution-based vs. disaster scenarios?
3) Why is climate mainstreaming more successful than biodiversity mainstreaming? What
are the lessons learnt?
4) How can biodiversity mainstreaming, biodiversity research, and sustainability science
mutually support each other to promote the transition towards sustainability? Do we need common narratives, and if so, which ones?

The outcome of this moderated discussion should help to improve the communication and mainstreaming strategies in all sustainability-related research projects.

Synergies and trade-offs for the multiple usages of land on our way to climate neutrality
DKN Working Group: Modelling Human-EnviRonMental InTeractions In the ANthropocene (HERMITIAN)

Hosts
DKN Working Group HERMITIAN
Prof. Dr. Julia Pongratz, Lehrstuhl für Physische Geographie und Landnutzungssysteme, Director of the Department of Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Munich, Germany
Prof. Dr. Victor Brovkin, Climate-Biogeosphere Interactions, Land in the Climate System, Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg, Germany
Dr. Galina Churkina, Potsdam Institut für Klimafolgenforschung, Potsdam, Germany
Dr. Jonathan F. Donges, Department of Earth System Analysis, Potsdam Institut für Klimafolgenforschung, Potsdam, Germany
Prof. Dr. Matthias Garschagen, Chair in Human Geography, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München (LMU), München, Germany | IPCC Lead Author (SROCC, AR6 and SYR)
Prof. Dr. Tobias Kuemmerle, Geographisches Institut, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Dr. Thomas Kastner, Senckenberg Biodiversität und Klima Forschungszentrum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Prof. Dr. Mark Rounsevell, Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung Atmosphärische Umweltforschung (IMK-IFU), und Institut für Geographie und Geoökologie (IFGG), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Scheffran, Research Group Climate Change and Security, Institut für Geographie, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany


Synergies and trade-offs for the multiple usages of land must be expected to become stronger on our way to climate neutrality, as e.g. BECCS and demand for wood products put additional pressure on land, while climate impacts on yields, ecosystem functioning and biodiversity remain high. This requires a better understanding of human-Earth system interactions that can guide projections of future pressure on land ecosystems, help anticipate and resolve conflicts between different stakeholders and ecosystem services and identify co-benefits in particular of adaptation and mitigation. The session will foster an interdisciplinary community discussion that identifies the most pressing research questions in the emerging field of land multi-functionality under climate neutrality pathways.

Science narratives in policy advice – for exploring the coastal-marine science-society-policy nexus
DKN Working Group: Anticipating and Transforming Coastal Futures

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Germany, Bonn, Germany
Dr. Sebastian Ferse, Future Earth Coast & Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
Speakers
Dr. Michael Siebert, Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Bonn, Germany
Dr. Jacqueline Uku, President of Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) | Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Mombasa, Kenya
Prof. Dr. Martin Visbeck, Head of the Research Unit: Physical Oceanography, Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics, GEOMAR Helmholtz-Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel Germany
Ilka Wagner, National Representative to the Wadden Sea World Heritage Board, Wilhelmshaven, Germany | Head of Division Marine Nature Conservation, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Germany


The ocean is of growing strategic importance and therefore subject to many interests and object of many different discourses. The same applies for the world’s coasts as hotspots of human activity, economy and impacts of global change. Coastal policy and management - need to respond to the urgency of their climate-induced vulnerability, which is exacerbated by three major trends: increased urbanisation and industrialisation, increased resource-use, and reduced resilience to climate change. In order to seize the momentum of initiatives like the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, it is crucial to examine the science-society-policy interface, and the (co)production and discursive (co)construction of marine knowledge. In this session, we will reflect on the interplay of stakeholders, transdisciplinary approaches and the communication across epistemic communities as well as the involvement of civil society in coastal communities. Focusing on the role of (science) narratives, which aim at providing evidence for decision-makers and for public discourse by means of linking certain argumentative currents to certain images, we will explore the shaping process of the pathways for a sustainable development and a desirable future state of the coast. A critical reflection and discussion about discursive practice(s) and its specific qualities is thus the aim of this session.

Sustainable, transformative and circular bioeconomy
DKN Working Group: Nachhaltige, transformative und zirkuläre Bioökonomie

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Daniela Thrän, Department Bioenergie, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ) Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schurr, Institut für Pflanzenwissenschafen, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
Speakers
Dr. Bettina Brohmann, Öko-Institut e.V. Institute for Applied Ecology, Darmstadt, Germany
Uwe R. Fritsche, Scientific Director, IINAS – International Institute for Sustainability Analysis & Strategy, Darmstadt, Germany
Dr. Steffi Ober, Team leader Economics and Research Policy Policy | NABU - Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V., Berlin, Germany


The description of a sustainable bioeconomy has been investigated in different research activities during the last decade. However, the role of bioeconomy and its potential for transformation towards sustainability still is not fully described. Beyond natural and technical science based questions on the availability of biomass and their efficient use also cultural and societal aspects need to be taken into consideration, as well as the interplay between climate mitigation and change and the bioeconomy role. Against this background our session aims to present a holistic bioeconomy definition and discuss the needs for the implementation of a sustainable, transformative and circular bioeconomy. Our focus will be on two discussion points: (1) the blind spots of the current research agenda in general, (2) the interlinkages of climate gas mitigation (the provision of biogenic carbon from sustainable bioeconomy in net-zero carbon systems) and adaptation (effects of climate change and extreme events on the bioeconomy). The expected outcome of the session is a first collection of criteria and elements for a transformative and circular bioeconomy supporting the sustainable development. As an outlook we also present the broader perspective of a “BioWEconomy” also including arts/cultural elements.

Spatiality in sustainability science: Contrasting perspectives to accelerate transformation

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Marc Wolfram, Director, Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, Dresden, Germany | Spokesperson, Leibniz Research Network Knowledge for Sustainable Development
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Christine Fürst, Department for Sustainable Landscape Development, Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
Prof. Dr. Jannika Mattes, Professorship for Organisation and Innovation, CvO-Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
Prof. Dr. Richard Cowell, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK


Since its emergence, sustainability sciences (SuSc) have incorporated a basic concern for particular aspects of spatiality. Especially multi-scalar relations linking local and regional developments to global environmental change, as well as the conditions of particular places have been constitutive for the epistemological project of SuSc. Also the notion of landscapes as a spatial reference for social-ecological change has continuously gained recognition. More recently, however, spatiality has been further emphasized as a key to understanding but also leveraging and accelerating transformative change in research dealing with urban transformation dynamics, and with socio-technical innovation geographies. These fragmented perspectives raise conceptual questions regarding the role and relevance of space and spatiality in SuSc and sustainability transformations.

Objective
This session will bring together different contributions on the role of spatiality in SuSc with a view to scope and specify novel orientations for research, policy and practice. It particularly aims to identify priority areas for interdisciplinary collaboration. Guiding questions for the discussion will therefore be:
• What are the basic characteristics of and relations between different conceptions of spatiality in SuSc?
• How can these conceptions contribute to leverage and accelerate sustainability transformations?
• What are key requirements, opportunities and limitations for integrating spatial approaches in SuSc?

Zero Carbon City Munich, Germany, through Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus-based infrastructure development

Hosts
Dr. Daphne Keilmann-Gondhalekar, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
Dr. Saravanan Subramanian, German Development Institute (DIE), Environmental Governance, Bonn, Germany
Speakers
Dr. Wolfgang Stefinger, Member of German Parliament & Committees on Education, Research and Technology Assessment, and on Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
Mr. Ramon Arndt, Climate Neutral City Manager, Munich, Germany
Dr. Ines Dombrovsky, Head of Environmental Governance Program, German Development Institute (DIE), Bonn, Germany
Prof. Jörg Drewes, Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
Ms. Ruth Erlbeck, former German International Cooperation (GIZ), Cluster Coordinator Environment and Sustainable Infrastructure Egypt and GIZ Urban Nexus: Integrated Resources Management in Asian Cities
Dr. Nandani Lynton, Global Head, Organizational Growth, Siemens Energy

In collaboration with BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network and Scientists for Future (S4F)


Worldwide, urbanization and economic growth are pushing up demand for water, energy, food and other natural resources particularly in cities, driving climate change and negatively impacting human and ecological health. To enable decarbonization, that is natural resources conservation enabling significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, cities need to plan in an integrated manner. However, cities are often planned within sectors using conventional centralized urban infrastructure systems that are very resource-, capital- and maintenance intensive. The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus approach has huge potential to formulate more sustainable solutions by taking potential synergy opportunities between sectors into account. Yet, although there is a plethora of alternative technology and other options available to support decarbonization, implementation is lagging behind very seriously. Such alternatives can support WEF security and enhance urban resilience, and need to be implemented by 2030 to avert climate disaster. This session will hear mini-inputs by a few select invited experts to set the stage to jointly identify key enablers and barriers to decarbonization, taking Munich City in Germany as a case study. In a debating game allowing all participants to join the discussion, and using a MIRO board and web polling, these key enablers and barriers will be weighted by session participants, and a policy recommendation generated as a joint session output.

Capacity building for monitoring and fostering sustainable use of biological diversity

Hosts
Dr. Jonas Schaper, Center for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Dr. Nica Claudia Caló, Dep. Of Sustainable Landscape Development, Martin Luther University, Halle (Saale), Germany
Prof. Dr. Bernd Cyffka, Sustainability research Lab, KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany
Dr. Jörg Freyhof, Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
PD Dr. Jens Jetzkowitz, Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
Rebecca Peters, Center for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Speakers
Dr. Million Belay, General Coordinator Alliance for food sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Kampala, Uganda
Prof. Dr. Christo Fabricius, WWF Deutschland | KAZA Secretariat | Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Prof. Dr. Ingrid Hemmer, KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Eichstätt, Germany
Prof. Dr. Anne-Kathrin Lindau, KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Eichstätt, Germany
Dr. Taukondjo Sem Shikongo, UN Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Canada


Ecosystems support both human and non-human life, yet ecosystems and their associated biodiversity in all its dimensions face multiple anthropogenic stressors, such as climate change, alien species invasion, fragmentation, water abstraction, land use change, and pollution. Worldwide, change in biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services (ES) is adversely affecting whole socio-ecological systems and often peoples’ livelihoods. There is an urgent need to develop new strategies to increase the capacity of societies to generate resilient forms of inclusive societal development. These must be able to mitigate pressures and stressors and preserve ecosystems, together with their biodiversity, functions and their contribution to peoples’ well-being. Cities, wetlands and many other systems were long seen as a negative antithesis to valued (natural and rural cultural) landscapes. However, nowadays this perception has considerably changed, as the importance and potential of nature conservation has become more and more apparent, especially in wetland and urban areas. In the context of the outlined multidimensional challenges, the goal of this session is to discuss strategies to foster participatory capacity building, particularly in developing and least developed countries, with the aim to (i) advance discovery and observation of biodiversity change, (ii) raise awareness for biodiversity, ecosystem functions and nature’s contribution to people (iii) enhance biodiversity monitoring efforts as well as (iv) foster a sustainable development in this direction.

We invite everyone interested in biodiversity science, sustainable development, urban planning and environmental ethics to join three impulse lectures and subsequent discussions on four overarching questions:
• How do local communities and other interest groups perceive biodiversity and its contribution to people and health?
• Which conflicts determine the practical handling of biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ES and which valuations prevail (and for what reasons)?
• What are the visions for future capacity building in discovering, monitoring, and restoring ecosystems and nature’s contribution to people?
• How and with which tools can academia empower key actors to more significantly include conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in their decision-making?

Sustainable Planning and Construction

Hosts
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Manfred Bischoff, Institut für Baustatik und Baudynamik, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Norbert Gebbeken, Forschungsgruppe BauProtect, Forschungszentrum RISK, Universität der Bundeswehr München, München, Germany
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dierk Raabe, Director, Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany
Speakers
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Manfred Curbach, Institut für Massivbau, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andrea Benze, Professur Städtebau und Theorie der Stadt, Hochschule München, München, Germany
Prof. Dr. Werner Lang, Lehrstuhl für energieeffizientes und nachhaltiges Planen und Bauen, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dierk Raabe, Director, Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany


The built environment is of central ecological, economic, social and cultural relevance. The building industry consumes about 40 % of global resources and energy supply. Over the next 35 years, buildings for additional 2.6 billion people need to be constructed. Thus, 8 out of 17 goals in the UN 2030 Sustainability Agenda relate to construction industry.
While construction is intrinsically connected to the disciplines of architecture and civil engineering, a strongly multidisciplinary effort, including non-technical disciplines like politics and sociology, is required to tackle these challenges by developing new technologies. Carbon lean production, recycling and circular economy, enhanced productivity through digitalization, reduction of mass and embodied energy as well as identifying synergies and acceleration effects on one side and potential conflicts of objectives on the other side are typical challenges.

The session exemplarily describes related research efforts on three levels:
1. Small scale, material level: Sustainable Metallurgy and Metals.
2. Medium scale, structural level: New Technologies for Sustainable Construction.
3. Large scale level: Resilient transformation of urban spaces

Expected outcomes
Beyond sharing information on ongoing fundamental research efforts, we hope to find new partners that join us in our mission. Moreover, we strive to identify new fields of research that contribute to the aim of sustainable planning and construction.

Securing the living quality of urban regions under heat and water stress

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Philip Leistner, Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics IABP, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Prof. Dr. Jörn Birkmann, Institute of Spatial and Regional Planning IREUS, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Jörn Birkmann, Institute of Spatial and Regional Planning IREUS, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Pia Krause, M.Sc, Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics IABP, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Joanna McMillan, M. Eng., Institute of Spatial and Regional Planning IREUS, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Prof. Dr. William Solecki, Department of Geography, City University of New York, New York, USA
Prof. Dr. Marzia Traverso, Institute of Sustainability in Civil Engineering INaB, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany



Towards holistic adaptation concepts and multiscale design methods that are able to capture the interdependencies between different scales from ward to city-regional scale.

Various local adaptation plans to increasing heat and water stress focus on the administrative boundary of the city. There is a need to design approaches that focus on different scales and concepts that can link scales from individual building scale, to cities and settlement structures, to larger urban land-uses, including green spaces within city regions.

In addition, new methods are needed to assess the role of green infrastructure – including biodiversity aspects – to improve the living quality and resilience of cities. Consideration of both, new and integrated urban planning and design approaches are required that also capture how increasing heat and water stress will influence fundamental interactions between the city and the region. Against this background, the session will provide a platform to discuss the following core questions:
• What new approaches and tools to better capture the impacts of heat and water stress along different scales and interdependencies between scales within urban adaptation?
• How to assess aspects of living quality, green spaces in cities and resilience?

The session aims to identify specific challenges in this area and thus serve as a tool to discuss emerging research needs in an interdisciplinary and international context.

Climate Change and Systemic Risk

Hosts
Dr. Dorothea Frank, Research Coordination Department Biogeochemical Integration, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry Jena, Jena, Germany
Dr. Kai Kornhuber, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
Prof. Dr. Reinhard Mechler, Research Group Leader Systemic Risk and Resilience Research Group, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
Prof. Dr. Markus Reichstein, Director Department Biogeochemical Integration, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry Jena, Jena, Germany
Dr. Jana Sillmann, Research Director CICERO (Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research), Oslo, Norway
Prof. Dr. Simron Singh, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
Speakers
Dr. Kai Kornhuber, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
Prof. Dr. Reinhard Mechler, Research Group Leader Systemic Risk and Resilience Research Group, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria
Dr. Michael J. Puma, Director of the Center for Climate Systems Research, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
Prof. Dr. Dann Mitchell, Joint Met Office Chair in Climate Change and impacts, Cabot Institute for the Environment, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK


This session is organized by the Knowledge Action Network on Emergent Risks and Extreme Events (https://www.risk-kan.org/) to discuss climate change related systemic risks in the context of sustainable development and societal resilience. Systemic risk refers to the potential for adverse consequences that can spread within and across interconnected systems and sectors via movements of people, goods, resources, capital, and information within and across countries, even continents to eventually lead to existential impacts and systems collapse. Climate change is projected to lead to increasing extreme events and natural hazard, which, when interacting with socio-economic drivers, will increase systemic climate-related risk. Globalization contributes to systemic risk through dependencies within and across social systems affecting people worldwide. The COVID-19 global pandemic is a recent example of a global systemic risk challenge, where globalization can both aggravate and mitigate the impacts. Critical systems interdependencies amplified by underlying vulnerabilities highlight that there is a growing need to better understand current and future systemic risks, risk governance and societal responses in the context of a changing climate. This session will address the most relevant topics regarding climate related systemic risk and present how systemic risk assessments may inform transformational and sustainable adaptation.

Climate Change and Human Mobility in the Anthropocene

Hosts
Prof. Björn Vollan, Department of Economics, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
Prof. Andreas Neef, Faculty of Arts, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Petra Tschakert, Department of Geography, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Prof. Björn Vollan, Department of Economics, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
Dr. Lucy Szaboova, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
Prof. Andreas Neef, Faculty of Arts, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand


According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (2019), globally more than 24 million people were displaced annually, within and across borders, between 2008 and 2018 due to climate-related hazards. Climate-forced displacement and migration is now predicted to replace conflict as the main driver of mass migration in coming years. The World Bank (2018) estimates that by 2050 climate change could force more than 143 million people to move within their countries in three major world regions, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, increasing pressure on livelihoods, public health systems, infrastructure, and social services. Yet, there is also a growing consensus among scientists that most people prefer to adapt in-situ making predictions about future scenarios additionally difficult. Our session will host four presentations to address the following questions:

• How to conceptualize different forms of mobility?
• Why do people prefer to adapt in-situ? How are decisions to migrate shaped in the context of slow-onset climate hazards? How can we define whether these decisions are voluntary or forced when facing a slow-onset disaster where people need to act pre-emptively?
• How does internal migration affect the well-being of those affected? In particular, what are the chances of migrants to climb up the social ladder in their new location, and what are the risks for their mental and physical health? How does length of time staying in the destination place affect these factors?
• How are issues of climate mobility justice considered in recent policies and legal frameworks pertaining to climate migrants?

A new social contract for climate change adaptation in dynamic societies ?!

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Matthias Garschagen, Chair in Human Geography, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München (LMU), München, Germany | IPCC Lead Author (SROCC, AR6 and SYR)
Prof. Dr. Karen Pittel, Director, ifo Center for Energy, Climate, and Resources, Co-Chair, German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU)
Panelists
Dr. Astrid Zwick, Head of InsuResilience Secretariat, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Jun Rentschler, Senior Economist, Office of the Chief Economist for Sustainable Development, World Bank
Christoph Bals, Policy Director, Germanwatch e.V., Bonn, Germany


Climate change research has slowly been moving from a focus on impacts and risks to a focus on responses. Transdisciplinary concepts such as the “solution space” receive a groundswell of attention, ranging from detailed local case studies all the way to global assessments. However, much of the scientific discourse on adaptation applies a rather technocratic view to the reshaping of human-environment-relations. Only slowly emerging at best is a deeper understanding of the social contracts needed to deliver on the massive adaptation efforts required. The transformation debate that starts to engage with this question often remains on a normative level, bypassing the empirical analysis of how responsibilities for adaptation are perceived and assigned. New empirical research, however, suggests growing gaps in mutual expectations and ascribed responsibilities between, e.g., state actors, citizens and private sectors. Increased scientific efforts to unpack and reassemble these often tacit conceptions are therefore urgently needed.

The session aims to take stock of the debate and to discuss a future agenda for transdisciplinary research on social contracts for adaptation. Leading experts will contrast the latest findings from, for example, the Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative (GAMI) to challenges faced on the ground. Short input statements will be followed by a moderated panel discussion.

Engineering Machine Learning Solutions for Climate Adaptation: Remote Sensing for Disaster Recovery
Thomas Y. Chen, Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, USA

Sustainable extreme event management - the event perception evaluation for sustainable well-being
Dr. Olga Pilipczuk, Institute of Management, University of Szczecin, Poland

Land-use change effects on biodiversity through mechanistic simulations: A case study with South-Asian mammals
Andre P. Silva, Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Sweden
Co-Authors Filip Thorn, Damaris Zurell, and Juliano Cabral

The rationality paradox of climate populism. Non-intended rational effects of populist climate policy narratives
Dr. Fritz Reusswig, Dep. RD 2: Resilience, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany
Co-Authors Wiebke Lass, Seraja Bock

Adaptive Skins and Structures for the Built Environment of Tomorrow
Prof. Dr. Manfred Bischoff, Institut für Baustatik und Baudynamik, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Co-Author Oliver Sawodny

Low-waste construction with quality-assured, serial prefabrication
Dr. Patrick Forman, Institute of Concrete Structures, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
Co-Authors Albert Albers, Markus König, Gisela Lanza, Daniel Lordick, Peter Mark

Design Strategies for Material-Minimised Carbon Reinforced Concrete Structures – Principles of a New Approach to Construction
Prof. Dr. Manfred Curbach, Institute of concrete structures, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Co-Author Josef Hegger

The future of healthy living and working in the face of sustainability and crisis management - Resilient transformation of urban spaces
Prof. Dr. Norbert Gebbeken, ResearchCenter RISK, University of the Bundeswehr, Germany
Co-Authors Andrea Benze, Wolfgang Günthert, Andrea Heil, Werner Lang, Dirk Lüddecke, Stephan Pauleit

An integrative spatial approach to developing adaptation strategies for the growing polycentric region of Stuttgart
Joanna M. McMillan, IREUS Institute of Spatial and Regional Planning, University of Stuttgart, Germany
Co-Authors Britta Weißer, Joern Birkmann

DREAMS - Developing Resilient African cities and their urban environMent facing the provision of essential urban SDGs
Prof. Dr. Christine Fürst, Sustainable Landscape Development, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
Co-Authors Yazidi Bamutaze, Ellen Banzhaf, Henry Nii Nmai Bulley, Daniele Cantini, Timothy Dube, Arjan de Groot, Maame Adwoa Gyekye-Jandoh, Detlef Mueller-Mahn, Gorretti Nsubuga Nabanoga, Benjamin Kofi Nyarko, Christian Papilloud, Frank Pietzsch, Reinhold Sackmann, Malte Steinbrink, Michael Thiel, Raymond Asare Tutu

Eco2Health - Health and agriculture sustainability through interdisciplinary surveillance and risk assessment platform of global emerging zoonotic diseases
Prof. Dr. Ting-Wu Chuang, Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Co-Authors Day-Yu Chao, Beatriz Martinez Lopez, Fanen Terdoo, Olalekan Adekola

PACPATH - Pacific Ocean Pathways in Support of Sustainable Development: an Integrated Approach
Dr. Louis Celliers, Helmholtz Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, Germany
Prof. Dr. Maria Manez Costa, Helmholtz Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, Germany
Principle Investigator Alexandre Ganachaud, National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, France
Co-Authors Jérôme Aucan, Antje Bruns, Louis Celliers, Klaus Eisenack, Sebastian C.A. Ferse, R. Health Kelsey, Silja Klepp, Pierre-Yves Le Meur, Maria Manez Costa, Maraja Riechers, Elisabeth Holland, Simon Nicol, Awnesh Singh, Myriam Vendé-Leclerc, Karina von Schuckmann

RREFlood - Residual Risk of Extreme Floods - A Challenge for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Prof. Dr. Peter Fröhle, Institute of River and Coastal Engineering, Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg Germany
Co-Authors Dr. Anna Serra-Llobet, Dr. Natasa Manojlovic

UComNetSus-Africa - Building Urban Community Networks for Sustainable Cities in Africa
Dr. Peter Wangai, Consortium Lead, UComNetSus-Africa c/o Belmont Forum | Environmental Studies & Community Development, Kenyatta University, Kenia
Co-Authors Campion B., Owuor M., Taiwo O., Mugo D., Malonza J., Adeoye O., Soah S.

How to advance sustainable consumption in Germany in the context of the 2030 Agenda and the German Sustainability Strategy? Integrating diverse perspectives and generating policy recommendations by means of a transdisciplinary lab approach
Authors Konar Mutafoglu, Julia Jägle, Falk Schmidt, Science Platform Sustainability 2030, Germany

Hosts
Prof. Dr. Daniela Jacob, Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
Panelists
Dr. Faten Bahar, University of Carthage, Tunisia Polytechnic School, La Marsa, Tunisia
Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Germany, Bonn, Germany
Prof. Dr. Konrad Ott, Department of Philosophy, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), Kiel, Germany
Prof. Dr. Johan Rockström, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Prof. Dr. Peter Schlosser, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
Prof. Dr. Martin Visbeck, GEOMAR Helmholtz-Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany