Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen
Encyclopedia
German Advisory Council on Global Change (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen, WBGU)
The German federal government set up the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) as an independent, scientific advisory body in 1992 in the run-up to the Rio Earth Summit (UNCED). WBGU publishes flagship reports every two years, making its own choice of focal theme. In special reports and policy papers the WBGU also comments on current events, such as international climate conferences or Germany's dual presidency in the EU and G8 in 2007. The duties of the WBGU also include to raise public awareness and heighten the media profile of global change issues.
Latest reports: In the most recent flagship report, the WBGU dealt with the transformation to a low-carbon society. Previously, the WBGU published flagship reports on sustainable use of bioenergy, the security implications of climate change, the connection between poverty and the environment and on sustainable energy systems. The most recent special report deals with international climate policy. Before, WBGU published a special report on the future of the oceans. In 2010 WBGU published a policy paper on post-Copenhagen climate policy.
Prof. Dr. Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber
CBE (chair), Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
, external Professor at the Santa Fe Institute and chair of the Governing Board of the Climate-KIC of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology
Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner (vice chair), Director of the German Development Institute
, Bonn
Prof. Dr. Claus Leggewie, Director of the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities, Essen, Institute for Advanced Study of the University Alliance Metropolis Ruhr
Prof. Dr. Reinhold Leinfelder, Professor at the Institute of Biology, Humboldt-University, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Professor of Energy Economics at the Vienna University of Technology
, Deputy Director of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
Prof. Dr. Stefan Rahmstorf
, Professor of Physics of the Oceans, Potsdam University and head of the Climate System department at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Prof. Dr. Sabine Schlacke, Professor of Public Law, specializing German, European and International Environmental and administrative Law, Bremen University
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Schmid, Director Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology, IWES
Prof. Dr. Renate Schubert, Professor for economics at the Swiss Federal Institute for Technology and director of the Institute for Environmental Decisions, ETH Zurich
(Switzerland)
The German federal government set up the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) as an independent, scientific advisory body in 1992 in the run-up to the Rio Earth Summit (UNCED). WBGU publishes flagship reports every two years, making its own choice of focal theme. In special reports and policy papers the WBGU also comments on current events, such as international climate conferences or Germany's dual presidency in the EU and G8 in 2007. The duties of the WBGU also include to raise public awareness and heighten the media profile of global change issues.
Latest reports: In the most recent flagship report, the WBGU dealt with the transformation to a low-carbon society. Previously, the WBGU published flagship reports on sustainable use of bioenergy, the security implications of climate change, the connection between poverty and the environment and on sustainable energy systems. The most recent special report deals with international climate policy. Before, WBGU published a special report on the future of the oceans. In 2010 WBGU published a policy paper on post-Copenhagen climate policy.
Council Members
The Council is now in its fifth term, from 1. November 2008 to 31. October 2012. The members of the WBGU are:Prof. Dr. Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber
Hans Joachim Schellnhuber
Hans Joachim "John" Schellnhuber is the founding Director of Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Chair of the German Advisory Council on Global Change. He is also providing advice to the President of the European Union Commission, José Manuel Barroso....
CBE (chair), Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research is a research institute specialising in the fields of global change, climate impact and sustainable development.-References:* USA Today -Further Reading:* Study -See Also:* Climatic Research Unit...
, external Professor at the Santa Fe Institute and chair of the Governing Board of the Climate-KIC of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology
Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner (vice chair), Director of the German Development Institute
German Development Institute
The German Development Institute / is one of the leading Think Tanks for development policy worldwide. This has been attested in January 2011 by the ranking of the Global “Go-To Think Tanks” Report: The DIE ranks number 4 in the category of “Top 25 International Development Think Tanks“...
, Bonn
Prof. Dr. Claus Leggewie, Director of the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities, Essen, Institute for Advanced Study of the University Alliance Metropolis Ruhr
Prof. Dr. Reinhold Leinfelder, Professor at the Institute of Biology, Humboldt-University, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Professor of Energy Economics at the Vienna University of Technology
Vienna University of Technology
Vienna University of Technology is one of the major universities in Vienna, the capital of Austria. Founded in 1815 as the "Imperial-Royal Polytechnic Institute" , it currently has about 26,200 students , 8 faculties and about 4,000 staff members...
, Deputy Director of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
Prof. Dr. Stefan Rahmstorf
Stefan Rahmstorf
Stefan Rahmstorf is a German oceanographer and climatologist. Since 2000, he has been a Professor of Physics of the Oceans at Potsdam University. He received his Ph.D. in oceanography from Victoria University of Wellington...
, Professor of Physics of the Oceans, Potsdam University and head of the Climate System department at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research is a research institute specialising in the fields of global change, climate impact and sustainable development.-References:* USA Today -Further Reading:* Study -See Also:* Climatic Research Unit...
Prof. Dr. Sabine Schlacke, Professor of Public Law, specializing German, European and International Environmental and administrative Law, Bremen University
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Schmid, Director Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology, IWES
Prof. Dr. Renate Schubert, Professor for economics at the Swiss Federal Institute for Technology and director of the Institute for Environmental Decisions, ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
(Switzerland)
External links
- wbgu.de - Website of WBGU