51° 2/2009: Climate change
The effects of climate change are going to become much more visible in the coming years, and our climate system is at risk of becoming unbalanced. These developments will fundamentally change our way of life, our economy, our societies and our culture. We must now create the basis for a process of social and economic transformation in order to minimize the negative consequences of continuing climate change.
Stiftung Mercator has defined climate change as one core focus of its new strategy in an attempt to raise awareness of the need to rethink and change the way we live, which is why climate change is also the main theme of this issue of 51°.
In our interview, one of the world’s leading climate experts, Professor Hans-Joachim Schellnhuber, talks about the world of tomorrow and the role of foundations, and calls for more creativity and imagination. In his new book on “The Politics of Climate Change”, British sociologist Lord Anthony Giddens likewise addresses the topic of climate change; he presented his book for the first time in Germany in early June. In it, he proposes a raft of highly unconventional measures, among them the “de-politicization” of climate and energy policy. In addition, Stiftung Mercator presents its new school project “Climate-Makers – We are the Future!” and the research project it funds, “Roadmaps towards Sustainable Energy Futures”.
Finally, Dr Gunilla Fincke, director of the Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration, reports on the Expert Council and its role as an exploratory vessel, while Stiftung Mercator presents its plans for the future of special tuition for children and young people of migrant origin.