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Planetary Boundaries Conference 2017

24 April 2017 - 25 April 2017
Berlin, Germany

What are the implications of the Planetary Boundaries concept for society, economy and politics? On 24 and 25 April 2017, representatives from academia, politics, civil society, media and the private sector discuss this central question in Berlin. 

Environmental pressures are rapidly increasing worldwide, with mounting risks for sustainable development. In order to end poverty, enable social and economic development and stability as well as promote justice and peace, we must operate within a safe operating space delineated by the planetary boundaries. In 2009, the Planetary Boundaries concept was developed by Johan Rockström and Will Steffen and enhanced in 2015.

From the perspective of the German Federal Environment Ministry, the German Environment Agency and the German Federal Environmental Foundation, the core challenge and opportunity is to politically, socially and economically shape this safe operating space. For this purpose, fundamental changes towards a sustainable economy and society are necessary.

To enable the concept to take a pioneering role for this transformation, adelphi is organising in collaboration with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the Stockholm Environment Institute on behalf of the BMUB, the UBA and the DBU an international conference that discusses key issues: How can we further improve the scientific justification of the internationally recognised concept? How can we apply the concept to national environmental and sustainability policies and policy-making? Which opportunities provided by the concept arise for technical, economical and social innovations, for corporate risk and corporate environmental management, for environmental education and communication? 

This international conference will address these aspects on the 24 and 25 of April 2017 in Berlin. Federal Minister of the Environment, Dr. Barbara Hendricks, Prof. Johan Rockström, DBU General Secretary Dr. Heinrich Bottermann, and the President of the Federal Environment Agency, Maria Krautzberger will be present. The goal of the conference is to bring together central actors in the field of sustainability transformation to generate an agenda for the concept’s further application in academia, for governments, the private sector, and civil society. And thus become an international milestone for its dissemination, development and application.

Please visit www.pb-conference2017.de for free-of-charge registration.