Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen (WBGU)
Many political decisions have to be taken without a full understanding of the complex interactions between global environment and development problems.
The German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) was founded in 1992 as an independent scientific advisory body. Through its press and public relations work, the WBGU aims to raise awareness of the challenges of global sustainable development. In its reports, the WBGU
- analyzes global environment and development problems,
- evaluates research on global sustainable development,
- identify research gaps and provide impetus for research,
- identify emerging problem areas in the sense of early warning,
- evaluate global sustainability policy,
- make recommendations for action and research.
WBGU communicates complex interrelationships, assesses risks and proposes ecological and socio-economic "guard rails" that should be avoided. The Council's policy advice on global change is thus intended to facilitate an evidence- and knowledge-based political and societal debate and to help decision-makers act under uncertainty. It is particularly concerned with precautionary options aimed at avoiding irreversible, serious damage to people and nature.
Professor Dr. Sabine Schlacke has been a member of the WBGU since 2008 and its Co-Chair since 2016. In October 2020, she was reappointed for a further four years.
Recent WBGU reports: