Launch of SDSN Germany

Press Release, 9 May 2014

Ten German knowledge institutions have just appointed an initial group of high-ranking Leadership Council members for the newly established Sustainable Development Solutions Network Germany (SDSN Germany). It strives to promote the sustainable development of Germany as well as German efforts for sustainable development worldwide under the umbrella of the global Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The German initiative is also meant to contribute to sustainability projects on the ground. “Having a national SDSN in a major industrialised country such as Germany is an important step towards a new and global understanding of development”, argues Guido Schmidt-Traub, SDSN Executive Director. “Sustainable development is a challenge and opportunity for all countries across the globe, and not just for the global South.”

The following Leadership Council members for SDSN Germany have already been appointed:

• Jan Börner, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn
• Joachim Fetzer, European Business Ethics Network Germany (DNWE)
• Maja Göpel, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy
• Hermann Lotze-Campen, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
• Dirk Messner, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)
• Klaus Milke, Germanwatch
• Klaus Töpfer, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS)
• Martin Visbeck, Kiel Cluster of Excellence “The Future Ocean”, Kiel University

“We invite institutions that are interested in SDSN’s work to join the national and global network as partners or members“, states Dirk Messner, Director of the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE). Exchange with stakeholders from politics, business and society will also be intensified according to Messner, whose institute hosts the new network.

About the global Sustainable Development Solutions Network:

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) pools expertise from science, civil society and the business community to tackle global challenges with innovative and applicable solutions for sustainable development. The network was founded in 2012 under the auspices of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and connects institutions and key individuals from developing, emerging and industrialised countries.

Member organisations of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Germany:

Center for Development Research / Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung (ZEF), University of Bonn; European Business Ethics Network Germany / Deutsches Netzwerk Wirtschaftsethik (DNWE); German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE); German Institute for International and Security Affairs / Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP); Germanwatch; HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA School of Governance; Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS); Kiel Cluster of Excellence “The Future Ocean”, Kiel University; Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung / Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK); Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy

Contact for the media: Adolf Kloke-Lesch | UNSDSN