Areas of expertise & Fields of activity:
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Economic and Social:
Agriculture
Biodiversity
Business and Industry
Climate Change
Energy
Law of the Sea and Antarctica
Sustainable Development
Water
Gender Issues and Advancement of Women:
Advocacy and outreach
Social Development:
Poverty
Sustainable Development:
Agriculture
Atmosphere
Biodiversity
Climate change
Consumption and production patterns
Desertification and Drought
Disaster management and vulnerability
Energy
Forests
Freshwater
Health
Human settlements
Institutional arrangements
Land management
Marine Resources
Means of Implementation (Trade, Finance, Technology, Tranfer, etc.)
Mountains
Oceans and seas
Poverty
Protecting and managing the natural resources
Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable development for Africa
Sustainable development in a globalizing world
Sustainable development of SIDS
Transport
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| Geographic scope: |
International
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| Country of activity: |
Germany
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| Mission statement: |
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| Year established: |
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| Organizational structure: |
Scientific policy adviceMany political decisions have to be taken before the complex cause-effect relationships among global environment and development issues have been fully elucidated. Climate change is an example. It is scientifically beyond doubt that emitted greenhouse gases are causing the global mean temperature to rise; the regional impacts, however, are diverse and not entirely predictable. The German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) takes a transdisciplinary approach, enabling it to provide guidance for political decision makers. Despite the existing uncertainties, WBGU assesses hazards and identifies 'guard rails' that should not be crossed. Such policy advice on global change makes it easier for decision makers to act under uncertainty. The particular aim is to identify precautionary options by which grave and irreversible damage to human societies and natural systems can be avoided. Some risks have been underestimated in the past, while others have scarcely been noticed. WBGU puts the spotlight on these, drawing them to the attention of politicians and the wider public in time for action to be taken. |
| Funding structure other: |
The Council is funded by the Federal Government of Germany ( EUR 1.2 million/year) and by royalties received from its publications ( EUR 5,000/year). The Council is free to decide how to spend its funds and there are no conditions placed on th |
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