Summary of the activities in 2010
In the year 2010 IoS, IESP included, participated in several projects and established cooperation with esteemed international institutions. Major achievements are
· Resolution of the 10-Steps-Programme to an Energy Concept of the Federal Republic of Germany
· Contribution and organization of international congresses and workshops in
Argentina, China, Denmark, France, Austria, Sweden, Singapore, Spain, USA
· Organization of symposia and workshops in Germany:
Chiemsee-Fraueninsel, Krumbach, Mannheim, Munich, Seeon
· TV-Presentations broadcasted by 3SAT, Bayern alpha, SWR
International Expert Group on Earth System Preservation (IESP)
IESP is aimed to take responsibility for human impacts on the Earth System: Taking responsibility and fostering the resilience of societies, economies and ecosystems is the answer of IESP on „geoengineering“.
More specifically, IESP searches for holistic and sustainable methods which contribute to the threatening shortcomings (energy, water, food, education) and to the preservation of the functional capability of the Earth System.
In recent years rapid increase of the human population, growth of urban areas and globalisation of lifestyle gave rise to at least four existential threats.
- global warming and climate change
- deficits of energy, water and food
- loss of biodiversity and functional capability of ecosystems
- destabilization of economical and societal systems
Responsible actions are necessary to overcome such threats. Mankind causing the problems has to find sound solutions to conserve the livelihood on our planet. For that purpose a close cooperation of science and society, and of decision makers in economic and political institutions, including press media, is essential.
IESP works together with executives of scientific, economic and political institutions, with representatives of press media and with the civil society to identify, develop and communicate ideas and methods of resolution.
Cooperation partners of IESP are:
- EU-Chapter of the Club of Rome, Brussels
- European Water Partnership, Brussels
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München
IESP is represented by its members in the following countries: Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, France, India, Japan, Austria, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, UK und USA.
38 of the 56 IESP-members are active scientists in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, economical or social science. One of them, Prof. Dr. Josef Crutzen, is nobel prize laureate for chemistry. The small and medium size economy is represented by 4 members. 6 members work in federal institutions, 2 members represent political institutions, 3 work for NGOs.
Ten steps towards an economic, ecological and socially acceptable transition of energy policy and consumption
On initiative of Dr. Josef Bugl, 14 experts representing energy and environmental science and research and energy industry assembled in February 2010 in Mannheim to formulate the baseline of a sustainable and market oriented energy concept. The discussion was aimed to compile a sound and balanced framework of facts and arguments upon which a promising concept of a consistent and instrumental energy policy could be developed. The focus in the discussion was the assessment of several options for heat, mobility and energy according to three major criteria: contribution to a sustainable development, compatibility with the guidelines of the social-ecological market economy and willingness to take up responsibility in terms of international development. Eventually a 10-step-programme was resolved. It is to be understood as recommendation and guideline for future position of points concerning the energy policy of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany. On June 19, 2010 Dr, Bugl and Dr, Renn presented the paper to the Federal Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Dr. Röttgen.
The outcome of the discussions is briefly summarized as follows:
There is no energy source that has either only positive or only negative effects on the three pillars of sustainability. Negative economies of scale might however be disproportional. It is thus necessary to consider a mix, which ideally consists of many energy options, the use of which should be determined by their relevant degree of sustainability. It is vital to be able to opt for other solutions if required (learning organisations). Thus, if applicable, several options should be created in parallel.
Within the framework of the three major principles, investments in increased efficiency lead to very few conflicting objectives. Especially in the field of heat recovery, the highest efficiency gains can currently be achieved by relatively small efforts. All other measures have their merits and flaws, political consideration and evaluation is thus necessary. Moreover, it is important to note that drawbacks of options in energy policy have to be documented and made public in a fair and honest manner.
Greenhouse gas emissions should be adjusted to the internationally agreed 2°C goal as cap for tolerable global warming. For Germany, this goal implies a reduction of CO2 emissions by at least 80% until 2050, based on the figures taken in 1990.
There is a general trend towards electromobility due to concerns about climate protection but also a shortage of fossil fuels. It is possible that by 2050, the majority of private cars might be fuelled by electricity. In the meantime, electromobility requires continuous research, especially when it comes to minimising the vehicles' primary energy demand to reduce emissions and to improve the CO2 balance. At the same time, the European electricity grid needs to be extended and enhanced towards a smart grid.
A basic offer (guaranteed availability) has to be ensured. Currently, this can only be achieved by fossil fuels, nuclear energy and hydropower. This implies that, given the current indications, an energy supply which exclusively relies on renewables is not feasible in the short run. However, in the long run, it is desirable to meet the energy demand by means of renewables.
In general, an extension of nuclear power plant operation is in line with the principles of sustainability. First, one could speak of economic waste of goods if nuclear power plants were phased out before their technical and economic life span. Second, on an ecological scale, using more fossil energy sources than necessary in order to make up for the shortages due to a lack of nuclear power would exacerbate the climate issues. Third, a rapid phase-out of nuclear power plants would be contradictory to the goal of social acceptability, if the reduction of capacity resulted in a limited supply and soaring electricity prices.
Planning for 2011 and 2012
Sustainable formulation of the European energy policy
March 3, 2011: Representation of Baden-Württemberg in Brussels
Water and Equity - A Global Challenge
in cooperation with the Hanns Seidl Foundation, Munich; March 21, 2011 in Berlin
Earth System Engineering: Challenges and Chances
in cooperation with CRAES and MMI at the IFAT-Shanghai; May 5, 2011 in Shanghai
Sustainable Energy Concept for the Russian Federation
in cooperation with the German Consulate in Jekaterinburg; Sept. 2011, Russia
Sustainable Power Supply - Biofuel, Solar Power, Wind Power and Water
in cooperation with Bahçesehir University, Istanbul; October 2011, Turkey
Geoengineering or Preservation of Resilience? Searching for the right way to safeguard human civilization
in cooperation with EWP, IAS, Club of Rome; March 2012
Contributions to the Catholic Church Congress, Mannheim, May 16-20, 2012
Motto: Risking a new approach.
Proposed themes:
· Climate change and its consequences for mankind and nature
· Climate change and human rights
- Mankind´s responsibility to safeguard the integrity of creation
Participations and cooperation
IoS cooperates with the Institute for Advanced Study of the Technical University of Munich (TUM-IAS) which has been established to support inspiring basic research through interdisciplinary initiatives. The institute brings together researchers from TUM with distinguished scholars from around the world to jointly conduct fundamental research (http://www.ias.tum.de/).
IoS belongs to the founding members of the European Water Partnership (EWP). The institution aims to give water a common voice in Europe. Its members are committed to the European Water Vision and will initiate, support and enforce all actions and projects that will help to achieve the aims and goal of EWP (http://www.ewp.eu/).
IoS provides scientific advice to TECHNEAU (http://www.techneau.org), an integrated project granted by the EU Commission. The aim of the project is to further develop traditional system and technology solutions for drinking water supply, and to cope with present and future global threats and opportunities.
Further on, IoS provides advice to the EU integrated project Aquafit4Use (http://www.aquafit4use.eu/) which aims at making industries more independet of the supply of fresh drinking water for their production processes. Secondly, an important step forward is being taken within the project in obtaining water qualities that are tailored to suit process and product demands and quality standards, in other words "water fit for uase". The four main industries involved are: Paper, Food, Chemistry and Textile.
The director of IoS, Dr. Peter Wilderer, acts a co-editor of the Journal of Sustainability Science, a journal published by Springer. It is the aim of the journal to convey knowledge about the interactions within and between global, societal, and human systems, the complex mechanisms that lead to degradation of these systems, and concomitant risks to human well-being and security.
IoS supports the activities of Access to Sustainable Knowledge (ASK-EU) which offers high quality technical knowledge in the scope of environmental technology and management. National and international experts are presented by their profile with reference to further knowledge assets (http://www.ask-eu.de).
IoS, through his director, Dr. Peter Wilderer, took a leadership role in the development of a Treatise on Water Science published by the Elsevier publishing company in February 2011. The Treatise is to be understood as a major reference work (encyclopaedia). It consists of 4 volumes dedicated to: Management of Water Resources, Hydrology, Aquatic Chemistry and Microbiology, Water Supply, Sanitation and Recovery, and water for Industry.
Financial support
The activities of the Institute are being financed by donations and by coverage of project specific costs by partner institutions such as the Technical University of Munich, the Wirtschaftsbeirat Bayern and the Bavarian Ministry of Environment and Health.
