Research for Sustainable Development

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The Paris Agreement on limiting climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, the German “Energiewende” (energy transition), decarbonisation and divestment — these are, and will remain, the keywords for the first half of this century. They are concrete goals and concepts for creating a world where 10 billion humans can live as equals in a clean environment and a stable climate. Making this “Utopia” possible has been the task of the Wuppertal Institute since its inception.

We have not only supplied the essential scientific foundations for the “Energie-wende” but have also made it known that protecting resources is one of the best options for protecting the climate. We are developing climate strategies and plans for municipalities, companies, megacities, countries and regions. We look at the role of businesses, policy-makers and citizens in creating energy

systems for the future and develop tools to reduce the use of resources on an individual and political level. We carry out research on all aspects of the Transformation: changing cities, the transportation transition, new business models and much more. Science itself is part and parcel of the Transformation, so we actively look to question and extend its role.

If you are concerned with these is-sues and are looking to make a lasting impact, the Wuppertal Institute is your competent and creative partner. We will give you in-depth scientific background, warn you about unexpected conse-quences and work with you to develop concrete scenarios and guidance for your next steps. We see our role in ena-bling the realisation of what is perceived to be utopian — as being a scientific driving force behind what we call the Great Transformation.

Making Utopia possible — a new take on the time-tested phi-losophy of the Wuppertal Institute. Policymakers at all levels, businesses from start-ups to global players, ordinary people in groups, organisations or all by themselves — many people are working to make the impossible possible, building ecologically sustainable and just societies locally and globally. The Wup-pertal Institute offers them its support in their bid to push for change and gather the required knowledge.

Auf der Ausstellung »Solutions COP21« im Grand Palais in Paris wurden klima -freundliche Innovationen und Lösungen gezeigt. Foto: Gilles Rolle / REA / laif

Climate-friendly innovations and solutions were presented at the exhibition “Solutions COP21” at the Grand Palais in Paris. Photo: Gilles Rolle / REA / laif

Innovation as a driver of changeInnovation will play a key role in making the system sustainable. New processes, products and services will need to be developed, implemented and scaled up throughout the economy, the political system and society as a whole. New tech­nologies such as LED lighting or smart grids are an important part of this. So­cial and cultural innovations are equally important, e.g. new finance models (such as citizen energy), the sharing economy or crowdsourcing. However, to be effective in the Great Transformation, all these innovations will need to be integrated throughout the system and given the right political framework and economic incentives. Innovation laboratories can help test the effects of transformative products and services or new modes of organisation. This is where the Wupper­tal Institute can provide unique insights and impetus for transformation.

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Prosperity, consumption and lifestyles Technology and efficiency alone won’t halt climate change and the loss of our natural environment. But, with new consumption patterns and social innovations, the deve l­opment of global prosperity can be largely decoupled from ecological impacts — this is the focus of the work of scientists at the Wuppertal Institute. They explore new models for consumption and business that are based on durability, conserving resources, consuming less and sufficiency — instead of a bargain­hunter mentality and a throwaway culture. They are also involved in policies and promoting the economy 4.0 to facilitate the implementa­tion of these models and engage users in the development of products and services from an early stage.

Photo: Brian Shumway / Redux / laif

With our multi- and transdisciplinary approach to science and our system-ic view of the societal challenges at hand, we are uniquely equipped for the task. To find lasting solutions that will drive sustainable change, we generate knowledge about the desirable aims for society (target knowledge), the complex systems involved (system knowledge) and how to transform them (transforma-tion knowledge). To extend our target knowledge, we analyse the interactions between ecological, social and economic elements and use them to create a guid-ing principle for sustainable change that can be applied to consumption, new technologies, cities and national or international policymaking. Understanding systems helps us unravel the connections between economic, social and technological variables. Is a decarbonised world economy feasible by 2070? What technologies would be required, and at what cost? What does a sustainable city look like? How can business strategies be adapt-ed for sustainable development? The Wuppertal Institute has gained a deep understanding of these systems.

Lastly, transformation knowledge is needed to realise “utopian” futures. This means understanding how target knowledge and system knowledge lead to concrete actions and how the various actors implement them in context. Pol-itics, administration, product develop-ment: these are just a few of the areas we work in, collaborating closely with actors “on the ground” to define chal-lenges and create solution strategies.

Such transformative science has been at the core of the Wuppertal Institute’s mission for many years. Currently, our work is divided into three main research areas: (1) systems analysis and infrastructure, (2) the development of policy and governance strategies and (3) sustainable patterns of production and consumption. The work in those areas provides the foundation for the creation of “Utopia”. We look forward to working with you to expand the boundaries of what is possible.

Uwe Schneidewind and the team at the Wuppertal Institute

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150 to 170Projects Our core activity: Each year, between 150 and 170 projects are processed by the Wuppertal Institute’s scientists for clients in business, politics, science and society.

5Members of Club of RomeWidely renowned: Out of the 67 active members of the international Club of Rome, whose 1972 report first called public attention to the planetary limits to growth, five are from the Wuppertal Institute. The Institute’s founding president, Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, has been head of the think tank since 2012.

14DissertationsThe next generation of scientists: The Wuppertal Institute is a popular place to earn a PhD. Furthermore, working with doctoral candidates enables greater knowledge exchange with universities. In 2015, 14 dissertations were successfully completed. A systematic development programme has existed since 2005. In addition to dissertations, the Wuppertal Institute supervises an average of 27 theses. 51,2

Percentage of women The institute of women: Women are in the majority at the Wuppertal Institute — more than 50 per cent of the staff are female. 65 per cent of part-time jobs at the In-stitute are filled by women. Currently, five out of eight leadership positions are staffed by women.

9Scientific backgroundMultidisciplinary research: The majority of staff are academics pursuing nine different areas of experience: natural and environmental sciences, geography, sys-tems science, engineering, planning, political sciences, law, economics and social sciences.

40 to 50Scientific publicationsOn average, one peer-reviewed article by scientists from the Wuppertal Institute is published in an inter-national scientific journal each week. In 2015, there were 42 such articles; in previous years, the total was 57 and 39, respectively. Every year, the Institute releases various popular scientific books and publishes approximately two user-oriented works for stakehold-ers in business, society, politics and the sciences.

217Lectures Active transfer: The Wuppertal Institute’s scientists make their research findings public on an almost daily basis. They give more than 200 lectures per year to stakeholders in politics, economy, the sciences and to interested members of the public. In 2015, there were 217 lectures.

0Company vehicleZero cars: The Institute does not have its own fleet of vehicles. If a journey has to be taken by car, the Wuppertal Institute makes use of car-sharing services.

31Research and teaching Academics from the Wuppertal Institute hold 31 lecturing posts at universities and colleges to pass on transformative knowledge. Ten of these posts are filled by the Institute’s six professors in the form of university, honorary or guest professorships, two at universities abroad (2015).

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8Different hot beverages Fair coffee for everyone: There is a coffee machine at the Institute available for use by all disciplines and serving eight different hot beverages. This is used as a meeting point for transdisciplinary discussions during breaks. The coffee, milk, hot chocolate and tea are fair trade and / or certified organic.

223Employees In 2015, 223 employees worked for the Wuppertal Institute in Wuppertal and Berlin (including student assistants, excluding internships). Together, they generated approximately 15 million euros in revenue.

1,200Media and communication The Wuppertal Institute appears in the media ap-proximately 1,200 times each year. It is involved in the organisation of roughly 20 events every year, not counting various project workshops. The Institute is one of the publishers behind the online magazine

“factory”, which is published four times a year and achieves 500,000 click-throughs.

800.000PageviewsKnowledge in demand: The Wuppertal Institute’s website receives more than 200,000 visitors per year who click through to 800,000 pages. Its publication server is used by more than 100,000 visitors, reading over 330,000 pages. The Institute distributes a news-letter in German once a fortnight and a newsletter in English once a month to a total of more than 10,000 subscribers (2015).

6Scientific expertiseAppointed policy consultants: Scientists from the Wuppertal Institute have worked as scientific experts alongside members of parliament in five commissions of enquiry for the German Federal Parliament and the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. These panels often meet over the course of several years to give advice to the Federal and State Parliaments on transformation policies. Furthermore, they deliver expert opinions to parliamentary committees or groups.

15Month for parental leaveTime for children: Fathers working for the Wuppertal Institute take on almost as much responsibility as mothers. They are on parental leave for an average of 15 months, women for 16.

23,000Media units In-house library: Scientists can make use of printed and electronic monographs, external publications, project findings and CD-ROMs, adding up to roughly 23,000 multimedia items in total.

1,415Train journeysA lot of travel: In 2015, members of staff went on 1,746 business trips. 1,415 of those were train journeys, the Institute’s preferred means of transport, adding up to 479,860 kilometres altogether. In 331 cases, it was necessary to travel by plane; however, the CO2 emissions generated over the approximately 666,000 kilometres were carbon offset.

1,500Calculations per month Quick evaluator: The Wuppertal Institute’s online resource calculator is so far the only online method of calculating one’s individual annual resource consump-tion. In ten minutes, users answer questions about six different aspects of life, from home life to travel. More than 1,500 people use the tool each month; on average, their annual resource consumption is 30 tonnes. The sustainability target for 2030 is 17 tonnes.

7Key regions Internationality: The Wuppertal Institute is active in international projects in seven key regions outside Europe. In both 2015 and 2016, it hosted three international conferences as well as holding roughly 45 international discussions and workshops per year. Two staff members contribute to IPCC reports. The Wuppertal Institute always ranks among the top 30 international climate research think tanks as well as featuring among key environmental think tanks. Along with three other German institutes, it is one of the 80 leading think tanks for transdisciplinary research. About 25 per cent of the visitors to the Institute’s website use English browser settings.

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“The Wuppertal Institute under-takes research and develops models, strategies and tools to enable the transition to sustainable development at local, national and international level. Sustainability research at the Wuppertal Institute focuses on challenges related to resources, climate and energy and their relationship to the economy and society. The Institute puts special emphasis on analysing and stimulating innovations that decouple economic growth and wealth from the use of natural re-sources.” This is the Institute’s mission statement.

The Institute is a highly respected future oriented think tank, which excels in far-sighted but implementable solution approaches that find broad acceptance. This is due not only to the great expertise of individual scientists working for the Institute but also to the transdisciplinary approach with which the multidisciplinary team conducts its research. At the same time, the Institute

is involved in numerous national and international scientific, political and so-cial networks and has developed strong partnerships with corporate networks.

The fact that the Wuppertal Institute adopts a transdisciplinary approach from the start represents added value for its solutions. This means that it can successfully take up very complex, wide-ranging and in-depth research tasks. In doing so, the Institute never loses sight of its various stakeholders and it looks for practical solutions. Con-cepts and suggestions from the Institute often develop with the help of so-called real-world laboratories, meaning these ideas are researched in everyday circum-stances, so that they can be reviewed and adapted in close collaboration with industry partners. This way, practicable solution approaches develop. Further-more, the Institute and its scientists fo-cus on communicating their solutions in an accessible manner, whether at events or in numerous publications.

The principle of transdisciplinarity, net-working, incorporating stakeholders and practical relevance is equally applied by the scientists to global, national, regional and local projects. This multi-level prin-ciple is one of the Institute’s trademarks. It also applies to the Institute’s integrat-ed approach to issues within transforma-tion, i.e. the conceptual links between energy, resources, consumption and transport as well as the transformation of the sciences.

The Wuppertal Institute has a clear struc-ture. The majority of its 220 employees are research staff, divided into different research groups. They are supported by management, scientific services and student and research assistants in addition to colleges, universities and a global network of cooperating partners and individual scientists. A works council represents the interests of the staff. The Institute is managed by a President, a Vice-President and a business man-ager. Its Berlin office supports its policy consultation work and represents it in

the German capital. The Institute’s inter-national advisory board guarantees the independence and quality of its research. It evaluates the Wuppertal Institute’s annual research agenda, which is then passed by the supervisory board. A working group coordinates sustain-ability management and corporate governance. The non-profit association Friends of the Wuppertal Institute supports its work as does its alumni network. An overview of the Institute’s partners and networks can be found online at wupperinst.org.

The demonstrators’ placard during the Climate Summit in Paris in December 2015 reads: “Free us from our dependency on fossil fuels”. Photo: Vincent Boisot / Riva Press / laif

Limiting climate change Ending the era of fossil fuels, keeping global warming below two degrees Celsius, implementing a climate­friendly, just and sustainable economy: This is possible with the involvement of many stakeholders in business and in national and local politics, with the help of a fair international climate policy and a low­carbon lifestyle. The Wuppertal Institute shows how this can be achieved and supports all stakeholders.

To carry out research for sustainable development at all levels, locally and globally, so that an ecologically and economically viable and socially just society may develop — this is the objective of the Wuppertal Institute. In this way, it enables politics, business, science and society to transform existing structures and make them sustainable. The Institute’s years of experience, high practical relevance, diverse networks and transdiscipli-nary approach to research are what makes the difference.

Energy-self-sufficient village Feldheim. Photo: Paul Langrock / Zenit / laif

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For policies to be fit for the fu-ture, they must establish a way of coexisting that is socially and environ-mentally compatible. They set the pa-rameters for sustainable development. Decision makers need to be aware of the impact and potential of their policies and fair methods of implementation in order to make reasonable and effective choices. These decisions can help to safeguard the future and will find broad public approval if they are scientifically sound. Providing political consultation is one of the Wuppertal Institute’s key ac-tivities. From its inception, it has advised national, regional and local politicians. Thanks to its expertise and reputation, it is a reliable and sought-after partner.

The Wuppertal Institute’s scientists always consider specific applications, integrating economic, ecological and social factors. They look at the whole system and analyse the effects of in-dividual tools or measures, their costs and their social implications. Scenarios and models illustrate the consequenc-es of different decisions. Questions guiding research include: “How can a programme of building renovations be adapted to be sustainable?” or “How can a society’s resource consumption be quantified and capped through political measures?” or “What are the socio-polit-ical implications of ecological structural change?” or “What factors influence sustainable transport policies, making them successful in one region but not in another?”

The issue of project transferability is important. In a number of projects, the Wuppertal Institute analyses what lessons can be learned from transition processes like the German “Energie-wende” (energy transition). It initiated the establishment of a German-Japanese Energy Transition Council and supports its work as the scientific secretariat. Another example of the Institute bring-ing together countries to learn from one another is the Iranian-German col-laborative project working towards a sustainable energy system in Iran.

The Wuppertal Institute’s scientists supervise political transformation processes, such as sustainable transport planning in megacities and strategies for climate-change mitigation and the con-servation of resources in municipalities worldwide. At local, state, national and international level, the Institute gives advice and works on scientifically sound projects relating to climate-change mitigation and adaption as well as the energy and resources transition.

The expertise and advice of individual scientists is sought after by numerous political committees and commissions, such as German Federal Parliament study commissions, the China Council and the mayor of Seoul’s team of advi-sors. Political parties and parliamentary panels frequently request expert reports from scientists working for the Wuppertal Institute.

Comprehensible policies grounded in science create a frame-work for development that satisfies the public and protects natural resources at the same time. The Wuppertal Institute provides political players with scientific insights and future- oriented solution approaches to achieve the necessary transfor-mation processes — thus ensuring that decisions are sound and implementable.

Examples of projects:

EMPOWER — reducing the use of conventionally fuelled vehicles through positive policy measuresThe project EMPOWER aims to substantially reduce the use of conventionally fuelled vehicles in cities by changing the mobility behaviour of their drivers and users. It will create a set of tools for industry, policymak-ers and employers focused on innovative new approaches to encourage behavioural change, including Web 2.0-enabled technol-ogies. The interventions and new services will be of a positive “carrot” type, aimed at “nudging” individuals away from fuelled vehicles into more sustainable modes of transport. (Client: European Commission.)

Alternative and sustainable energy scenarios for HungaryOnly a small number of studies have de-scribed potential future energy scenarios for Hungary. Studies of this kind are crucial in order to understand the challenges that the future national energy system might face, the consequences of these and possible policy options to achieve political targets. For this purpose, the Wuppertal Institute is developing scientifically sound, comprehen-sive, alternative and sustainable long-term energy scenarios for Hungary, mapping out potential development trajectories until 2030 and 2050. The scenarios developed will deliver information about the costs and long-term effects of different energy choices for Hungary as well as credible information on the potential benefits of greening the energy mix. (Client: The Greens / European Free Alliance in the European Parliament.)

PATHWAYS — exploring transition pathways to sustainable, low-carbon societiesThe overall objective here is to provide policymakers and other key stakeholders with a better understanding of ongoing and necessary transition pathways in key areas relevant to EU policy (e.g. heating, energy and land use). The project focuses on a selected set of transition areas using a com-bination of interlinked scientific approaches. (Client: European Commission.)

Shaping the energy transition When technology, business, politics and civic engagement work together intelligent­ly, it is possible to redesign the complex energy system at international, national, regional and local levels. A number of projects and scenarios from the Wuppertal Institute demonstrate this. It belongs to those thought leaders who encouraged politicians to tackle the transformation. It is not only the technological expansion of renewable energies and the increase in en­ergy efficiency that make the transforma­tion sustainable and fit for the future, but also factors like sufficiency, lifestyle and the organisation and interaction of systems. The lessons learned in the German energy transition can be adapted and transferred to other countries. The Wuppertal Institute is investigating the changes that will be needed to implement policy strategies in other regions.

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If companies and organisations want to be fit for the future, they need to take on social responsibility in order to remain competitive and ensure security of investment and corporate survival. Taking social and ecological demands into account is key to economic success. The environment, society and future generations determine the value of economic activity.

A lot of companies — be they global players, whole branches of industry, medium-sized craft enterprises or new-comers with alternative concepts — have already recognised this and are acting accordingly. They are reviewing their production processes, exploring future markets and rethinking their business models to stay on top during and after the transformation of the global economy.

The Wuppertal Institute supports them through a number of projects, analyses and proposed solutions. Its reputation is not just based on its role as a mediator between business, politics, society and

science. Various companies and organ-isations rely upon its transdisciplinary research approach and, in turn, are provided with innovative and practical solutions for their transformation.

For example, scientists at the Wupper- tal Institute carry out research into what resource-friendly technological approaches and a decarbonisation of energy-intensive primary industries might involve, what roles individual sources of energy play over time and what changes to systems are required to allow new technologies to enter the market. They not only focus on technol-ogies, resources and future energy and transport structures but also on chang-ing lifestyles and models of wealth and well-being. After all, resource-efficient and sustainable consumption patterns need new business models.

Issues relating to sustainability differ according to the industry in question. For that reason, the Wuppertal Institute develops industry-specific concepts for

The world’s economy is based on limited natural resources. Core elements of a future-proof, globalised economy are renewable resources and their efficient use, sustainable products and production processes, as well as fair, transparent. The Wuppertal Institute provides the necessary analyses and tools for companies and organisations.

utility companies, the food industry and energy-intensive industries, among oth-ers. Furthermore, the Institute examines more generally how companies can fulfil their responsibilities in terms of the en-vironmental impact of their production processes and products as well as the whole production cycle, from the extrac-tion of raw materials to the disposal of waste. To do this, the entire value chain is examined. The Wuppertal Institute develops management approaches and provides its clients with the tools to identify resource-consumption hotspots.

Project examples:

myEcoCost — A consumer-oriented prototype at the heart of a novel ecological accounting system Problems with the availability and quality of eco-balance data and other environmental analyses have an impact on evidence-based policy decisions, ecological business man-agement as well as on sustainable con-sumption decisions. The innovative software system “myEcoCost” solves these prob-lems by assessing the environmental and resource data for individual products and services in global value chains in real time and transferring the data. (A joint project with the European Commission.)

Assessment of the NRW.BANK.Green Bond’s avoided greenhouse gas emissions Green bonds are used to finance environ-mental protection projects. NRW.BANK has issued its NRW.BANK.Green Bonds with a focus on “Climate Mitigation” and “Climate Adaptation” each year since 2013. Funds from the NRW.BANK.Green Bond are used exclusively to refinance environmental pro-jects from the energy and water sector in North Rhine-Westphalia. In addition to

an independent assessment of the sustain-able value of the projects, since 2015 NRW.BANK has published an impact analysis. The Wuppertal Institute monitors this process and assesses the contribution towards climate protection. Since there is no existing general standard, in this project, the Wup-pertal Institute and NRW.BANK are develop-ing a sustainable method for standardised assessment. (Client: NRW.BANK.)

NRW’s climate protection and industry platformThe Wuppertal Institute, together with CleanTechNRW, maintains a dialogue with energy-intensive industries in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) on the subject of innovation strategies in the field of low- carbon technologies. The dialogue involves stakeholders from the steel, chemical, alu-minium, cement and glass industries as well as paper production. The project aims to outline sector-specific low-carbon strate-gies and to discuss cross-sector activities. (Client: The State of North Rhine-West-phalia’s Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Conservation and Consumer Protection.)

The Ndassima gold mine in the Central African Republic. In 2015, it has been under control of the Muslim militia Seleka. Over 1500 former workers practically live as slave under extreme conditions. Photo: Marco Gualazzini / laif

Preserving resources Today, we use resources equivalent to those of more than 1.6 planets — 60 per cent more than that which is regenerated each year. It is vital that we conserve natural resources, reduce their usage and consumption in order to save the environ­ment for future generations. Scientists at the Wuppertal Institute are convinced that this can be achieved if eco­innovations, resource­smart economic structures, prod­ucts, services and new lifestyles prevail. To “dematerialise” the world of products and production, the Institute provides tools to assess resource consumption and develops policy approaches to support new business models.

Urban gardening at the Tempelhof field in Berlin (site of the former airport), where a community-run site is developing. Photo: Lorenzo Maccotta / laif

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One of these projects is the “WISIONS for Sustainability” initia-tive, established in 2004, which aims to make clean energy a default solution for basic energy needs in developing and largely rural regions by empow-ering local partners to identify and scale successful models and techniques in their regional contexts. As well as helping supply developing regions with renewable energy, the long-term goal of the initiative is to disseminate successful solutions, thus contributing to a more just world.

For societies to be fit for the future, they need stakeholders to be well-informed and knowledge to be widely disseminat-ed in order to make the transformation towards sustainability possible. The Wuppertal Institute provides analyses and develops strategies to successfully promote the transformation and engage society. Inspiring solutions for a sustain-able, individual living environment are

given scientific support and tested in real-world laboratories under ordinary, everyday conditions. The Wuppertal Institute thus not only works as a think tank, it also transfers knowledge and tests the feasibility of theoretical solu-tions in experimental and pioneering projects.

The fact that the Wuppertal Institute can function as an intermediary between the two worlds of business and politics, thus taking account of their constraints and interests, is helpful when it comes to developing transformation strategies. Those strategies are not only scientifical-ly sound, they are also broadly accepted in society and politics. Realistic and successfully tested solutions are easier to communicate, not only to the general public but also to lead users, pioneers, multipliers and interested individuals. Studies and publications by the Wupper-tal Institute have initiated or enhanced debate.

The number of people who want a transformation towards sustainability in order to fight the increasing threats of climate change and resource scarcity is growing. To build up the pres-sure and acceptance needed for that transformation in politics, business and society, scientifically sound and convincing ideas are required. The Wuppertal Institute supports non-govern-mental organisations with specific research projects, studies or independent expertise.

Key questions for social research are centred around fair burden-sharing: How can the burdens and the profits of climate and environmental protection both be shared in a fair and just way? How can change and transformation processes be designed so that the whole of society benefits and poor countries are given the opportunity to develop?

A lot of people are concerned with these issues and are involved in environmen-tal associations, foundations, unions, churches, initiatives, organisations and agenda-setting. Their discourse is supported by the Wuppertal Institute, through its scientifically sound and com-prehensible studies, through discussions and presentations or by scientifically monitoring stakeholder processes.

Examples of projects

Social CSPExploring the impact of the NOORo I CSP project on local livelihoodsThis study explores how concentrated solar power (CSP) projects can gain society’s support to strengthen sustainability at local level. Impacts on livelihood are analysed and assessed, and the insights gained from this are used to improve practice. Recommenda-tions for the Moroccan Solar Plan and a set of 18 safeguards for livelihood sustainability were derived from the research results. (Client: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

National energy efficiency plan for ThailandIn order to tackle Thailand’s major future energy challenges — energy supply security, ever-increasing energy costs, dependency on energy imports as well as increasing pollution and CO2 emissions — the Thai government formulated a 20-year Energy Efficiency Development Plan (EEDP) in 2011. The Wuppertal Institute gives scientific advice on the implementation process. It largely provides international experience

Transformation of wealth Decoupling prosperity and ecological im­pacts with the help of social innovationsThe transformation towards sustainable development needs more than technological solutions and new business models. These are directly linked to the understanding of well­being in modern industrial nations. Despite successes in energy and resource efficiency, global ecological challenges are still on the increase. A “twin decoupling” is necessary: not only does the consumption of resources need to be decoupled from gross national product (eco­efficiency), our understanding of well­being must also be decoupled from economic growth (sufficiency). This is where new models of well­being come in: cities and districts are important areas for experimentation.

of energy efficiency and climate policy instruments, good-practice examples and background evaluations. (Client/sponsor: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH) Establishing a German-Japanese Energy Transition CouncilJapan and Germany face similar challenges. Both need to reorganise the energy supply system with the aim of attaining a system which will be reliable and low-risk, re-source-friendly and largely climate-neutral in the long term. To improve their ability to meet these challenges, these two high-tech countries are establishing a binational Energy Transition Council of the project. The Council’s work will focus on exchanging scientific knowledge on issues relating to the energy sector and learning from each other. The Wuppertal Institute supports the Council’s work as the scientific secretar-iat on the German side. (Client/sponsor: Auswärtiges Amt; Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt; Stiftung Mercator)

The Russian State Library is the national library of Russia, located in Moscow. Photo: Lyudmila Zinchenko / Saltimages / laif

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The challenges of climate change and resource consumption reach beyond the boundaries of scientific disciplines. Because these challenges concern all disciplines and will involve a change to systems, there must be close cooperation between natural/technolog-ical sciences, the humanities and social sciences in order to shape the necessary transformation. While the German scientific system is just starting out on this path, interdisciplinarity has been a defining characteristic of the Wuppertal Institute from the very beginning.

However, its understanding of science and operating principles extends further than this. Research conducted at the Wuppertal Institute analyses and mon-itors the transition and transformation towards sustainability, using a transdis-ciplinary approach, thus integrating not only different scientific disciplines but also the knowledge of the stakehold-ers involved. Based on a broad system knowledge, specific research tasks are analysed and relevant target knowledge is generated for vision development. Transformation knowledge, which is continuously verifiable and commu-nicable, results from experiments in real-world laboratories. In its research,

the Institute uses innovative methods, which it develops further.

At the Wuppertal Institute, scientists and research institutes find an open and experienced partner for research projects and collaborations in the context of sus-tainability. In turn, the Institute works together with other research institutions internationally and often coordinates large research consortiums. It system-atically integrates the knowledge of stakeholders (transdisciplinarity) as well as testing research findings and commu-nicating these to industry, politicians and the public.

Through numerous publications, pres-entations and conference contributions, the Wuppertal Institute inspires the scientific community and engages in the exchange of scientific knowledge. It is part of several research networks (IPCC, LCS-RNet, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Germany), Desertec University Network (DUN)). The Institute is involved in formal col-laborations between the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Tsinghua in China, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Japan and the Energy and Resources

To overcome the climate and environmental challenges of the 21st century, politics, business and society have to work hand in hand. This requires science to be transdisciplinary and understand this need for cooperation, thus making the transformation implementable. An inter- and transdisciplinary approach is fundamental to research at the Wuppertal Institute. It operates through networks and promotes a new image for science.

Institute (TERI) in India. Learning from others has always been at the heart of the Institute’s work. Further-more, a number of scientists are active in research and teaching assignments at universities in Germany and abroad.

The Wuppertal Institute is actively engaged in a dialogue about the transformation of the scientific system, so that research and teaching are more closely linked to society’s major challenges through inter- and transdisciplinary work.

Knowledge for the Great Transformation Transformative knowledge is greater than the sum of the findings of individual disciplines. It develops through the active exchange of knowledge and experience be­tween stakeholders and is guided by future issues affecting society. Science and edu­cation are crucial in the transformation towards a sustainable, climate­friendly and resource­efficient society. While sci­ence formulates visions and development trajectories, educational processes need to teach problem awareness and systems thinking. This is because the transforma­tion’s complex period of upheaval will require societies to develop a new outlook, known as “transformation literacy”.

Examples of projects

The learning city — interdisciplinary studios for sustainable urban development This project developed a new way of brain-storming sustainable urban planning solu-tions in China and Germany. The focus lies on the partnerships between the cities of Essen and Changzhou and Düsseldorf and Chongqing. German and Chinese students work together with experts in “Urban Stu-dios” to develop innovative urban planning concepts for the two Chinese cities. (Client: Stiftung Mercator.)

INNOLAB — living labs in the green economyThe effectiveness of sustainability innova-tions is limited by two sets of problems. Firstly, many innovations with high sustain-ability potential fail because of insufficient market acceptance and, secondly, they do not live up to expectations as a result of un-expected usage patterns in real life (known as the rebound effect). Living labs are re-search and innovation platforms, which look at real-world usage at an early stage of the innovation process. This makes it possible to increase market acceptance and factor in the rebound effect. (Client: Federal Ministry of Education and Research.)

HERON — forward-looking socio-economic research on energy efficiency in the EUHERON aims to facilitate policymakers at all levels of government in the EU to develop and monitor energy efficiency policies in the building and transport sectors through

forward-looking socio-economic research in seven EU countries and one candidate coun-try. The project plans to develop an inno-vative decision support tool to incorporate non-economic and non-market elements, such as social, educational and cultural indi-cators, into scenario analysis.

Wuppertal’s well-being transformation — an urban transition laboratory for a sustainable economyIn the urban transition laboratory for a sustainable economy, the research process not only spans various disciplines but also maintains a dialogue with the inhabitants of Wuppertal as well as stakeholders from civil society and the city’s administration. Those involved will develop a joint vision of what constitutes a “good life” in Wuppertal. Working with local groups, projects aiming to create well-being will be developed and realised in four selected districts of the city. (Client: Federal Ministry of Education and Research.)

Cycle City Copenhagen. Photo: Thomas Rabsch / laif

ImpressumWuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and EnergyDöppersberg 19 42103 WuppertalGermanyTel. +49 202 2492-0Fax +49 202 2492-108info@wupperinst.orgwww.wupperinst.org

Wuppertal, 2016

Editors: Ralf Bindel, Dorle RiechertDesign: Oktober Kommunikationsdesign