Federal Agency for Civic Education Publishes Booklet on Climate Crisis

05.08.2021

The countries that signed up to the Paris Agreement have pledged to limit the global temperature increase to well below 2ºC and, if possible, to below 1.5ºC. A key challenge to achieving this goal lies in pursuing action at both the national and international levels. The problems and opportunities arising around this process are the focus of a new booklet in the series "Information for Civic Education", which was developed with the support of researchers from the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam.

The Federal Agency for Civic Education has published a new booklet on the climate crisis.

The booklet, which features a wealth of images, infographics, excerpts from primary sources and a detailed glossary, offers an overview of developments in climate science over the last decades and shows how human activities are driving global heating. It also looks at how scientists use climate modelling to anticipate future developments and design strategies for climate adaptation.

The issues explored in this publication include: How will transitioning to more sustainable lifestyles and economic activities impact on societies, individuals, businesses, and industry? What can we do to combat the increasing concentrations of harmful greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? Which regions are already particularly affected by climate change and how can societies pursue climate goals in a way that is just? Seven of the twelve authors are researchers with the IASS and the other contributors conduct research at the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, the Climate Service Center Germany (Gerics) and the University of Hamburg.

The booklet also highlights the challenges and opportunities for democratic soceities and civic engagement when people are directly affected by changes in their environment. Tackling climate change in this context requires that all those affected be involved in decision-making processes at an early stage and that societies foster acceptance and active involvement across the broadest possible base to safeguard livelihoods and the foundations of life.