Web dossier | The US 2024 elections from a green and European perspective

The outcome of the 2024 elections in the USA will have far-reaching international consequences. How will the result affect Transatlantic relations, Europe's security policy and global climate policy? In this web dossier, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung addresses these and other questions from a green and European perspective.

European Union: How Can Reform and Enlargement Succeed? Impetus for the Reform Debate

The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung has invited experts to provide impetus for the EU reform debate in a number of policy areas. The result is a series of policy papers, some of which propose pragmatic approaches, others a change of direction. In their entirety, they are intended to improve the EU's capacity to act, as well as make it more democratic, ecological and socially just. Our conclusion: There is potential for a successful reform process, and Germany can play a key role in achieving it.

Boosting participation in the energy transition: Five action areas for the new EU policy cycle

The shift from fossil fuels to renewables promises affordability and energy security but poses challenges in equitable implementation. Vulnerable households often face disproportionate burdens, highlighting the need for socially inclusive policies. Innovative measures like energy sharing, dynamic tariffs, and local transition management are emerging to bridge these gaps. A new report with the Green European Foundation explores how citizens can benefit better from the energy transition.

New Soil Atlas 2024: Facts and figures about a vital resource

Healthy soils are a basic requirement for producing nutritious food, preserving biodiversity and adapting to climate change. But the condition of the soils is poor, with more than a third of the world's agricultural land being considered degraded. In the European Union, more than 60 percent of soils are now damaged - caused, among other factors, by industrial agriculture and the effects of the climate crisis such as droughts. This is outlined in the Soil Atlas 2024, published by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and TMG Think Tank for Sustainability.

Thursday 12.12.2024, 10:30 CET

Trump 2.0: Scenario implications for Ukraine and Transatlantic security

This webinar will discuss how the European Union and its Member States could adjust their Ukraine and NATO policies, in light of the imminent return of Donald Trump to the White House, with the authors of the study "US elections and European cohesion: Scenario implications for Ukraine and Transatlantic security" Rachel Tausendfreund, Senior Research Fellow, USA/Transatlantic Relations, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and Roderick Kefferpütz, Director, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union.

Tuesday 3.12.2024, 14:00 CET

What to do to speed up offshore energy? EU-UK views on improving our energy networks

The North Sea is on the way to become Europe’s renewable powerhouse. This sea basin alone would then be the home to a higher power generation capacity than the sum of all nuclear power plants worldwide. While businesses and households hope for affordable electricity to lower their bills, the steel and chemicals industries eye offshore wind as a source for hydrogen to replace fossil fuels in their production processes. 

Even more than on the mainland, the grids are the bottleneck for the access to renewables. One year after the launch of the EU’s Grid Action Plan and a few days after the ministerial meeting of the North Sea Energy Corporation, this webinar brings together EU and UK practitioners whose job is to prepare our energy networks for a renewable energy system.

We will discuss solutions for better connecting not only wind farms but also the EU and its neighbours in view of accelerating the energy transition.

Thursday 5.12.2024, 16:00 CET

Soil Atlas 2024: Global and local perspectives on a vital, high-in-demand resource

The ground beneath our feet is a true all-rounder. It is the most species-rich habitat on our planet, it stores gigantic amounts of carbon and water, feeds people and animals, and provides the ground for flowers to bloom and trees to grow. Soil is a vital resource – and it is under serious threat. Globally, around one-third of soils are degraded. Yesterday's fertile humus is drying out, and more and more soil is being sealed off for infrastructure development. Conflicts over increasingly scarce land are rising.

The Soil Atlas 2024 highlights not only the consequences of global soil loss but also the potential of sustainable and equitable land use for climate protection and biodiversity.

This webinar, taking place during the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), will emphasize concrete experiences with soil restoration from different continents. It will also address the necessary framework conditions for soil restoration such as land rights.

Thursday 12.12.2024 to Friday 13.12.2024

Conference: Towards an international regulatory framework for pesticides

The Second Conference, “Towards an International Regulatory Framework for Pesticides,” aims to foster dialogue on the indiscriminate use of pesticides, their effects on human health and the environment, and potential solutions to these pressing issues. The event is scheduled to take place on December 12–13, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium.

This conference is being organized under the leadership of Members of the European Parliament Martin Häusling, Majdouline Sbai, and Tilly Metz – in collaboration with the International Pesticide Standard Alliance (IPSA), the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, the International Centre for Water and Transdisciplinarity (CIRAT, Brazil), the Brazilian Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), and the Brazilian Ministry of Labour Prosecutor’s Office (MPT).