Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

Key messages

• Green transitions have the potential to support Africa–Europe cooperation by combining
the climate agenda with an innovative socio-economic project for jobs creation and
sustainable growth. Green transitions can be a fruitful area for cooperation because
common interests and interdependencies between both continents are high.
• Green transitions are key topics in the African Union (AU) and the European Union
(EU). Both are committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and the Paris Climate Agreement within which green transitions are key
elements. The EU has initiated the European Green Deal with an ambitious agenda to
transform Europe into a carbon-neutral continent by 2050. On both continents, green
transitions play a prominent role in debates about socio-economic COVID-19 recovery
programmes.
• Notwithstanding these communalities, the EU and the AU approach green transitions
from very different angles. Whereas the EU has a major historic responsibility and
continues to have very high per capita emissions, African countries have contributed
little to climate change but will be severely affected by its consequences. The AU’s
Agenda 2063 gives strong priority to poverty reduction and climate adaptation, whereas
the social dimension of the European Green Deal is limited. Acknowledging these
differences will need to be the starting point for identifying priorities for AU–EU
cooperation on developing green transitions.
• In order to make cooperation on the Green Deal and green transitions fruitful for AU–EU
relations, the EU institutions and member states will need to understand African
countries’ strategic objectives and interests. They will need to learn from past
experiences and reflect an eye-level partnership in their communications on, and
approaches to, cooperation in order to gain the trust of, and jointly identify common
interests with, African partners. The AU and member states, in turn, will need to invest
more in defining their strategic objectives, in promoting socially inclusive green
transitions across the continent, and in cooperating with the EU on green transitions.
• Neither Europe nor Africa has a blueprint for what carbon-neutral societies and
economies will look like. Cooperation on green transitions therefore provides
opportunities for joint learning and joint knowledge production by European and African
actors and for some of the underlying structural asymmetries to be addressed.
• This paper explores six particularly relevant fields of action for AU–EU cooperation on
green transitions and the Green Deal – energy transitions, the circular economy, trade,
climate change adaptation in the agricultural sector, climate diplomacy and financial
instruments. For each of these fields of action, reform initiatives on both continents are
discussed and specific recommendations developed.

Key messages

• Green transitions have the potential to support Africa–Europe cooperation by combining
the climate agenda with an innovative socio-economic project for jobs creation and
sustainable growth. Green transitions can be a fruitful area for cooperation because
common interests and interdependencies between both continents are high.
• Green transitions are key topics in the African Union (AU) and the European Union
(EU). Both are committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and the Paris Climate Agreement within which green transitions are key
elements. The EU has initiated the European Green Deal with an ambitious agenda to
transform Europe into a carbon-neutral continent by 2050. On both continents, green
transitions play a prominent role in debates about socio-economic COVID-19 recovery
programmes.
• Notwithstanding these communalities, the EU and the AU approach green transitions
from very different angles. Whereas the EU has a major historic responsibility and
continues to have very high per capita emissions, African countries have contributed
little to climate change but will be severely affected by its consequences. The AU’s
Agenda 2063 gives strong priority to poverty reduction and climate adaptation, whereas
the social dimension of the European Green Deal is limited. Acknowledging these
differences will need to be the starting point for identifying priorities for AU–EU
cooperation on developing green transitions.
• In order to make cooperation on the Green Deal and green transitions fruitful for AU–EU
relations, the EU institutions and member states will need to understand African
countries’ strategic objectives and interests. They will need to learn from past
experiences and reflect an eye-level partnership in their communications on, and
approaches to, cooperation in order to gain the trust of, and jointly identify common
interests with, African partners. The AU and member states, in turn, will need to invest
more in defining their strategic objectives, in promoting socially inclusive green
transitions across the continent, and in cooperating with the EU on green transitions.
• Neither Europe nor Africa has a blueprint for what carbon-neutral societies and
economies will look like. Cooperation on green transitions therefore provides
opportunities for joint learning and joint knowledge production by European and African
actors and for some of the underlying structural asymmetries to be addressed.
• This paper explores six particularly relevant fields of action for AU–EU cooperation on
green transitions and the Green Deal – energy transitions, the circular economy, trade,
climate change adaptation in the agricultural sector, climate diplomacy and financial
instruments. For each of these fields of action, reform initiatives on both continents are
discussed and specific recommendations developed.

The MGG Programme is an innovative and ambitious initiative implemented by the German Development Institute (DIE) with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Although the scope and objectives have changed since it was launched in 2007, there is a clear vision that summarises its overarching goals: to construct a network that functions as an effective, high-quality, knowledge-based cooperation system for promoting global governance and sustainable development in the long run. In this respect, managing and crafting symbols, perceptions and collective identities within the MGG will remain crucial as a glue that enables collective efforts and maximises the network’s overall impact.
Under what conditions does cooperation among diverse groups become sustainable? How does the MGG look when analysed as part of the longer-term life trajectory of its participants? How do individual identities intersect with a collective sense of belonging to the programme and to the network? What is the role of the collective identity and the collective narrative that underpins MGG efforts? The main goal of this discussion paper is to apply oral history methodologies to answer some of these questions. The assumption is that the long-term impact of the MGG Programme depends on how well individual motivations, which are shaped by complex life trajectories, intersect with national interests and broader global cooperation narratives.
By confronting theory with empirical evidence, this paper also draws some lessons and raises some interesting questions that may be useful for MGG staff to consider when planning future activities.

The MGG Programme is an innovative and ambitious initiative implemented by the German Development Institute (DIE) with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Although the scope and objectives have changed since it was launched in 2007, there is a clear vision that summarises its overarching goals: to construct a network that functions as an effective, high-quality, knowledge-based cooperation system for promoting global governance and sustainable development in the long run. In this respect, managing and crafting symbols, perceptions and collective identities within the MGG will remain crucial as a glue that enables collective efforts and maximises the network’s overall impact.
Under what conditions does cooperation among diverse groups become sustainable? How does the MGG look when analysed as part of the longer-term life trajectory of its participants? How do individual identities intersect with a collective sense of belonging to the programme and to the network? What is the role of the collective identity and the collective narrative that underpins MGG efforts? The main goal of this discussion paper is to apply oral history methodologies to answer some of these questions. The assumption is that the long-term impact of the MGG Programme depends on how well individual motivations, which are shaped by complex life trajectories, intersect with national interests and broader global cooperation narratives.
By confronting theory with empirical evidence, this paper also draws some lessons and raises some interesting questions that may be useful for MGG staff to consider when planning future activities.

The MGG Programme is an innovative and ambitious initiative implemented by the German Development Institute (DIE) with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Although the scope and objectives have changed since it was launched in 2007, there is a clear vision that summarises its overarching goals: to construct a network that functions as an effective, high-quality, knowledge-based cooperation system for promoting global governance and sustainable development in the long run. In this respect, managing and crafting symbols, perceptions and collective identities within the MGG will remain crucial as a glue that enables collective efforts and maximises the network’s overall impact.
Under what conditions does cooperation among diverse groups become sustainable? How does the MGG look when analysed as part of the longer-term life trajectory of its participants? How do individual identities intersect with a collective sense of belonging to the programme and to the network? What is the role of the collective identity and the collective narrative that underpins MGG efforts? The main goal of this discussion paper is to apply oral history methodologies to answer some of these questions. The assumption is that the long-term impact of the MGG Programme depends on how well individual motivations, which are shaped by complex life trajectories, intersect with national interests and broader global cooperation narratives.
By confronting theory with empirical evidence, this paper also draws some lessons and raises some interesting questions that may be useful for MGG staff to consider when planning future activities.

A growing scientific evidence reaffirms that slow onset climate events such as desertification, sea level rise and loss of biodiversity will place an increasing number of people at risk of poverty and social marginalization. Establishing national social protection systems aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement could be a key policy approach to address increasing risks from long-term changes to the climate system. Through a review of conceptual and empirical literature, this study explores the potential for social protection to address slow onset events by looking into the multiple dimensions of vulnerability and resilience. The paper further derives recommendations on how this potential can be translated into strategic policy agendas and discusses options for financing such interventions in developing countries.

A growing scientific evidence reaffirms that slow onset climate events such as desertification, sea level rise and loss of biodiversity will place an increasing number of people at risk of poverty and social marginalization. Establishing national social protection systems aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement could be a key policy approach to address increasing risks from long-term changes to the climate system. Through a review of conceptual and empirical literature, this study explores the potential for social protection to address slow onset events by looking into the multiple dimensions of vulnerability and resilience. The paper further derives recommendations on how this potential can be translated into strategic policy agendas and discusses options for financing such interventions in developing countries.

A growing scientific evidence reaffirms that slow onset climate events such as desertification, sea level rise and loss of biodiversity will place an increasing number of people at risk of poverty and social marginalization. Establishing national social protection systems aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement could be a key policy approach to address increasing risks from long-term changes to the climate system. Through a review of conceptual and empirical literature, this study explores the potential for social protection to address slow onset events by looking into the multiple dimensions of vulnerability and resilience. The paper further derives recommendations on how this potential can be translated into strategic policy agendas and discusses options for financing such interventions in developing countries.

In diesem Jahr steht der Earth Day unter dem Motto „Restore Our Earth!“, also der Aufforderung, unsere Erde wieder in Stand zu setzen. Das kann nicht an einem einzelnen Aktionstag gelingen, doch die kommende Dekade ist entscheidend. Für eine wahrhaft nachhaltige Entwicklung müssen Klimaziele mit den SDGs verzahnt werden.

In diesem Jahr steht der Earth Day unter dem Motto „Restore Our Earth!“, also der Aufforderung, unsere Erde wieder in Stand zu setzen. Das kann nicht an einem einzelnen Aktionstag gelingen, doch die kommende Dekade ist entscheidend. Für eine wahrhaft nachhaltige Entwicklung müssen Klimaziele mit den SDGs verzahnt werden.

In diesem Jahr steht der Earth Day unter dem Motto „Restore Our Earth!“, also der Aufforderung, unsere Erde wieder in Stand zu setzen. Das kann nicht an einem einzelnen Aktionstag gelingen, doch die kommende Dekade ist entscheidend. Für eine wahrhaft nachhaltige Entwicklung müssen Klimaziele mit den SDGs verzahnt werden.

Die im DIW Berlin angesiedelte forschungsbasierte Infrastruktureinrichtung Sozio-oekonomisches Panel (SOEP) sucht ab sofort bis zu zwei

studentische Hilfskräfte (w/m/div)

für 8-15 Wochenstunden

Ihre Aufgabe ist die Mitwirkung bei der Datenaufbereitung und der Generierung von nutzerfreundlichen Variablen (in R), der Programmierung und Testung von Fragebögen (in limesurvey) sowie der Unterstützung der Forschung im Rahmen der Projekte „Bremer Initiative zur Stärkung der frühkindlichen Entwicklung (BRISE). Dabei lernen Sie neben der Programmierung von Fragebögen, die Arbeit mit komplexen Mehrebenendaten, die Arbeit mit R und das wissenschaftliche Arbeiten in einem interdisziplinär orientierten Team.

DIW-Präsident Marcel Fratzscher kommentiert die heutige Sitzung des EZB-Rats wie folgt:

-->Die EZB hat signalisiert, dass sie ihren expansiven Kurs noch für längere Zeit wird fortsetzen müssen. Die Erwartungen derer, die auf ein schnelleres Ende der Anleihenkäufe gehofft hatten, wurden enttäuscht. Die EZB ist noch bei weitem nicht in der Lage, einen Kurswechsel zu vollziehen.

Die europäische Zentralbank muss drei zentrale Herausforderungen bewältigen. Da die gegenwärtigen Inflationserwartungen noch immer nicht ausreichend mit dem Ziel der Preisstabilität vereinbar sind, ist es die größte Herausforderung für die EZB, ihre Glaubwürdigkeit zu stärken und die Erwartungen besser zu verankern. Die zweite zentrale Herausforderung sind die Auswirkungen der expansiven US-Finanz- und Geldpolitik, die weiterhin Druck auf die Zinsen in Europa und den Euro-Wechselkurs ausüben. Auch wenn EZB-Präsidentin Lagarde unterstreicht, dass die Geldpolitik nicht die Finanzpolitik ersetzen kann, so wird der Druck auf die EZB zunehmen, ihre expansive Geldpolitik weiter auszuweiten, da die Finanzpolitik in Europa – im Vergleich zu anderen – nicht ausreichend handelt, um die wirtschaftliche Transformation zu beschleunigen. Als dritte Herausforderung kommt eine Verschlechterung der Finanzierungsbedingungen für einige Unternehmen im Euroraum hinzu.

Alle drei Herausforderungen könnten einem zügigen wirtschaftlichen Aufschwung im Weg stehen und lassen der EZB keine andere Wahl, als weiterhin an ihrem expansiven Kurs festzuhalten.

“Restore Our Earth!” was the theme and rallying cry for this year’s Earth Day on 22 April. This is not something that could be achieved on a single day. Yet, Earth Day 2021 might signal a greater turning of the tide. Events like US President Biden's Leaders Summit on Climate or milestone legislation like the European Climate Law can be stepping stones that lead the way into the "Green Twenties".

“Restore Our Earth!” was the theme and rallying cry for this year’s Earth Day on 22 April. This is not something that could be achieved on a single day. Yet, Earth Day 2021 might signal a greater turning of the tide. Events like US President Biden's Leaders Summit on Climate or milestone legislation like the European Climate Law can be stepping stones that lead the way into the "Green Twenties".

“Restore Our Earth!” was the theme and rallying cry for this year’s Earth Day on 22 April. This is not something that could be achieved on a single day. Yet, Earth Day 2021 might signal a greater turning of the tide. Events like US President Biden's Leaders Summit on Climate or milestone legislation like the European Climate Law can be stepping stones that lead the way into the "Green Twenties".

Es spricht vieles dafür, dass wir am Beginn des „grünsten“ Jahrzehnts stehen, das die Welt seit Beginn der Industrialisierung gesehen hat. Die Chancen dafür stehen besser als noch vor wenigen Jahren gedacht. Entscheidend ist, dass die aktuellen Konjunkturpakete infolge der COVID-19-Pandemie als Hebel sozial-ökologischer Kurskorrekturen angesetzt werden und nicht auf die Wiederherstellung des Status quo ante zielen.

Es spricht vieles dafür, dass wir am Beginn des „grünsten“ Jahrzehnts stehen, das die Welt seit Beginn der Industrialisierung gesehen hat. Die Chancen dafür stehen besser als noch vor wenigen Jahren gedacht. Entscheidend ist, dass die aktuellen Konjunkturpakete infolge der COVID-19-Pandemie als Hebel sozial-ökologischer Kurskorrekturen angesetzt werden und nicht auf die Wiederherstellung des Status quo ante zielen.