The university’s fifth Centre of Competence is led by Christian Flachsland, Professor of Sustainability.
Berlin 1 October 2021
The Hertie School has officially launched the Centre for Sustainability, a new hub for teaching, research, and debate that aims to prepare future leaders and inform the design of effective public policies for sustainability. The Centre for Sustainability is the fifth Centre of Competence at the Hertie School, which consolidate the university’s research expertise on governance challenges pivotal to our common future.
Dr. Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, provided keynote remarks at the Centre’s launch event, under the theme: The challenges and opportunities of 1.5°C stabilisation for Europe and Germany. Chief economist of the German Ministry of Finance Jakob von Weizsäcker, alongside Jesse Scott, Director of Agora Energiewende’s International Programme, and the Centre’s Director Christian Flachsland contributed their insights during the Centre’s inaugural debate on 30 September 2021.
“The transition to greenhouse gas neutrality requires solutions to multiple technological, economic, social and political challenges. At the same time, it opens up new opportunities for innovations improving our quality of life” said Professor Christian Flachsland. “As a public policy school in the heart of Europe, we want to contribute to enabling this transformation through excellent research, teaching and policy advice.”
"If governments are to achieve net-zero targets, they will need future leaders and change makers who understand how to transform energy systems, transportations systems, and other societal sectors,” said Mark Hallerberg, Acting President of the Hertie School. “The Centre for Sustainability will educate and bring together those leaders who will shape a more sustainable tomorrow.”
More than 160 people attended the Centre’s launch event, held at the Hertie School and online. Learn more about the Centre in this short animation.
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