“The Energy Transition on Our Doorstep” – Panel Discussion with Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt

What has so far caused the energy transition to fail at the local level? What pitfalls are there, especially at universities? Katrin Göring-Eckardt wants to take a closer look and will be a guest at the panel discussion at Alanus University on June 6.

Together with stakeholders from civil society, business, and academia, the Vice President of the German Bundestag will discuss the challenges of the energy transition. Joining her on the panel will be Mia Hense from Fridays for Future Bonn, entrepreneur Stefan Maier, Managing Director of Prior 1 GmbH from St. Augustin, as well as Dr. Hermann Falk, board member of the Alanus Foundation and GLS Treuhand from Bochum.

“Our university has already been awarded the title of ‘Fairtrade University’ three times and has had an entirely vegetarian-vegan cafeteria since spring. Nevertheless, important measures are lagging behind, such as photovoltaic systems on the roofs of Campus 2 – Villestraße. I hope that our event will help create a starting point here,” explains Aaron Bangert. The graduate of the ‘Rethinking Economics’ degree program at Alanus University met Katrin Göring-Eckardt at a rally in Bonn and spontaneously invited her to Alfter for an open exchange on the energy transition. “Renewables are our future. As the federal government and parliament, we have removed one obstacle to expansion after another over the past months despite the energy crisis,” says Katrin Göring-Eckardt. “What matters now is giving wind and solar real momentum locally as well. I am happy to come to Alanus University’s panel discussion to explore how this can succeed and how the future of universities can also be shaped sustainably.”

For activist Mia Hense, honest communication about where opportunities in the energy transition have been missed and which opportunities must now be seized is a key foundation for making progress in climate protection. Stefan Maier of Prior 1 also sees an urgent need to catch up: “We have been working for quite some time on improving the environmental compatibility of our data centers, which at 2.5% are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. But we still lack, for example, protection from emission-intensive foreign competition.” Hermann Falk of the Alanus Foundation is convinced: “The staff and students at Alanus University are creative, active, and knowledgeable when it comes to sustainable development. There is therefore great potential, in cooperation with local entrepreneurs, committed citizens, and politicians, to advance the energy transition right on our doorstep!”

The event is being organized jointly with the Green Office of Alanus University. Moderation will be provided by graduate Aaron Bangert. After the panel discussion, there will be an opportunity for networking from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with booths from companies in the region and student initiatives from the university.

Panel discussion “What has so far caused the energy transition to fail at the local level?”
When: June 6, 2023, 5:45 p.m.
Where: Campus II – Villestraße, foyer, Villestraße 3, 53347 Alfter

Admission free, registration required at: eveeno.com/energiewende-alanus

Contact for press inquiries:
+49 (0)2222 9321 -1942 / -1944
presse@alanus.edu