Heinrich Böll Foundation

Heinrich Böll Stiftung North America

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Welcome to the Heinrich Böll Stiftung North America!

We are a political non-profit organization striving to promote democracy, civil society, equality and a healthy environment internationally. Headquarted in Berlin/Germany, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung has 28 offices worldwide and cooperates with more than 200 partners in more than 60 countries.

Visitors

Visitor

Ralf Fücks

Ralf Fücks, President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, will travel to Chicago, IL for political talks from May 19th to May 22nd, 2012. In the context of NATO meeting, he will participate in a high-level panel of experts on the future of the Transatlantic Alliance. more»

Publications

demonstration to shut down nuclear reactors

Policy Paper

Angst or Arithmetic? Why Germans are so Skeptical about Nuclear Energy

May 11, 2012 - Is it hysteria or emotional populism that Germany has decided to phase out nuclear energy? On the contrary, a majority of Germans has been unconvinced of its merits since the early 1980s; the source of this anti-atom consensus lies in the persuasive, fact-based arguments of a powerful, grassroots social movement. Paul Hockenos more»

Study

Gender Relations and Women’s Vulnerability to Climate Change

- May 9, 2012 - Recognizing the significance of inequitable gender relations for women’s vulnerability to climate change, this study analyzes if and how an adaptation measure involving a relocation program that gives titles to new public housing to women implemented in response to severe flooding in the Mexican state of Tabasco in 2007, has contributed to modifying gender relations and strengthening gender equality. Jenny Jungehülsing more»

Study

Going Green: Chemicals Fields of Action for a Resourceefficient Chemical Industry

- May 4, 2012 - The chemical industry in Germany plays a key role in the economy as a whole and the country's international competitiveness. It provides more than 290,000 well paying jobs. The capacity of the chemical industry for innovation is crucial for finding solutions to some of the major challenges of our time such as climate change and the resource crisis: chemicals can help to insulate buildings, generate solar power, build cleaner cars and increase material efficiency. Uwe Lahl and Barbara Zeschmar-Lahl more»

Policy Paper

Preventing Wall-E

- April 30, 2012 - Since 2002, the world community has been struggling to formulate a framework for sustainable consumption and production. In this paper, "Preventing Wall-E", Victoria Floor describes the struggle, the high stakes and the importance of a Rio +20 agreement. Victoria Floor more»

Dossier

Business 20 (B-20) Dossier

- The B20 exerts a strong influence on the decisions of the G20. Documents by or about the B20 and its associates (e.g. the World Economic Forum, McKinsey and Company, Chambers of Commerce) are published here. more»

Newsletters

Foundation Newsletter and Resources on the G20

- The Heinrich Böll Foundation publishes a monthly newsletter, the “G20 Update,” on the G20 Summit processes and outcomes with special emphasis on the contributions to the processes by civil society organizations (click here for the April 2012 issue (EN) (ESP)). more»

Dossier

Climate - Migration - Security

- Growing evidence of links between climate change, migration, and conflict raise plenty of reasons for concern and it’s time to start thinking about new answers to these multifaceted crisis scenarios. - New study on Climate Change and North Africa! more»

Report

Solidarity and Strength. The Future of the European Union

- May 1, 2012 - With the ink on the Treaty of Lisbon scarcely dry, the European debt crisis has once more raised the question as to how the EU should be constituted. The Union’s ability to hold together and withstand the crisis is being put to the test. Against this background, the Heinrich Böll Foundation set up a commission in 2010 to examine the future of the EU and a summary of its findings can be found in this publication. FULL PUBLICATION NOW AVAILABLE. more»

Policy Papers

Transatlantic Tar Sand Storms: Lobbying and Dirty Oil are Canada’s New Exports

- March 30, 2012 - In its tar sands, Canada has the biggest oil reserves worldwide after Saudi Arabia. While delaying climate action at home, the Canadian government is undermining international efforts in fighting climate change. Low carbon fuel standards in the EU and California or the denial to build the Keystone XL pipeline through the US would be a major setback for Canada’s export of oil from tar sands. Eva Zschirnt and Arne Jungjohann more»

Policy Paper

International Security Guarantees on the Way to a Permanent Agreement on a Two-State-Solution Israel / Palestine

- March 20, 2012 - From mid-2010 to mid-2011 a working group of Israeli and Palestinian security experts developed concrete proposals and practical steps for international security guarantees in the case of a two state solution between Israel and Palestine. This work was undertaken at the invitation of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung. The group presents their recommendations at several events in Berlin, Brussels and Washington, DC. Core Group more»

Policy Paper

Think Tank-20 Meets in Mexico City, February 2012

- March 19, 2012 - On February 27-29, Think Tank-20 representatives from 16 countries met in Mexico City to provide input and recommendations to the Mexican G20 Sherpa and her team. Each participant submitted a short briefing memo on topics including the global economic system and the G20's performance. more»

Policy Paper

Myths and Facts: The German Switch from Nuclear to Renewables

- March 16, 2012 - Germany’s decision to phase out nuclear power after Fukushima has been criticized as it would lead to rising emissions and a shortage of power supply. A fact check proves these claims to be wrong. Today, renewable energies provide for more than a fifth of electricity demand in Germany. The country is on track to surpass its ambitious climate targets and even exports electricity to Europe’s nuclear power house, France. Craig Morris more»

Policy Paper

The Green Economy – The New Magic Bullet?

- March 15, 2012 - In this essay, the president of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, Barbara Unmuessig, critically reflects on the opportunities for and the shortcomings of the concept of a "Green Economy" to influence economic policy making globally, its relationship to the paradigm of sustainable development and the need to rethink our understanding and focus on growth. Barbara Unmüßig more»

Article

The Final Battle

- March 5, 2012 - Germany has seen record investments in solar energy. Thus, coal and nuclear utilities are calling for an end to solar incentives. They might be able to delay the boom of solar power. But it is too late to stop it altogether, argues Volker Quaschning in this article. Volker Quaschning more»

Article

European Climate Leadership – Durban and Beyond

- March 6, 2012 - Can Europe assert leadership on climate change in light of its myriad problems? The EU was key in shaping the outcome of the last UNFCCC negotiations, the so-called Durban Platform. This paper analyzes the prospects for Europe to continue to act as a driving force towards a greener planet, both at home and abroad. Hans JH Verolme more»