Sustainability Lecture 2024 with Prof. Ulrich Brand
On November 26, the University of Tübingen was all about sustainable development. At a festive event, the renewed EMAS certification was made visible with the presentation of certificates, the sustainability prizes for theses were awarded and Prof. Ulrich Brand took an exciting look at global challenges of sustainable development with reference to “imperial lifestyles” in the Sustainability Lecture 2024.
Prof. Samuel Wagner, Vice-Rector for Sustainable Development, opened the event with a welcome address in which he emphasized the special responsibility of universities in the field of sustainable development. Projects such as the KuNaH (Culture of Sustainability at Universities) research project and the Studium Oecologicum underline the university's commitment to anchoring sustainable development as an integral part of its excellence strategy. He emphasized that the University of Tübingen actively assumes this responsibility through excellent research, the training of change agents and as a sustainable organization.
A first highlight was the presentation of the EMAS certificate to the University of Tübingen by the Reutlingen Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Since the introduction of the environmental management system in 2011, the university has been working continuously to improve its environmental performance. After Ilona Liesche, Environmental Coordinator at the University of Tübingen, explained the significance and requirements of the EMAS certificate, Dr. Wolfgang Epp from the Reutlingen Chamber of Industry and Commerce presented the award.
Afterwards, the sustainability awards for final theses were ceremoniously presented by Vice-Rector Prof. Samuel Wagner to Prof. Thomas Potthast. These prizes were awarded for the 14th time for Bachelor's and Master's theses, and this year for the first time also for a dissertation. The large number of submissions from a wide range of disciplines illustrates how broadly anchored sustainable development topics are at the university.
Leon Flemming, Marie Luise Geisbusch and Benedikt Sanwald were awarded prizes for their bachelor theses. In his thesis, Leon Flemming (Geography) analyzed the socio-spatial inequality of heat stress in the city of Tübingen and examined the spatial extent of urban heat islands. Marie Luise Geisbusch (Geoecology) investigated the effects of renaturation measures on the vegetation of moors by combining field and satellite data. Benedikt Sanwald (German Studies) dealt with the extinction of species and examined the topic using the literary works “Käfer” by Bernhard Kegel and “Subtile Jagden” by Ernst Jünger.
Mara Buchstab, Jörg Müller and Freya Reiß were honored for their Master's theses. In her thesis, Mara Buchstab (Political Science/Public Policy and Social Change) analyzed the ideological development of the SPD with regard to the “eco-social growth trilemma” and examined parliamentary debates on the annual economic report between 1968 and 2023. Jörg Müller (Media Studies) focused on the sustainable use of old lenses on modern cameras and showed how resources can be conserved by reusing them. Freya Reiß (Economics/European Management) investigated the causes and mechanisms of greenwashing in selected companies of the Eurostoxx600 using econometric methods.
A dissertation was also honored for the first time: Dr. Beatrice Ellerhoff (Physics) examined in her work how historical climate simulations can be used to understand temperature fluctuations on a local to global scale and predict future effects of climate change more precisely.
The third highlight was the Sustainability Lecture, given by political scientist Prof. Ulrich Brand from the University of Vienna on the topic of “Capitalism at the limit? On the contradictions of the “imperial way of life”. He spoke about the pressing ecological and social challenges of our time and addressed the fundamental causes of the climate crisis and possible paths towards a more sustainable society based on solidarity.
Brand outlined the concept of “monstrous normality”, which describes how deeply the destructive exploitation of people and nature is embedded in our society and economy. He also criticized the buzzword “ecological modernization”, which often disguises the fact that problems are only treated superficially instead of tackling the roots of the crisis. Instead, he advocated an approach that focuses on strong sustainability and a way of life based on solidarity.
“The climate crisis is here and it is serious,” Brand emphasized, citing the example of the heavy rainfall events in Valencia. While movements such as Fridays for Future brought about a broad mobilization in 2019, the pandemic has greatly reduced public attention and protest. At the same time, geopolitical developments are exacerbating the situation: in 2020, for example, 700 billion dollars were invested in the extraction of fossil fuels - a huge contradiction to the 250 billion dollars needed annually to support the Global South in the fight against the climate crisis.
In his speech, Brand described the imperial way of life as a central problem. Our consumer goods - from cell phones to cheap schnitzel and clothing - are often based on the exploitation of labor and resources in other parts of the world. Even everyday lifestyles, such as the care of elderly people by workers from Eastern Europe, illustrate this structural dependency. Brand made it clear that this is not just an individual matter, but is driven by economic and political structures.
Brand also criticized the promises of the “green economy”: the idea of decoupling economic growth and emissions does not deliver what it promises. Instead, he warned against the increasing instrumentalization of the Global South as a mere material store for the Global North. Brand also outlined the social requirements for a solidary and sustainable future. Among other things, this included redesigning the mobility system with a stronger focus on expanding public transportation and short distances. It is important not to equate sustainable development with sacrifice, but to see it as an opportunity to create new prospects worth living for.
His core message: change is possible, but it requires far-reaching changes in the economy, politics and lifestyle - away from destructive practices and towards a solidary and sustainable society.
Text: Lydia Solomon und Kerstin Schopp