Articles

Finance for Loss and Damage was a critical issue in the lead up to and at COP26. While the outcome in the Glasgow Climate Pact was underwhelming—a push by developing countries to establish a Glasgow Loss and Damage Facility could not overcome developed countries’ strong resistance—the momentum gained on this issue, if not derailed, can lead to more success at COP27 in Egypt.

COP26 in Glasgow started with a plethora of declarations. But in the end it failed to deliver on the real and immediate action needed to avoid climate catastrophe, and to address the demand for justice and equity for those most impacted by climate harms.

Frieder Wolf-Buchert, our colleague at the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung for many years, has passed away at the age of 66, following serious illness. He built up and led our European Union office, which opened in January 1997.

The chapter of the coalition agreement of the new German government on integration, migration and flight is highly ambitious. What changes does it set out at EU policy level?

At the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit on 15 December 2021, German Chancellor Scholz met with high-ranking representatives of the EU and its Member States and the EaP countries. How can the Traffic Light coalition contribute to a more effective Eastern Partnership?

As in many previous global climate summits, progress on core climate finance issues at COP26 in Glasgow proved to be key to break negotiation deadlocks in overtime and to reach, often inadequate, compromises in a package deal delivered as the Glasgow Climate Pact.  Outside of the formal negotiations a dizzying array of new financing initiatives were announced. Skepticism is warranted regarding their staying power, accountability, and impact beyond the Glasgow PR blitz that promised some action but no systemic rethinking.

HBF's new research reveals the Department of Social Development’s dependence on NGO shelters during Covid-19, and their tendency not to provide adequate support and funding despite this reliance, writes the Daily Maverick.

On Saturday 4 December 2021, the Members’ Assembly of the Green Party-affiliated political foundation Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung elected Prof. Dr. Imme Scholz and Jan Philipp Albrecht with a large majority as new Co-Presidents. The duo will take office as of 1 April 2022 and 1 June 2022, respectively. The terms of the current presidents, Barbara Unmüßig and Dr. Ellen Ueberschär, will end as scheduled on 31 March 2022 and 31 May 2022, respectively. Steffen Heizmann will stay on as the Foundation‛s CEO.

Whilst the national governments have been reflexively ducking responsibility for years, there are many cities in Europe, from London to Munich and Vienna to Lille, Barcelona and Lisbon, that are expressing solidarity and a readiness to take in refugees.

The launch of the “Moving Cities" website on 21 October 2021 is a clear indication of how much dynamic power cities and communes are generating in the hosting and integration of refugees.