The platform economy Dossier The major platform providers have become decisive players on the internet - not only as critical information infrastructures, but also at content level. They moderate, they curate content, and block accounts based on rules they set themselves. We ask: How do private companies influence the public debate, and how can they be democratically scrutinised?
EU27 at COP26 - Green perspectives Dossier With a one-year delay, the 2021 UN climate change conference (COP26) is scheduled to take place from 31 October to 12 November 2021 in Glasgow, under the presidency of the UK. For the first time since the Paris Agreement, signatory states must submit updated and more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction pledges. Will they help closing the so far big gap between necessary reductions and reality? What are ways to achieve them in a socially and gender-just manner? What financing contributions are needed to support developing countries? What false solutions must be avoided? We explore those questions in various contributions, with a focus on the EU.
“Visions for a Digital Europe 2025” Online conference Online conference How can we create a value-based European digital future that is innovative and internationally compatible at the same time? What influence can the EU have on the data-driven economy and digitised society through new legislative projects and further regulatory measures? These are some key questions debated at the online conference "Visions for a Digital Europe 2025", which took place on Wednesday 27 October 2021. An initiative of iRightsLab, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the German Research Institute for Public Administration and the German University of Administrative Sciences.
Germany has voted Dossier The German federal election (#BTW21) took place on 26 September 2021. This election marks the end of the Merkel era, as well as a likely reconfiguration of the German political landscape. Election results indicate a high degree of volatility in the electorate and many possible government coalitions.
Power - Poverty - Hunger Factsheets In 2020, 768 million people suffered from hunger and undernourishment - almost 10% of the global population. This is the consequence of injustice, instability and poverty. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations expects these numbers to rise further as a result of the economic crisis triggered by Covid-19, extreme weather events and conflicts. Ahead of the United Nations Food System Summit 2021, these factsheets by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung present strategies needed to counter these developments. By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
The EU's Fit-for-55 package: The European Green Deal's fitness test Dossier On 14 July 2021, the European Commission presented its proposals for implementing the EU Climate Law - the so-called “Fit-for-55” package. This will be the starting signal for one of the most important EU debates of the next years: how can the EU reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and how can it become climate neutral by 2050?
Meat Atlas 2021: Facts and figures about the animals we eat Atlas There is hardly any other food that pollutes our environment and the climate as badly as meat. However, no government in the world currently has a concept of how meat consumption and production can be significantly reduced. But if the sector continues to grow as it has up to now, almost 360 million tons of meat will be produced and consumed worldwide in 2030. With ecological effects that are hard to imagine.
Afghanistan: return of the Taliban Dossier With the dramatic takeover of power by the Taliban following the abrupt end of NATO's 20-year mission, Afghanistan is drifting into an uncertain political future. Our dossier offers insights into current developments and debates in Afghanistan, the region and Europe.
Truly Indispensable! The Geneva Refugee Convention at 70 Dossier On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Refugee Convention, it seems more important than ever to bring the Convention’s indispensable importance for refugee protection back to the attention of policy makers and a broader public. By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
No one is safe until everyone is safe - Global perspectives on Covid-19 vaccination Case studies There is well-founded hope that widespread vaccination against Covid-19 will bring the long-awaited pandemic relief. Much now depends on ensuring rapid and broad access to vaccines globally. Against this background, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung has commissioned a series of short country and regional studies written by authors from the Global South and East. This dossier sheds light on the status of vaccination campaigns in different countries worldwide.