DEB:ATE!

Preventing climate change? Of course! Stopping species extinction? For sure! At least in Europe we have all come to the same conclusion: saving our natural livelihood is a top-priority. All EU countries have made binding commitments with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Green Deal to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and establish stricter rules to protect biodiversity. But with the progress achieved in exiting from nuclear and fossil-fuel energy it becomes clear: climate change and biodiversity might be from the same vision of an ecological future but are not necessarily without conflict.

What boosts energy transition threatens biodiversity. Wind wheels provide clean electricity but birds get frightened, are scared away and in a worst-case scenario are killed by the rotors. Experts are talking about a sustainability dilemma. Courts, mayors and journalists report about conflicts of supporters and opponents of wind turbines.

What can we do about it since we are all in favour of climate protection AND biodiversity?
This question is the focus of the German-Czech project DEB:ATE!

By including citizens, experts, politicians and activists and by means of looking at concrete locations in the Saxonian and Czech part of the Erzgebirge the project aims at finding ways how to solve the conflict between biodiversity and renewable energy or at least how to minimize the negative consequences of the progress.

The problem will be addressed in various citizens‘ forums together with 20 German and Czech stakeholders from Northern Bohemia and Saxony and we will examine new technological developments and best practice examples of communal energy supply projects managed by citizens.

Become part of the project!

As an expert, a local politician or citizen.
On site or via newsletter.
Debate with us!

The Kick-Off Event of the project took place with a digital round table on 09 September 2021. Click here for more information about the Kick-Off Event. 

Find out more about the upcoming Public Debates between the dates of 26. - 30. October 2021 here.

The project takes place in cooperation with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Prag and is kindly supported by the Deutschen Bundesstiftung Umwelt.

The project has been presented on the occasion of  „Die große Transformation – Nachhaltigkeitsdilemmata und Umgang mit Unsicherheiten" on 21 June 2021 (in German language).