Welcome to IÖW’s 25th anniversary online
The Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) has been around for 25 years – which means 25 years of fresh ideas for sustainable economic activity. IÖW is persistently inquisitive and contemplatively anxious in its search for the right questions. The institute studies the issues of tomorrow that will change the economy, politics and society.
Using different questions, innovative methods and new alliances, the researchers at IÖW have carved a number of tesserae for a sustainable, renewable and equitable economy in the last 25 years. Issues like sustainable corporate management, new technologies and climate-friendly energy systems have been shaped by IÖW, just like environmental services or environmental policy and governance have been.
In 1985 we started identifying possible paths out of the industrial growth dilemma. Now, at 25, we realise that the causes that triggered IÖW’s foundation are even more relevant today. Indeed, much of our pioneer work from the beginnings has become part of the scientific mainstream long ago and numerous solutions have been implemented or are waiting in the wings. Nevertheless, a comprehensive transformation of the economy, which is required by the existing formidable environmental, economic and social challenges, has yet to be realised. The traditional business as usual mantra “higher, faster, further” of the 20th century is still shaping the passage into the future.
The future can be different.
At our anniversary, we therefore did not want to lean back comfortably on our 25 years of environmental economy research. Rather, we wished to pause for a brief moment. In order to step back a bit. In order to see the big picture. In order to consider and discuss what kind of future mosaic the tesserae of our sustainability research form at the beginning of the second decade of this century of destiny.
Also the VÖW is celebrating...
... its 25th anniversary this year. More information on the Association for Ecological Economic research: www.voew.de