Some of the new federal government's most important priorities are innovation and growth. What about the political focus on environmental and climate policy? Within Horizon Scan, we discussed current environmental policy in Germany with a small group of representatives from politics, authorities, science, and civil society. We discussed questions such as: Does the coalition agreement set the right course? Have the future ministries been filled with competent and committed individuals? How can we interpret the initial actions of the new government?

We were pleased to welcome Prof. Dr. Kai Niebert, president of the German Nature Conservation Ring (DNR) and an outstanding sustainability expert, deliver the keynote speech. As a leading expert on German environmental policy and a member of the German Council for Sustainable Development, he is well-positioned to evaluate the environmental policy decisions of the new federal government. During the lively debate, it quickly became clear that we all need to move out of our comfort zones because we will only be able to achieve sustainable improvements for nature and the environment—our basis of life—together. Kai Niebert put it in a nutshell: “We really need to invest in infrastructure in order to strengthen social cohesion, win the battle for the climate and regain trust in the functioning state.”

Horizon Scan is our new discussion evening on questions of the future and our future viability. It will address fundamental issues of sustainable development, research, and environmental policy.