Environmental associations as relevant actors in sustainable transformation processes

Far-reaching transformation processes are required to transform society onto a path of sustainable development. Energy transition, adaptation to climate change, testing sustainable consumption and production styles are examples of environmentally relevant transformations where it is still unclear whether they will succeed and what impact they will have once the course has been set. In many cases, the role of environmental associations and civil society as a whole in these changes has not yet been defined. Environmental associations must assert themselves in an increasingly complex environment and develop strategies for how they can continue to provide impetus for social transformation processes in the future. At the same time, environmental associations today have to deal with much more confusing conditions than, for example, in the 1980s. Environmental associations have been very successful over the last 30 years. Many environmental problems in Germany have been solved. New complex issues remain unresolved. Solutions are often far removed from simple cause-and-effect models. In addition, new groups of actors are emerging in the field of environmental and climate protection, competing with established environmental associations and vying for the attention of the media, decision-makers and the public. In the course of the project “Environmental associations as relevant actors in sustainable transformation processes”, the interrelationships and strategic positioning of environmental organizations operating nationwide will be analysed and discussed together with the organizations’ executives. The project combines an applied scientific approach with a practical exploration of possible futures for environmental organizations in Germany. The objectives are to examine the strategic potentials and concepts of environmental organizations with regard to the transformation of society towards a sustainable society (analytical part) and, on the other hand, to discuss and, if possible, promote the contribution of environmental organizations to initiating the upcoming transformation processes in society (action-oriented part). The project is designed to be participatory. The results of four workshops and accompanying interviews are included in the project report, as are targeted research and in-depth investigations. The initial questions are: – What structural data characterize relevant environmental associations in the Federal Republic of Germany and what dynamics do they exhibit? – What development trends can be identified in individual areas (benchmark SRU report 1996)? – Which adaptation strategies to changing societal conditions are developed by environmental organizations in Germany? Four participatory workshops are planned in the project. In addition to the workshop on August 29, 2012, three further workshops will be held in 2013. The following questions will be addressed: – What are the key transformation processes from the perspective of environmental associations? And what challenges and opportunities do they present for environmental associations? – Which strategic concepts appear promising from the perspective of environmental associations in order to enable the defined transformations?

– What role can environmental associations play in the defined transformation processes in order to maintain their influence on the policy field? – Where do the environmental associations see a need for action to improve their organizational structure in order to maintain or expand their influence in the policy field of environmental and climate protection?