1. Vestian Climate Conference: Shaping the future through research and education!

<ol> <li>Vestian Climate Conference: Shaping the future through research and education!</li> </ol>

The 5th Western Climate Conference will take place on June 24, 2025 at the Westphalian University campus in Recklinghausen. Under the motto "WHo caREs? Teaching, research, shaping the future", the event is organized by the Recklinghausen district in cooperation with the university. Around 100 participants from administration, politics and business are expected to work together on solutions for a sustainable and climate-friendly future. The conference starts at 2:00 p.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m.

The opening will be by Martina Eißing, the deputy district administrator, and Prof. Dr. Bernd Kriegsmann, President of the Westphalian University. The keynote speech by Henning Stemmer, Managing Director of Innovation City Management GmbH, addresses the topic of “Ecological upgrading as a business model”. His knowledge is intended to provide inspiration for how ecological thinking can be integrated into business areas, which is under discussion in times in which climate change is becoming increasingly noticeable.

Five stops on the journey of discovery

An exciting format of the conference are the five so-called journeys of discovery, which deal with various pressing topics:

• Mikroplastik/PFAS: Risiken für Mensch und Umwelt
• KI-Flächenerfassung und Digitalisierung: Möglichkeiten eines digitalen Zwillings
• Mobilität und Logistik: Ansätze von Green Logistics
• Klima im Mittelpunkt für Unternehmen: Nationale und europäische Gesetzgebung
• Wassereinsparung: Brauchwasser-Aufbereitung in Auto-Waschstraßen

The panel discussion that will take place afterwards will be particularly exciting. Here, District Administrator Bodo Klimpel and experts from various areas will discuss the question: “What exactly is needed so that administration, universities and business can actively shape transformation in our region together?” This debate has great potential to provide important impetus for regional cooperation.

Health dimensions of microplastics

Microplastics is a topic that will also be addressed at the conference and that has increasingly come into focus in recent years. It enters the human organism through various routes - be it through the food chain, through contamination of the air we breathe or through drinking water, especially if it comes from plastic bottles. Scientists warn that microplastics can easily enter the bloodstream of aquatic organisms and are considered particularly problematic because they persist in the environment.

The risks that microplastics pose to health should not be underestimated. There is a risk that the particles trigger oxidative stress, which can lead to inflammatory reactions and other health problems. This aspect is of great importance for the discussion about climate protection and sustainable development, as there are clear connections between environmental protection and public health wasserdreinull.de is described in detail.

All interested parties are warmly invited to take part in the Western Climate Conference. Registration is free and further information can be found at vestische-klimakonzept.de. Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the discussion about a better future and to actively help shape it!