Wuppertal Sustainability Congress: Together for a green future!

Wuppertal Sustainability Congress: Together for a green future!

In today's world, when environmental issues are becoming more and more important, the Wuppertal Sustainability Congress will take place on November 5, 2025. This is organized in the glass hall of the Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal by the organizations Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal, New Efficiency and the Wuppertal Institute. Under the motto “Climate and Confidence”, the event is aimed at a wide audience – from interested families to professionals. Because one thing is clear: everyone can become part of the change. Organizer wupperinst.org emphasizes that the congress serves to create awareness for a sustainable, future-proof society.

The congress will begin with an opening lecture by Prof. Dr. Christa Liedtke, who deals with social prosperity beyond consumption. In addition, Prof. Dr. Markus Zdrallek will present the “Future of Life in Wuppertal” and the concept of an energy district of the future. Another highlight is the lecture by extreme adventurer Anselm Pahnke, who will talk about uncertainty and courageous decisions. Jochen Stiebel will discuss the practical implementation of innovative solutions in Wuppertal, while Prof. Dr. Maren Urner examines the role of emotions in sustainable change. The finale is a poetic recording by Anna Lisa Azur, which conveys powerful thoughts on sustainability to the participants.

Insights into the current challenges

But what is the current state of environmental awareness in Germany? A study by the Federal Environment Agency shows that the majority of the population still considers the issue of environmental and climate protection to be very important. At least 54 percent of those surveyed emphasize the great importance of these topics, even if this number has fallen compared to previous years. Over half of those surveyed consider society's development towards a more sustainable use of nature and resources to be critical. A notable point is that only a third believe Germany can adequately deal with the consequences of climate change, underlining the pessimistic views on the issue. According to umweltbundesamt.de, over 80 percent of people are satisfied with the state of the environment where they live - a sign that people also notice the positive aspects.

All of these topics are in the context of the challenges that are discussed at the sustainability congresses. The previous congress in 2024, also in Wuppertal, had the theme “Climate and Resilience” and aimed to develop realistic adaptation strategies. Well-known speakers such as Dr. Eva von Redecker and Neven Subotić addressed the question of how politics, business and civil society can work together to overcome crisis situations. Both congresses make it clear how important it is to promote exchange between science, the public and decision-makers. This platform is intended to help create more resilient structures that support us in times of crisis.

Invitation to active participation

The Wuppertal Sustainability Congress on November 5th is the ideal place for everyone who wants to actively engage with the challenges and opportunities of our time. Admission is free and no special registration is required. As part of an event series that has existed since 2022, this congress will also delight its visitors with exciting insights and practical solutions. With that in mind, let’s go! A few hours of inspiring lectures and an exchange of ideas await the participants. Remember: everyone can be part of the solution!