Joachim Spangenberg Mr. Spangenberg has been invited to speak on the topic: The necessity and possibility of reducing our ecological footprint
With a PhD in economics, but an academic background in natural sciences (MSc in biology, post-graduate in ecology) Joachim Spangenberg is an interdisciplinary researcher by education and dedication.
He works professionally as a macro economist for the Helmholtz Centre for Environment Research, Department Community Ecology in the coordination of major international transdisciplinary research projects on biodiversity and ecosystem services, and for the Sustainable Europe Research Institute Germany as research coordinator and vice chair. His main interests include sustainable development strategies, ecosystem services and their valuation, the resulting environmental conflicts, their basis in world views and ethics. This leads to some critical assessments of sustainable consumption strategies, design for sustainability and economic growth. Past professional positions include work for the Université Versailles St Quentin-en-Yvelines, the Sustainable Europe Research Institute Vienna, the Wuppertal Institute and the Institute for European Environmental Policy IEUP.
Joachim is not only representing interdisciplinary, but also transdisciplinary work, himself being active as a volunteer with Friends of the Earth Germany, chairing their economic and fiscal policy commission. Other recent voluntary activities include working with the IPCC and in the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, the Steering Committee of ESP (Ecosystem Services Partnership) and ISDRS (Int. Sustainable Development Research Society), the EU Economists’ Expert Group on Resource Efficiency, and the OECD Task Force on Green Growth and Sustainable Development. Past voluntary activities in Germany include board memberships of the BBU, the National Peace Coordination, the Gen-ethic Network and Scientists for Peace and Sustainability. He was on the Executive Committee of INES, the International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility, and served as the founding chairman of Friends of the Earth Europe.