Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie

Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie (VÖÖ) is a German scientific society promoting ecological principles in the global economy.

History and Background

In 1992, the economist Christiane Busch-Lüty and the physicist Hans-Peter Dürr gave a joint talk at a conference of Verein für Socialpolitik (VfS) on the topic of “economics and nature”.[1] During the discussion, it turned out that the point of view presented had no backing among the attendees of VfS, and Busch-Lüty and colleagues decided to establish an independent society.[1] Busch-Lüty initiated in 1996 the establishment of VÖÖ as part of a small, interdisciplinary group of scientists as a German-speaking section of International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE).[2] The local mayor and former Member of the European Parliament Beate Weber acted as a patron of the constitutive conference in April 1996 in Heidelberg. The 50 scientists present shared the belief that the calls of Rio Earth Summit 1992 for establishing a sustainable development are legitimate and need to be realized.[3] Based on the insight that economic growth would be the wrong answer to persistent ecological problems, the scientists wanted to act strategically to alter the academic landscape.[4]

Positions

The society argues that the economic sciences are overcharged with the necessary transformation and claims, that other scientific fields, politics open to change and the cultural forces of the society as a whole are necessary to implement and shape the change assumed necessary.[3] Until 2010, VÖÖ was involved with establishing the concept of sustainability in its ecological, social and economic perspective.[5] Following a reorientation in 2010, the society promotes a post growth economy based on the concepts of Niko Paech and others.[3] The concept of sustainable growth is considered to be an oxymoron,[5] and the importance of eco-efficiency, consistency and eco-sufficiency is underlined.

Activities

Panel discussion at annual conference 2012

VÖÖ is working in research groups and organizes annual conferences,[6] workshops und releases publications.[7] From October 2010 on, VÖÖ supports students and practitioners via the Netzwerk Wachstumswende.[8][9] Since the beginning, VÖÖ underlines the necessity of a transdisciplinary approach.[10]

Besides the presidents[11] Eva Lang and Oliver Richters, other members of the board are Peter Finke, Niko Paech, Gerhard Oesten and Gerhard Scherhorn. Well known members are Adelheid Biesecker,[12] Hans Christoph Binswanger[1] and Beate Weber,[13] Hans-Peter Dürr[14] was a founder member. Christiane Busch-Lüty who deceased November 2010 was honorary chairwoman of the society.[15]

Research prizes

Between 1998 and 2002, VÖÖ granted together with Schweisfurth-Stiftung the biennal Schweisfurth-Forschungspreis für Ökologische Ökonomie, a research prize for contributions in the field of ecological economics. Laureates were Christa Müller, Ralf Weiß, Sigrid Stagl, Daniel Dahm and Stefanie Böge.[16][17] Since 2004, VÖÖ grants together with several charitable foundations the biennal Kapp-Forschungspreis für Ökologische Ökonomie im remembrance of Karl William Kapp.[18][19] Laureates were Michael Flitner and Dagmar Vinz (2004), Niko Paech and Bianca Borowski (2006), Fabian Scholtes and Eva Koch (2008), Lasse Loft and Oliver Stengel (2010), Gerolf Hanke and Anja Humburg (2012) as well as Matthias Schmelzer, Corinna Burkhart and Dirk Posse (2014).[18] In 2013, VÖÖ granted for the first time in remembrance of its honorary chairwoman the Christiane Busch-Lüty Förderpreis für Ökologische Ökonomie to the sociologist Daniela Gottschlich working at Lüneburg University.[20][21]

External links

Literature

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Christiane Busch-Lüty, Hans-Peter Dürr (1993), Heinz König, ed., "Ökonomie und Natur: Versuch einer Annäherung im interdisziplinären Dialog" (in German), Umweltverträgliches Wirtschaften als Problem von Wissenschaft und Politik (Berlin: Duncker & Humblot): pp. 13–44, ISBN 3-428-07771-7. See also the online version (PDF) and the preliminary remark.
  2. ↑ Gründung einer Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie im deutschsprachigen Raum: Call for Members. In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften, 1/1996. Accessed February 25, 2015
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 VÖÖ: Wir über uns, Leitbild, accessed February 25, 2015.
  4. ↑ Arne Daniels (1996), (in German)Die Zeit (18), Online
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Peter Finke: Die VÖÖ am Scheideweg (PDF; 23 kB), accessed February 25, 2015.
  6. ↑ VÖÖ: Tagungen, accessed February 25, 2015.
  7. ↑ Veröffentlichungen der VÖÖ, accessed February 25, 2015.
  8. ↑ Netzwerk Wachstumswende, accessed February 25, 2015.
  9. ↑ Netzwerk Wachstumswende, accessed February 25, 2015.
  10. ↑ Peter Finke (1999), Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie e.V., Irmi Seidl, ed., "Transdisziplinarität und Methodologie" (in German), Ökologische Ökonomie: Ansätze zur Positionsbestimmung der Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie: pp. 6–16. Online access (PDF)
  11. ↑ Vorstand der VÖÖ, accessed February 25, 2015.
  12. ↑ Adelheid Biesecker at nachhaltigkeit-neu-denken.de, archived at Internet Archive on March 26, 2008.
  13. ↑ beate-weber.de, accessed February 25, 2015.
  14. ↑ Hans-Peter Dürr, 7.10.1929 – 18.05.2014, voeoe.de, accessed February 25, 2015.
  15. ↑ Christiane Busch-Lüty, voeoe.de, accessed February 25, 2015.
  16. ↑ Aktivitäten: Forschungspreis. In: voeoe.de, archived at Internet Archive on July 21, 2004.
  17. ↑ Weshalb der Nachhaltigkeitsdiskurs in Deutschland eine „Mutter“ hat... (PDF; 389 kB), essay on Christiane Busch-Lüty, oekom, page 3.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Kapp-Forschungspreis. In: voeoe.de, accessed February 25, 2015.
  19. ↑ Karl Wilhelm Kapp, accessed February 25, 2015.
  20. ↑ Christiane Busch-Lüty Förderpreis für Ökologische Ökonomie. In: voeoe.de, accessed February 25, 2015.
  21. ↑ Hohe Ehre für die Lüneburger Soziologin Daniela Gottschlich. In: Landeszeitung für die Lüneburger Heide, September 14, 2013.