In August 2022, Judith Stroehle has joined the Institute for Economy and the Environment (IWOe) and the Institute for Accounting, Control and Auditing (ACA) at the University of St Gallen as Assistant Professor of Sustainability Governance. Judith is passionate about building bridges between sustainability and accounting, challenging the status quo of measurement, reporting, and performance management. Her recent work explores issues related to the measurement of corporate purpose, the benefits and challenges of non-financial accounting, ESG stewardship, and the role of standards and regulation in this space.

Previously, Judith was a Senior Research Fellow at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford where she co-founded and led the Oxford Rethinking Performance Initiative in 2021 and the Oxford Impact Roundtable for sustainability reporting and accounting in 2018. Judith holds a doctoral degree (PhD Europeaus, U Milan) in Economic Sociology for which she examined the auditability of social standards in global supply chains in cooperation with the International Labour Office (ILO). Judith also engages and works with several non-profits, companies and asset managers. She recently served as the Global Future Council Fellow for SDG Investing at the World Economic Forum and works as an academic advisor to the Bertelsmann Foundation in Germany and the Codespa Foundation in Spain.

Die Schweizerische Botschaft lädt gemeinsam mit dem Weiterbildungsprogramm «Renewable Energy Management» der Universität St.Gallen sowie dem Schweizer Technologiekonzern Meyer Burger (Solarzellen), zu einer Diskussionsrunde ein. Im Fokus stehen die Themen Solarenergie und Lieferketten , mit einem speziellen Akzent auf die industriepolitische Komponente und das Comeback der Photovoltaik-Produktion in Europa.

Erneuerbare Energien und deren Ausbau haben in den vergangenen Monaten weiter massiv an Bedeutung gewonnen. Nicht nur stark steigende Strompreise, sondern auch die Auswirkungen der Erderwärmung und der Krieg in der Ukraine sorgen für einen Bewusstseinswandel. Schnelle und gleichzeitig nachhaltige Lösungen in Bezug auf Energiesicherheit und Klimaneutralität sind gefragt. Darüber wollen wir in einem Fachpanel in ausgewählter Runde zur Mittagszeit sprechen.

Datum:   Freitag, 2. September 2022, 11:15 – 13:30 Uhr
Ort:        Residenz der Schweizerischen Botschaft, Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee 4, 10557 Berlin (Eingang Altbau)

Moderation: Dr. Melinda Crane

• Stefan Wenzel, MdB – Parlamentarischer Staatssekretär, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
• Dr. Gerd Lippold – Staatssekretär für Energie, Klimaschutz, Umwelt und Landwirtschaft, Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Energie, Klimaschutz, Umwelt und Landwirtschaft
• Walburga Hemetsberger – CEO, Solar Power Europe
• Dr. Gunter Erfurt – CEO, Meyer Burger
• Prof.Dr. Rolf Wüstenhagen – Professor of Management of Renewable Energies, Universität St.Gallen

Die Veranstaltung wird in deutscher Sprache durchgeführt. Eine Simultanübersetzung auf Englisch ist auf Anfrage verfügbar.

Anmeldung bis spätestens 25.08.2022 unter berlin.wirtschaft@eda.admin.ch. Die Plätze sind begrenzt, die Anmeldungen werden nach Eingangsdatum berücksichtigt. Eine Anmeldebestätigung wird ca. eine Woche vor der Veranstaltung verschickt.

The Chair of Sustainability Management is offering a new executive education program in collaboration with the Competence Center for Social Innovation (CSI-HSG). The program equips leaders and managers with key sustainability knowledge while leveraging an agile mindset, skills and tools. Participants gain key knowledge in the field of corporate sustainability management, including driving trends, challenges and opportunities, climate solutions, biodiversity regeneration, social impact creation, circular economy business models and sustainability governance.

The programme consists of four in-person days at the University of St. Gallen, divided into four modules. These include an introduction to sustainability, the business case for sustainability, managing sustainability and ESG, and leading sustainability.

“Sustainability Management for Business Excellence” brings you up-to-date on the field of sustainability management, providing a powerful foundation from which to develop and implement practical and impact-focused sustainability strategies.

Understanding the social acceptance of renewable energies: Insights into the EU project “MISTRAL”

Many projects to promote renewable energies fail due to the resistance of the local population. The EU has therefore launched a programme called MISTRAL, which aims to support young researchers who are dedicated to the social acceptance of such projects. MISTRAL was supported by the EU’s Horizon 2020 funding programme. The University of St.Gallen also participated in the project and supervised three young researchers in their studies. Two of them give an insight into their findings in the video.

Link to the MISTRAL project: https://mistral-itn.eu/

Die soziale Akzeptanz von erneuerbaren Energien verstehen: Einblicke in das EU-Projekt «MISTRAL» Viele Projekte zur Förderung erneuerbarer Energien scheitern am Widerstand der lokalen Bevölkerung. Die EU hat deswegen ein Programm namens MISTRAL aufgegleist, das Nachwuchsforschende fördern soll, die sich der sozialen Akzeptanz solcher Projekte widmen. MISTRAL wurde durch das EU-Förderprogramm Horizon 2020 unterstützt. Auch die Universität St.Gallen nahm am Projekt teil und hat drei Nachwuchsforschende bei dementsprechenden Studien betreut. Zwei von Ihnen geben im Video Einblick in ihre Erkenntnisse.

“Managing the Dynamics of Social Acceptance” We are looking back to a successful 12th conference #REMforum 2022 where energy experts shared and discussed latest insights from research and new ideas on the Management of Renewable Energies. It was a strong networking event for practitioners, academia, and politicians. Do not miss the announcement for #REMforum 2023 and sign up to our #REMforum newsletter.

From May 5-6, 2022 the  51st St.Gallen Symposium took place, focusing on impactful models of collective action to address interconnected challenges of global security, climate action, and intergenerational fairness. IWÖ is proud that both institute directors Prof. Judith Walls and Prof. Rolf Wüstenhagen were involved as moderators.

Prof. Walls lead the session “Mind the Gap: Protecting Against Climate Risks and Losses” (Video) with Vanessa Nakate, Climate Justice Activist, Uganda; Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, India; Florence Tondu-Mélique, CEO, Zurich (Insurance) France and also served as speaker in the workshop “A Sustainable Transformation: Co-Create a New Generational Contract” (with Zukunfts-Fabrik.2050) together with Sophie Lara Neuber, Student, University of Cambridge and Leader of Tomorrow.

Prof. Wüstenhagen had the pleasure to moderate a panel discussion on “Energy (In-)Security: Game Changer for Europe’s Energy Transition, but in what Direction?” (Video) with his guests Ben van Beurden, CEO, Shell plc, UK; Franklin Chang Díaz, Former NASA Astronaut & Founder/CEO of AdAstra Rocket Company, USA; and Kerstin Knapp, Executive Vice President, People & Culture, Vestas Wind Systems, Denmark.

“Managing the Dynamics of Social Acceptance” Looking forward to the 12th conference #REMforum 2022. With latest insights from research and new ideas on the Management of Renewable Energies. Do not miss a strong networking event for practitioners, academia, and politicians. Registration is open now – Early Bird discount until May 15, 2022 !

The Master’s certificate program in Managing Climate Solutions (MaCS-HSG) addresses one of the biggest societal challenges of our time. Climate change has been called “a trillion dollar risk, and an opportunity”, so coming up with positive solutions is key for future leaders in business and society.

Why should you consider applying for MaCS-HSG? What are you going to learn? And who are the people involved?

Sign up for this free webinar on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 to get first-hand insights about MaCS-HSG from the program’s academic director, Prof. Rolf Wüstenhagen, and the program manager, Prof. Merla Kubli. The webinar also provides the opportunity to exchange with current MaCS students. Register HERE