Bonn – Global Hub and Key Crusader for Sustainability

The German United Nations City offers a new stage for productive discussions on a state, global and universal platform. Every now and then, new energy is dispersed by Bonn and its actors with the aim of taking the entire world on a green journey that is aimed at preserving our planet. From the adaptation of greener sources of energy, factors affecting climate, water levels, soil quality and more - Bonn has grown to become the German proficiency unit for development, environmental sustainability, and health. This synergistic relationship geared towards sustainability is strengthened and supported by numerous partners from the areas of politics, private organizations, commerce, science, culture, entertainment, and NGOs from across the globe.

Some of the notable Non-governmental Organizations that have made their home in Bonn since 1990. Include

• The Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) – this organization has dedicated itself to converting most of the resources that were previously used for military sustainability into resources that can be used by countries in times of severe crisis.
• The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) – his committee has been harmonizing the Olympic Games persons with disability (Paralympics)
• Fair Trade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) – this company manages the operations of the National Transfair Organizations
• The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - this is a global NGO that drives for proper forest management that involves the adherence of laid out procedures.

Transnational Organizations in Bonn

As a major conference hub, Bonn as managed to prove its competence on many levels. To mention but a few: the Conferences of the Parties to UN Conventions like the Climate Summits in 1999 and 2001, the Petersburg Afghanistan Talks, the International Conference on Renewable Energies in 2004, the International Conference on Fresh Water in 2001, and the most recent, the International Early Warning Conference in 2006.

At the core of Bonn’s operations is global sustainability, especially being a member of the acclaimed Climate Alliance of Cities. Additionally, the Lady Mayor of Bonn was voted Chairperson of the World Council of Mayors on Climate Change in late 2005. Bonn has developed a perception of international co-operation and retains sustainability geared organizations such as with the Republic of Belarus, Ulan Baatar (Mongolia), Bukhara (Uzbekistan), Cuddalore (India) and La Paz (Bolivia).

As a result of the developed proficiency and resourceful interactions, Bonn has been able to arrange, together with other stakeholders (e.g. ICLEI, InWEnt), intercontinental and local government discussions that have mostly taken place right before international conferences.In essence, Bonn is not merely a location for international organizations; it is in itself a key crusader for sustainability.The fundamentals the currently impressive international profile of Bonn were cemented in the Berlin-Bonn Act of April 26, 1994, which instructs as a key mission to nurture Bonn into a central location of development policy and a stage for the state, global and universal organizations.

This German-based location of sustainable international relations was boosted by the historic move from Berlin to Bonn of important organizations of national development policy such as the German Institute for Development Policy (DIE), the German Development Service (DED) and InWEnt. To add to these, the GTZ (Organization for Technical Co-operation) opened a new office in Bonn. These combined with the over 150 governmental, non-governmental, religious and private organizations, has contributed to the strengthening and near actualization of the sustainability theme. Local stakeholders who are driven by the same theme of improving the environment as a whole and of growing synergy are also maintained by like-minded groups dealing with the same topics and by industrial unions.

Institutions of research and science have also not been left behind in this worthy cause with some read examples being Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service), Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK - Association of Directors, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG - German Research Council), and Presidents of Universities and other Higher Education Institutions), and the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation (AvH).

The Compensation Agreement has also built on the field of science and added global traits. The Centre for European Integration Studies (Zentrum für Europäische Integrationsforschung - ZEI) and Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung - ZEF - The Foundation at the University of Bonn of the Centre for Development Research were both backed by resources from the Compensation Agreement). The ZEF above all other organizations maintains a close friendship with development organizations, thus erecting a vital bridge connecting science and real life involvement. The Center for Advanced European Studies and Research (CAESAR), also supported by the Berlin-Bonn Compensation Agreement and organized as a private foundation, pools global researcher teams for a stipulated duration time for intensive research.

Bonn has capitalized on its position as an international hub to become the German Proficiency Unit for vital issues that will define our future and to join hands with other stakeholders from all over the world to achieve this goal.