Edenhofer accompanies Foreign Minister Maas to United Nations

Ottmar Edenhofer, Director of the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC), accompanied German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on his first visit to the United Nations in New York this week. Edenhofer, who is also designated director and chief economist of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), was the only guest of the ministry's delegation. Germany seeks a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2019 and 2020. Minister Maas held several talks on this matter and called for a strengthening of the United Nations in times of increasing national unilateralism.

At an event with the Permanent Representatives of the Caribbean and Pacific Island States, Maas highlighted the importance of an effective climate policy. Ottmar Edenhofer presented his thoughts on climate change and security directly after the Minister’s talk. In his speech to the Security Council the following day, Maas emphasized the role of climate protection for security. The Minister also said that the German Government wanted to strengthen the fight against climate change within the Security Council and further advance crisis prevention. “His speech was a strong commitment to multilateralism and Germany's responsibility for global climate policy and global cooperation,” Edenhofer said.