The 1.5-Degree Pledge for Society

What does a socially just transformation toward a greener world actually look like? The shift toward this transformation risks exacerbating existing social inequalities. While the 1.5-degree pledge sets clear targets for climate policy, as of yet there are no guidelines in place to give direction for the social aspects behind society’s transformation. To bridge the gap, the charitable organization denkhausbremen has launched the project “The 1.5-Degree Pledge for Society” to develop impact-focused, measurable guidelines for finding answers to the social questions posed by climate change. With support from the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the project turns the spotlight on the voice of the lived reality of people on low incomes, debating the issues they face in a future congress and discussing them with decision-makers. The resulting catalog of demands, “In Search of the Social 1.5 Degree Goal - Demands for a Just Future,” reflects the perspectives of people who depend on government transfer payments, are limited due to a disability or illness, have a migration background or are homeless. It is the result of a journey through Germany that has lasted several years and is an urgent appeal to shape the future together and inclusively. The aim is to sensitize politicians and ecologically oriented actors such as environmental associations and environmental authorities to the need for a socially just transformation.