17 June 2026
6 pm – 8 pm
Reception in the Garden Room of the Poppelsdorf Palace afterwards

Address:
Stucksaal
Poppelsdorfer Schloss
Meckenheimer Allee 169
53115 Bonn

Please register in advance.

On the topic of the PRACC closing conference:

Climate change poses profound challenges to societies worldwide that go far beyond environmental issues and raise fundamental ethical and legal questions. This is particularly evident in the current biodiversity loss and the increasing degradation of ecosystems. With the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, the European Union has established a policy framework aimed at regenerating damaged ecosystems in the long term and ensuring their functionality.

The implementation of this regulation involves fundamental conflicts of interest and difficult trade-offs. At the heart of the matter is determining what is meant by the “restoration” of nature and whether this is even possible in the face of climate change. At the same time, questions arise regarding the responsibility of current generations for preserving natural resources, as well as the compatibility of ecological objectives with social, economic, and legal requirements.

The interdisciplinary research project PRACC addressed these challenges. The project’s goal was to develop an ethical and legal framework for an appropriate societal response to the consequences of climate change. This framework is shaped by the concept of intergenerational justice. It serves as a basis for, on the one hand, developing well-founded adjustments to production processes and consumer behaviour through bioeconomic analyses and, on the other hand, providing analyses for nature conservation measures in the context of biodiversity loss caused by climate change.

The closing conference will present the key project findings and facilitate a dialogue between academia, policymakers and the public. One particular focus will be the ethical, legal and environmental implications of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, as well as the practical challenges of implementing it in different social contexts. In addition to fundamental conceptual issues, specific conflicts regarding application and objectives will also be discussed.

Programme:

Introduction

Prof. Dr. Dirk Lanzerath
German Reference Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences, University of Bonn

Welcome by the Rectorate

Prof. Dr. Annette Scheersoi
Vice Rectorate for Sustainability, University of Bonn

Keynote Lecture

Prof. Dr. Andreas Hetzel
Institute of Philosophy, University of Hildesheim

Policy Dispatch

Dr. Stefan Klose
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

Panel Discussion with

Dr. Marius Bartmann
German Reference Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences, University of Bonn

Prof. Dr. Dr. Tade M. Spranger
Centre for the Law of Life Sciences, University of Bonn

Prof. Dr. Sandra Venghaus
Institute of Climate and Energy Systems, Forschungszentrum Jülich

Prof. Dr. Max Weigend
Bonn Institute for Organismic Biology, University of Bonn

hosted by:
Dr. Aurélie Halsband
German Reference Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences, University of Bonn

Note on image documentation:

We would like to inform all participants that the DRZE will be taking photos and possibly filming presentations and discussions in the event room during the event.

These recordings will be used for DRZE public relations purposes, for example on the DRZE website and social media channels such as LinkedIn and YouTube.

By participating, you agree to the possible publication of the recordings.