TFECJ 2025: Resilience and Disaster Readiness

The Forum for Environmental and Climate Justice 2025 highlights where and how the United States and Germany can jointly contribute to greater environmental and climate justice through resilience and disaster readiness.

The occasion is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which particularly devastated New Orleans and Mississippi, and the fourth anniversary of the Ahr Valley Flood in Germany, one of the worst flood disasters in recent history, with over 180 deaths. And of course, the aftermath of hurricane Helene is on our minds as well as many other disasters, such as the recurring Vermont floods.

All these disasters – although very different – required comprehensive reconstruction with the goal of preventing future disasters and providing greater security, especially for the most vulnerable segments of the population.

Engage with members of the legislative branch from U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag, as well as mayors and state and local agencies tasked with disaster preparedness and reconstruction.

Through the Forum, we aim to develop new ideas and facilitate an exchange of experiences with stakeholders in the US and Germany.

The Forum is hosted by George Washington University's Alliance for a Sustainable Future and POCACITO network and sponsored by the German Embassy in Washington DC.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett is a Democrat, representing Austin, Texas. He serves as the Ranking Member on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee and is a frequent participant in the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and is an active member of the Helsinki Commission and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Since elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, he has remain committed to climate and environmental justice. Currently, Rep. Doggett serves as an active member of the Safe Climate Caucus and the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Through his long-standing advocacy for ambitious climate proposals in Congress, he has introduced bold legislation, such as the Farewell to Foam Act, REDUCE Act, EV CHARGE Act, and Climate MATTERS Act. He has also conducted rigorous oversight over the response to climate-related disasters, including the July 2025 Central Texas floods and the 2021 Winter Storm Uri, which resulted in the failure of the Texas electric grid.

Prof. Dr. Uwe Schneidewind was Lord Mayor of the City of Wuppertal from 2020 to 2025. From 2010 to 2020 he was president of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, one of the leading German Sustainability Think Tanks, and Professor for Sustainable Transition Management at the University of Wuppertal.Born 1966 in Cologne/Germany, he studied Business Administration at the University of Cologne and HEC/Paris between 1986 and 1991. In 1991-1992 he was a Strategic Consultant in Environmental Management at Roland Berger & Partner in Düsseldorf before becoming a researcher at the Institute for Economy and the Environment (IWO-HSG) at University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. Here he also wrote his PhD and Habilitation on strategic environmental management issues. From 1998 to 2010 Uwe Schneidewind has held a full-time Professorship position for Production Management and the Environment at the University of Oldenburg and between 2004 and 2008 was President of the University.Uwe Schneidewind is i.a. a member of the Club of Rome, headed the Government Commission on Climate Change of the State of Lower Saxony and was member of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU).

photo by: vom Stein, Stadt Wuppertal

Margaret Gonglewski is Associate Professor of German and International Affairs at the George Washington University. She specializes in interdisciplinary approaches to language teaching, with a focus on international business and sustainability studies. Gonglewski currently serves as faculty director of sustainability programs in the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future.

The GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future is a collaborative hub connecting research centers, academic initiatives, organizations, and individuals from diverse disciplines to strengthen and expand their impact. In partnership with GW’s schools and colleges, the Alliance drives sustainability-focused research and programs that tackle pressing global challenges, shape policies for the well-being of people and the planet, foster innovation, and prepare the next generation of leaders.

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