TFECJ 2025: environmental and climate justice through resilience and disaster readiness (Update)
Join us on 11/19 for our annual forum in Washington DC
How resilience and and disaster readiness lead to greater environmental and climate justice, in the United States and Germany.
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
9-12
The Gewirz Center at GW Hillel
Lerner Family Hall
2300 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20037
and on zoom - just select the virtual ticket on eventbrite
https://tfecj2025.eventbrite.com
Participation is free but registration by noon Monday (11/17) is required to access the building: https://tfecj2025.eventbrite.com
For zoom participation, you can still sign up until Tuesday evening.
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 U.S. 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.
Speakers include:
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett from Austin, Texas
Margaret Gonglewski, Associate Professor of German and International Affairs, Faculty Director of Academic Programs, GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future
Prof. Dr. Uwe Schneidewind, former Lord Mayor of Wuppertal
Geraldine Gardner, Executive Director, Centralina Regional Council, NC
Bronwyn Cooke, Community Planning and Policy Manager with the Agency of Commerce and Community Development for the State of Vermont
Joseph Threat, Chief Administrative Officer, City of New Orleans
Justin Ángel Knighten, Sustainable Future Fellow, GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future
Nils Jakubeit, Senior Advisor with German Federal Agency of Technical Relief (THW)
We hope to see you at the 2025 Transatlantic Forum for Environmental and Climate Justice this November 19, in Washington DC.
From top left : Katrin Uhlig, MdB, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Margaret Gonglewski, Uwe Schneidewind, Geraldine Gardner, Bronwyn Cooke, Joseph Threat, Justin Knighten and Nils Jakubeit.
