Exciting news: The nationwide “Pool of Mediators for Nature Conservation and the Energy Transition” has been officially inaugurated. The Competence Centre for Nature Conservation and Energy Transition (KNE), operating on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, is spearheading this initiative, and I am proud to be among the qualified mediators in the pool. Equipped with prior mediation expertise, each of us underwent specialized training by the KNE to address the unique challenges within the “conflict area of nature conservation and energy transition.”

The customized training course, developed in collaboration with the German Mediation Association (BM e. V.) and executed in partnership with the Institute for Conflict Management (IKM) at the European University Viadrina, covered crucial aspects. These included understanding the legal and technical frameworks of energy transition projects, effective engagement with stakeholders and larger groups, organization of commissions and procedures in public planning, and the enhancement of methodological skills. Dr. Torsten Ehrke, Director of KNE, emphasizes, “The expansion of renewable energies inevitably interferes with the landscape and ecosystems and the living environment of local residents. Dealing with the resulting conflicts places special demands on mediation processes. Our course participants can provide professional and targeted support in dealing with and resolving conflicts on site.”

The training course, led by Professor Ulla Gläßer and Dr. Markus Troja from the Institute for Conflict Management at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), strengthens conflict resolution capabilities in the context of the energy transition.

For me, the training provided an enriching experience through collegial exchange. Now as part of the KNE’s pool of mediators, I am eager to further expand my knowledge and expertise in the dynamic field of nature conservation and the energy transition.